For Jana Barker, it’s all about the victims – the hundreds of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault whom the Brighter Tomorrows Women’s Shelter assists each year to turn their lives around across Dallas-Ft. Worth and beyond.

That’s why, 19 difficult years after helping to found its first facility in Grand Prairie, that she continues to serve as its first and only paid Executive Director.

Victims like the talented young artist who, in the early 1990s, was called the worst case of domestic violence ever seen in Dallas by police.

Her husband used to beat and rape her regularly, hang her from a hook on the ceiling and force her to endure horrific acts.

To numb herself from the abuse, she became an alcoholic and lost her two children to CPS (Child Protective Services).

When no other shelter would accept her in that condition, Brighter Tomorrows took her in and helped her to regain control of her life and her children.

Today, despite all that she went through, she’s earned her Master’s Degree in Art, become an art teacher, and is one of the most amazing women Barker says she’s ever met.

Then there was the young mother with three children who was married to an abusive police officer.

Her young children were so full of fear the day the shelter came to pick them up that they actually jumped out of the moving car.

It was later revealed that the father was sexually abusing one of their daughters.

Although Barker’s considered stepping down several times – and probably getting paid two or three times as much in a corporate job – she said she stays because she’s constantly reminded of what a difference they’re making at Brighter Tomorrows.

“We know we’re making a difference. We must be, because we’ve continued to grow so much over the years, from the original four-bedroom home donated by a local realtor to our modern present-day facilities in Grand Prairie, DeSoto and Irving,” she explained.

When DeSoto needed a shelter built and Irving was unable to keep operating their shelter, they both came to us for help. We must be doing something right.” 

Last year alone, for example, she explained that Brighter Tomorrows provided emergency shelter for 721 women, children and men; served 33,983 meals to shelter residents; plus arranged transitional housing for 48 families.

They also responded to 1,631 hotline calls, providing such crisis intervention as food pantry and electric assistance to 1,834 individuals, plus outreach counseling to 409 victims.

She added that she just knows that it’s the right thing for her to do.

“This work has changed my life,” she explained.

“You always seem to want the biggest house and best car. But then you realize those things aren’t important at all.”

“The victims that we see and work with, they’ve left everything. I feel so thankful for the life and things that I have.”

“I have a roof over my head, a car to drive and a husband who loves me. What else do you need?”

“This is where I’m supposed to be. It’s the right thing to do,” she said.

Whereas Barker said she spends most of her days and many nights focusing on administrative duties, she also appreciates the opportunity to interact directly with victims.

“Every once in a while, I’ll get the chance to visit with one of our residents,” she said. “That’s when I’m reminded how important this work is – especially when I see how much better their lives are now that they’re at our shelter.”

“When that happens, I think, ‘Oh yeah, this is where I’m supposed to be’.”

During her 19 years in her position, Barker said she’s seen a lot of changes. For one, she says, the nature of the abuse has changed. It used to be primarily verbal. Now it’s much more physical and sexual.

“When we first founded Brighter Tomorrows, most of the women were just verbally abused," said Barker. "Now we’re seeing more and more physical and sexual abuse.”

"That’s a major reason why I served for seven years on the board and as president of the TexasAssociation Against Sexual Assault.”

“My daughter was also sexually assaulted ten years ago."

Many children are being sexually abused nowadays, too, she added.

“We’re seeing so many incest victims. It seems like every child nowadays is being sexually abused by their fathers and step-fathers. We’re fortunate enough to have two child counselors, but it’s in our face all of the time!”

Dating violence among teens and young adults is also a major issue.

“I’m constantly amazed with what our prevention coordinator, Eric May, is doing to help prevent and stop dating violence in the Grand Prairie schools,” she said.

Fortunately local, state and federal governments, plus many more people now recognize how serious the problems are and have contributed millions of dollars to assist victims, Barker said.

“Progress is being made, but we still have such a long way to go.”

Today Brighter Tomorrow’s is one of the largest domestic violence agencies in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. Barker oversees a $1.8 million dollar annual budget, with a staff of 23 full-time and 15 part-time employees, plus about 150 volunteers.

“We couldn’t do it without them,” she said.

The agency runs three emergency shelters in Grand Prairie, Desoto and Irving which can house up to 91 residents. It operates thrift stores in each of those cities. It also provides a transitional housing program with 22 apartments, where clients may stay for up to two years after leaving a shelter.

For non-residents, there are support groups, individual counseling, and community education at outreach centers in Grand Prairie and DeSoto, plus a 24-hour crisis hotline, legal advocacy, parenting classes (English and Spanish), plus life skills classes.

Brighter Tomorrows receives regular funding through a Community Development Block Grant from the Cities of Grand Prairie and Irving, Texas Department of Human Services, Office of the Attorney General, private foundations, local businesses and individuals.

This year, however, due to the economic downturn, Barker says they lost $240,000 from cuts in federal and state grants.

She continues to be optimistic, however.

“We’re trying hard to keep our head above water,” she said

Barker added that she expects to continue what’s she’s been doing for many more years.

Her hope for the future is that domestic violence and sexual abuse advocates and agencies will work more closely together on their common causes.

“I think we could accomplish much more if we would work together better," she said. "I know that we’re all worried about funding, but think we could be more effective as a group.” 

“But either way, I’ll just keep on trying to do the next right thing,” she concluded.

“That’s my motto.”