By Kaitlyn Holdmeyer, Regional Communications Manager, USA (Region of North America – Toronto)

At the Good Shepherd Shelter in Los Angeles, transformation is woven into everyday life. Families arrive carrying the weight of trauma, fear, and uncertainty, but step by step, they rediscover safety, strength, and hope. At the heart of this journey stands Deana Payne, Program Director and newly recognized finalist for the 2025 Los Angeles Times Inspirational Women Award in the Education, Nonprofit & Government category.

Chosen from more than 450 nominations, Deana rose to the top five in her field, a reflection not just of her leadership, but of the profound, lasting impact she makes in the lives of families escaping domestic violence.

A Mission Rooted in Lived Experience

Deana’s leadership is grounded in empathy: she is a survivor of domestic violence herself. Her healing journey led her back to school for a master’s degree in sociology, where she studied the experiences of survivors navigating the Los Angeles court system. What she discovered, patterns of difficulty and re-traumatization, fueled her commitment to advocate, reform, and ensure that no one faces the system alone.

“For me, this work is a calling,” she said. “Every day, I know I am exactly where I’m meant to be.”

Her blend of personal experience, professional expertise, and deep compassion has made her a steadfast advocate for families and a fierce protector of their dignity.

Expanding Hope and Breaking Barriers

Under Deana’s leadership, the shelter has grown in remarkable ways. She played a pivotal role in expanding services to include middle school students, creating a new therapy program tailored to their developmental needs, and transforming a facility into a dedicated activity center.

Also, she and other Los Angeles domestic violence service providers recently led a successful advocacy effort before the Los Angeles City Council, helping to restore a proposed $4.4 million cut from domestic violence programs across the city, a victory that protected crucial lifelines for survivors.

This combination of strategic vision and courageous action is what earned her acclaim from the Los Angeles Times and admiration from her colleagues, community partners, and the families she serves.

The Spirit of the Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd Shelter is more than a transitional domestic violence program; it is a place where entire family systems are restored through comprehensive support. For the first six months, mothers focus entirely on healing in the Adult Learning Center, while children receive therapy along with schooling in the on-site elementary program.

The result is extraordinary: 98% of surveyed families report never returning to violence, even generations later. Entire family lines have been transformed by the shelter’s holistic approach and compassionate care.

One of the shelter’s most powerful realities is that 25% of its current staff are former residents, women and children who once found refuge here and now return to help others. It is living proof that “those who were once in need of healing are now healers for others.”

Guided by the Legacy of the Sisters

Though the shelter is now part of Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, it continues to operate in the spirit of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd sisters, who founded the program in 1977. Their mission of compassion, justice, and joyful service remains the shelter’s heartbeat.

“I was instructed to run the shelter as if the sisters were still here,” Deana said. “Their spirit guides us every day.”

That spirit is evident not just in the programs offered but in the atmosphere of warmth and joy that fills the community, from gentle moments of healing to laughter shared at aftercare gatherings.

An Honor That Reflects a Greater Story

While the Los Angeles Times Inspirational Women Award recognizes individual excellence, Deana sees the nomination as a celebration of the entire Good Shepherd mission: its families, staff, volunteers, sisters, and partners-in-mission.

“This work takes all of us,” she reflected. “I’m honored, but I’m also proud of the families who bravely choose a new life, proud of our team, and proud of the legacy we carry forward.”

Deana’s recognition shines a light on the transformative power of safety, compassion, and community. Her leadership continues to ensure that families not only survive trauma, but flourish, passing peace and stability from one generation to the next.

Learn more about Good Shepherd Services in LA: https://catholiccharitiesla.org/good-shepherd-shelter/

Find out more about the 2025 Los Angeles Times Inspirational Women Award: https://www.latimes.com/b2b/business-visionaries/inspirational-women

Video link: https://vimeo.com/1143234555/fbdab28b44?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci