Meet Awona Love | Probation Officer, Author/Poet, Advocate, Life Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Awona Love and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Awona, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My nonprofit was started because I wanted to help the community to become more aware of the affects and the signs of child sexual abuse. By promoting awareness it will increase the success of rehabilitating more victims/ survivors through life coaching services that will help build self confidence. Being a two time survivor of child sexual abuse I can relate on many levels. Therefore, I have vowed to walk alongside victims and speak to those whom may not know where to turn.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I dreamed of being a juvenile probation officer so I volunteered for 9 years as a Youth Diversion Panel Member ( hoping that it would assist me being hired) During this time a new Judicial Center was built to honor Judge Gregory A. Adams of DeKalb County and when the article hit the newspaper I cut it out and wrote on it Thank you God for my new job. During my job search I applied for an internship with Juvenile Court and was hired. My internship went as planned however; I was never offered a position. My job search continued and I was offered a position with Department of Corrections for adult probationers where my position lasted 4 years.

My job search began again I was offered an interview with the agency I vowed not to work for.

I have been serving as a probation officer for the last 10 years as of November 2022 my first 4 years of probation was serving the adult arena. Currently I have been serving the juvenile sector for 6 years. I vowed to never work with juveniles but God saw different. Working with adults I found that they were anxious enough to complete their probation therefore they would comply for completion purposes only and not retain any lessons taught. Many of them became repeat offenders. Being an officer that is striving to succeed in a mission this becomes very disturbing in my personal thoughts of my success and growth.

What sets me apart for others is that regardless of the details of the court order I seek the root of the problem as to why this youth is in the position that he/she is in. Seeking the root of the problem is not easy at all because I have to dig deep into families hidden past and or often secrets. ( People don’t not like you in their business.) I often find out that the youth has many times adopted their parents unresolved issues or the youth is suffering for trauma of neglect, often abuse ( mental, physical and sexual ). Many people don’t understand that unresolved trauma leads to literacy and literacy leads to criminal behavior. Upon my findings I seek and obtain appropriate services to address not only the youth but the family needs. This does not excuse the court order however; I must address the root of the problem in order to gain compliance for the court order. Often times I am made aware that the youth’s defiance and criminal behavior is alive due to the unaddressed trauma, literacy, neglect and poverty issues that the youth was born into. Therefore; I make it my top priority to seek the root cause that the youth is facing. I’m original because I seek assist , funding, donations and services form anyone or any agency whom is willing to help my youth. I called them mine because I’m not going to own anything that I will see fail. I have been invited to funerals that I refused to attend because the parents failed to buy in to what I had to offer although, I have attended funerals of those who did buy in and their environment was what they couldn’t escape. Which leaves me broken hearted but also fuels me to work harder on the ones I’m currently serving.

One of my successes was my very 1st juvenile case whom was a female and her grades consistently reflected all D’s and F’s in her 9th grade year of high school. This young lady would pop off on beat of anything or anyone who wanted it. I worked with her on how to re-direct that energy we engage in some boxing sessions sponsored by Coach Mustafa. Boundaries and consequences were put into place she started studying and her 10th through 12th she made no grade less than a B which afforded her the opportunity to be the 1st to graduate from high school in her family.

One unsuccessful case was a young man that was born into his mothers disfunction who refused to cooperate with the services we offered and put in place. Every chance this mother got she made it her business to fight against me however; the youth begged me not to remove him from his mother because he felt he could handle it. He finally turned 17 and weeks later the youth was confronted by police and him being 17 he know that I would not be granted access to him so he put the gun he had to his head and killed himself.

I have overcome many challenges by fighting the system for what I know my heart tells me to do. Even though I get a lot of push back from some parents my biggest opposition is with the politics at the job. So I stay prayed up , vocal and bold because if I don’t fight for them who will .

To the world we say no child should be left behind but I have vowed to just not say it or read it I have vowed to make a difference with the youth that cross my path.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First, I would have a family gathering and invite my family and friends over to fellowship with us including my next neighbor whom are near a dear to my heart. My neighbor loves to cook me her traditional Indian cuisines. I love to have my friends taste her food. That will last all day with laughter, food, drinks and maybe a little dancing.

Breakfast the next day would have been done by yours truly. Bacon, eggs and cheese on English muffins with a big , cheese grits and cup of coffee filled with cream and marshmallows.
Girls time is important do the next day we would have some self care therapy and get some massages and facials. Late lunch and dinner would be Slim and Husky’s for some good Pizza.

The next day we would eat breakfast and go to Panola Park and walk and talk for about 2 hours. Returning home we would shower and order a grilled lemon pepper chicken salad, pickle with a lemonade from Chick- N-Run. The night would be capped off with a big pot of Spaghetti , corn , garlic bread , bottle of Moscato by Sutter Home with a Netflix movie .

The final days will be top off with a sleepover at a AirBNB with the Rose’s ( female social group) We will begin the day with a shopping trip to a Thift Store to find some hidden precious items. Afterwards, we will return to the AirBNB and share our finds. Our meals will be prepared by my God brother and celebrity chef CookinWitWay.. Dinner would be lamb chops, green beans, mashed potatoes with cheese cake bits for dessert along with mini Carmel apples. Ooh and my special made Lemonade made by yours truly. ( Adults Only). We would have a private pole dancing lesson and sip and paint to end the day.

The next morning will be regular and red velvet waffles with pecans, turkey bacon , shrimp and grits, scrambled cheese eggs and strawberry and pineapple Bellini’s by CookinWitWay.

The final day will be with l the Rose’s attending a Sunday at my church listening to some good sounds and wise teachings. After church we would have a some good eats at Buckner’s Family restaurant.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Dr. Nadine Duncan of Publish My Story is whom I will forever be grateful to for her patience and guidance. Allowing me to use her platform to tell my story. Some may never acquire a coach never the less a personal advocate that your dreams become theirs. I clinch my teeth and close my eyes many days ending with a huge smile on my face because of Dr. Duncan’s selfless missions.

Ariona Charmain my inspiration. If it was not for her bravery to one day come to me and SaSumthing! Anowa Foundation Inc. (SaSumthing) would never exist.

Oh but God! He is a mighty God!

Website: www.SaSumthing.org

Instagram: SaSumthing

Linkedin: Awona Love

Facebook: Anowa SaSumthing

Image Credits
I owe credit to the artist for my 2nd book cover A Butterfly Afraid to Fly it was drawn by my son-n -law Felton “Bud” Jasper Julez Galliano