Wine Country Times

Elizabeth Quiroz was almost totally broken as the California woman was struggling with homelessness, an addiction, incarceration and human trafficking. 

Quiroz desperately wanted change and started using her time behind bars educating herself and getting therapy. During her time in rehab, she joined the Women’s Recovery Services, and that changed her life. 

The Women’s Recovery Services (WRS) is a 120-day residential program for pregnant and parenting women as well as their kids. The program provided Quiroz with the tools to overcome her family’s past of alcoholism, addiction and abuse as well as the guilt and shame from being a victim of human trafficking. Quiroz used her redemption skills to co-found Redemption House which, similar to WRS, helps survivors of human trafficking return to a healthy and happy lifestyle. 

“Redemption House of the Bay Area is a multifaceted program established to assist survivors of human trafficking in getting back to a functional, productive and healthy lifestyle,” Quiroz said. “Our services include peer-led support groups, street outreach, mentorship and community connections. Alongside my partner and co-founder, our long-term goal is to open a safe house for human trafficking victims here in Sonoma County.” 

Q: Tell us about your new memoir. 

A: I just published my new memoir, “Purified in the Flame,” and it’s about my story of survival and how I was able to break from and overcome the effects of human trafficking, addiction, incarceration and a broken foster care system. I am now using my pain for purpose and showing other survivors that they too can use their voice to make a difference in the community.

Q: What topics does your memoir cover? 

A: My book discusses sexual, physical and mental abuse. I also discuss my experiences being in modern day slavery and how I escaped. I discuss my rock bottom and how I finally decided to take my power back. For so many years, I was giving my power to my abusers. In 2011, I decided no more. Today, I am a fierce advocate for those that are still in silence. I discuss how the leader within me was developed and how I am using my pain for purpose all over the world. I discuss how I developed faith and how I was able to trust others again. I discuss empowerment and how this model helped me find my true identity. Finally, I discuss how I am helping others find freedom. This book describes the true definition of "transformation."

Q: Why is your story worth telling? 

A: My story is worth telling because of the amount of trauma I have experienced, and I am alive today to tell the world that there is hope. Our past trauma does not define us, nor does it have power over our future unless we give it power. I am not just speaking for my inner child that was silenced for so long, I am also speaking for all the children and adults all over the world that are still silenced to this very day. We need more bold leaders to stand up, and I am dedicating my life to be one of those bold leaders to go back to those dark places and bring others to freedom.

Q: Why should people read your book?

A: I would encourage others to read my memoir if they have experienced any type of trauma as a child or as an adult. It can be sexual trauma, it can be physical abuse or psychological abuse. When someone goes through that, they can feel shame. They can feel guilt. They can feel alone, and that nobody hears or sees them. Often people take that into their adult years, and they get stuck there. Whoever has experienced this, I would encourage them to read this book, because I'm going to show them how to overcome all of that and how to get out of those mindsets. I also want others to read this book if they want to learn about the red flags for situations that are going on behind closed doors – for children who are abused, or red flags for human trafficking. Learning about these red flags are so important to protect those that are being victimized, and this book highlights so many of them. I would encourage others to read this book if they are struggling with faith. Because I'm going to talk about how I struggled with faith for so many years, and now I'm learning to totally surrender and trust my higher power. But it didn't happen overnight. It took years coming from where I come from and to learn to trust God, completely.

Q: How did you come up with the title “Purified in The Flame?”

A: During the writing process, I knew I had to come up with a title. I wanted a title that shouts transformation. My husband, Mico, and I were discussing titles and he came up with "Purified in The Flame." I knew automatically that this was the title for my book. Transformation takes place in the fire (life situations) that was meant to destroy us. Instead, we come out of the flame, purified and transformed.

Q: How did the Women's Recovery Services program help your recovery journey?

A: Women's Recovery Services saved my life and they helped me on my recovery journey by helping me reclaim my power and my freedom. In 2013, I participated in this program, and thanks to the counselors and the staff who were working there at the time, I realized that I was a trafficking survivor and not a child prostitute. This knowledge completely changed my life. As a result of this, I was able to find my voice, and I am now able to share my truth with people all over the world. I owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to WRS for assisting me in reclaiming my life and providing me with new coping skills to enable me to work through the traumatic experiences I went through in the past. I am a bold leader today because of organizations like WRS.

Q: Are you still involved with the program today?

A: Today, I sit on the board of directors for WRS as a board member and I bring a unique perspective to the table.

Q: Can you tell us about Redemption House?

A: Redemption House of the Bay Area is a multifaceted program established to assist survivors of human trafficking in getting back to a functional, productive and healthy lifestyle. Our services include peer-led support groups, street outreach, mentorship and community connections. Alongside my partner and co-founder, our long-term goal is to open a safe house for human trafficking victims here in Sonoma County.       

Q: What led you to co-found the organization?

A: I was led to co-found this organization because God put a burden on my heart to plant seeds of hope to others and lead them to a path of freedom. If I can turn my pain into empowerment to inspire others, then there is hope for those who are still stuck in the grips of human trafficking.

Q: What else do you want people to know about your new memoir? 

A: To find the book or donate to Redemption House, visit redemptionhouseofthebayarea.org/donate. For more information about Women's Recovery Services, visit womensrecoveryservices.org.