IN HONOR OF HER LIFE:
Imani
Honoring Imani: A Legacy of Strength and Healing
Imani Fecu (Aviva Imuna) was a kind and gentle soul, a natural healer, and a guiding light in her community. She uplifted those around her, inspiring creativity and hope. With deep compassion and sensitivity, she was the glue that held her family together.
But in 2020, Imani struggled with thoughts of ending her life. Despite her intelligence, resilience, and proactive efforts to seek help, the healthcare system failed her. A survivor of multiple Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), she courageously reached out to her doctor—only to be dismissed without the care she desperately needed. Just two months before her 25th birthday, her life was tragically cut short.
Imani’s struggles were deeply intertwined with systemic barriers she faced from birth. Her mother spent 18 of Imani’s 24 years incarcerated, leaving Imani and her sister to navigate life without the stability and support every child deserves. The carceral system doesn’t just punish individuals—it devastates families, perpetuating cycles of generational trauma.
Imani’s Safehouse exists to disrupt these cycles—to honor Imani’s legacy by advocating for systemic change, providing compassionate support, and creating pathways to healing.
Why Imani’s Safehouse Inc.?
At Imani’s Safehouse Inc., we don’t just offer support—we empower.
As an organization founded by an impacted woman, we bring lived experience to the forefront of our work, ensuring that every initiative is grounded in understanding, respect, and solutions shaped by the voices of those we serve.
Join Us. Support Us. Be a Part of the Change.
Together, we can build a world where every woman—regardless of her past or circumstances—has the support, resources, and opportunity to heal, rebuild, and thrive.
Picture of Imani and her "Moma" in 2020
Vision
Unlike many organizations that impose top-down solutions, we prioritize autonomy and self-determination, creating spaces where women can reclaim their power and rebuild their lives on their own terms.
Through our Community Connects program, originally launched in 2020 to support incarcerated women during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have continued to provide innovative, responsive, and meaningful support.
We work at the intersections of mass incarceration, trauma recovery, and systemic change, ensuring that our advocacy and services are both holistic and impactful.
Choosing Imani’s Safehouse Inc. means choosing a movement that centers the voices of those directly impacted. We are not just another nonprofit—we are a community, a force for change, and a safe space where transformation happens.
Picture of Imani and her "Moma," at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility on a Visit in the Children's Center, about 2013.
