About Reach Out Speak Out
Get to Know Our Board of DirectorsReach Out Speak Out is structured to help the women within the faith-based community.
Domestic Violence is everywhere.
1 in 3 women are involved in a domestic violence relationship.
The physical hurting stopped the day I left my husband of twelve years.
Why We Are Here
Reach Out Speak Out‘s mission is to help women in need of assistance due to domestic violence; to provide shelter, food, clothing, and the necessities of life; to provide information through books and counseling; to enlist the help of other professionals with domestic violence experience; to speak at faith-based organizations and other community meetings regarding the warning signs of domestic violence.
What We Do
Reach Out Speak Out has been a nonprofit ministry since 2013. Every member of the Board of Directors and Advisory Board has either worked with domestic violence victims and organizations or was a victim in their own life. Reach Out Speak Out is structured to help the women within our faith-based community and church. Although there are many organizations that help and shelter women and men affected by DV, there is a very small percentage of organizations that help specifically in this area. Since this particular group of women seems to stick with an abuser longer because of their faith, Reach Out Speak Out will educate them from a Biblical perspective. We will not use the “world’s” view on the subject. Although those views are very acceptable, the person we are talking about has been surrounded with a different guideline of living.
Meet Our Board
Chairperson of the Board
Beth Simpson
Chairperson
Beth is an elementary school teacher who has a passion for
children’s wellbeing. She watched her mom experience mental, emotional, and verbal abuse from her father growing up. As
an adult, she realized she had experienced it too. She hopes
her past experiences can help others who have experienced
domestic violence. She loves spending any free time with her cat and volunteering at her church’s children ministry. Beth began helping Reach Out Speak Out during a Purple Passion silent auction. From there she was an auxiliary member, then Board of Director and now Chair.
Board of Directors
Heather Gilley
Board Member
I grew up in MN and in high school, my dream became to go overseas and do mission work. I found my “Mr.Right” and things fell into place. We served in two different countries for a decade. 5 Things were not easy when infidelity was exposed to my marriage. I found myself in an impossible situation with three children. I was introduced to the founder of Reach Out Speak Out and they blessed me and my children over and over again. Without a doubt, I would not be where I am today. They supported me emotionally when I wanted to retreat. I found my way back to living and succeeding. I have found my calling in working with women in domestic violence and for the last several years, with foster children. My children are all adults now, finding their way. No matter how dark the night is, morning does come.
Shelby Della Rosa
Board Member
I am a self-professed research nerd and tech geek. I am largely homebound, so I am grateful that I get to volunteer with ROSO virtually, having helped with their previous website and now with social media. It’s also my great privilege to partner in prayer with ROSO, its families, and the community. I have been in a past domestic violence relationship, but now I’m embracing a life of freedom from eggshell walking, finding my purpose and my joy. I’ll never let anyone take those again. I live with two of my adult kids where we laugh and challenge one another in healthy ways.
Vicki Garcia
Board Member
I have volunteered with ROSO for some time. I enjoy encouraging those who have left a domestic abuser by helping them build a new life with self-confidence and security. Growing up I suffered at the hands of an abuser, a so-called friend. But my family had raised me to expect to be treated better than that, and that gave me confidence to move on. My family had my back. ROSO does that.
Advisory Committee
Susan is a retired Christian therapist with over 16 years of experience walking alongside women facing depression, anxiety, trauma and relationship issues. Throughout her career, Susan created a nurturing space where healing and hope could take root, guiding women towards emotional and spiritual restoration. Susan also has a heart for small group ministry facilitating recovery groups, Bible Studies, and teaching Biblical foundational classes at her local church. She is passionate about helping individuals finding their true purpose, grow in their faith, and find a sense of belonging in the context of their community. Susan currently lives in St. Petersburg with her husband, Michael, and has three grown children and three beautiful granddaughters. She and her husband serve together at Radiant Church.
Jan Engel-Porter has experienced domestic violence on many levels, from emotional, mental, physical, and financial abuse. Back in 1970 80, domestic violence was not talked about in the community or in churches. So, she learned how to get out safely and start all over with her daughter, and with no help from her community or church. Her hands on experience have been helpful with the Reach Out Speak Out families. Jan is an accomplished businessperson owning Creative Ideas Agency since 1989 and has a career in professional sports as a media relations person since 1981. She has worked on boundaries and co-dependency with her own life. The author of a book entitled “It Started with a Hamburger”, a story of her walk-through domestic violence. Jan believes that if you go through something and do not help others, it has been a waste of learning from it and helping others. She served as a Trustee for many years with The Spring of Tampa Bay and was involved with the Family Justice Center. Her passion is to help victims of domestic violence, specifically within the faith community. Jan has been trained through licensed counselors and has certified training in Probable ] Cause, Predominate Aggressor, educational training through the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work Marriage, Family therapy, and Mental Health. Since her passion is within the faith-based community, she has also completed a Chaplaincy Helping Hands training program.
Tanisha Taylor, M.A., RMHCI, is a registered mental health counselor dedicated to helping women heal from the emotional and spiritual impact of harmful relationships. With training in trauma-informed care and identity-centered support, she walks alongside women as they rebuild confidence, restore their voice, and return to a life rooted in freedom and self-love. A devoted mom to two wonderful children, Tanisha is committed to creating safe, supportive spaces where women can rediscover their worth. She is honored to support and uphold the mission and values of Reach Out Speak Out as she serves women on their healing journey.
Auxiliary Committee
I am glad to volunteer for ROSO as I have a heart for those who are disrespected and wounded by those who pretended to love them. Children that have been crushed under the lies created when living in an abusive home.
Hayley Hines is a dedicated supporter of Reach Out Speak Out, contributing her expertise from a background in media design, communication, and commercial art. With over a decade in broadcast media and over 20 years in advertising and marketing, she leverages her skills to enhance the organization’s visibility and outreach. Previously a Program Coordinator at The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, Hayley is motivated by a personal connection to the cause, having been influenced by a close mentor who is a survivor of domestic violence. Outside of her volunteer work, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband of 18 years, and their 19-year-old daughter and indulges in her passion for writing, baking, and creative projects.
Paul is the co-founder of Reach Out Speak Out. He was a victim of domestic violence as a child and saw a need for helping DV victims in the community and beyond. Paul Porter has been the arena voice of the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League for all of the 32 years they have played. He has also been the press box voice of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for eight years. He has announced three NBA all-star games in 1980, 1992 and 2012. He was the voice of the NBA Finals in 1995 and 2009 and the NHL Stanley Cup Finals in 2004, 2015, 2020, 2021, and 2022, as well as the NHL All Star game and the 2026 outdoor hockey game in Tampa. Porter has been the voice of the World Basketball Championships in 1994 and 2002. Porter hosts a two-hour weekly radio program on Saturday mornings at 9 am called The Home Team. He is married to Jan and lives in Tampa. He has a son named Alan and a daughter named Stephanie (deceased).
Having been a friend of ROSO for some years, I now find myself in a position and with a desire to get more involved and hopefully make a difference. I was blessed to grow up in a very stable home environment centered around the Lord. It was not until much later in my adult life that I saw the results of abuse to someone close to me. And the frightening part was that it was right under my nose, and I didn’t see it. Over the years, working in public and private sectors, I have been introduced to charitable firms that specialize in domestic abuse, but what drew me to ROSO is their boldness and passion for working within the faith-based community. We all need God’s grace, love and forgiveness and it’s sometimes easily ‘dismissed’ where we need it most. I look forward to using any talents I have to assist in this amazing organization and learn more to help others.
Romans 8:31 ...
“If God is for us, who can be against us?”
I have been volunteering for many years at Metropolitan Ministries and other such organizations. I love doing charity work and I also do charity fishing tournaments. I have donated many items to Reach Out Speak Out, and I love what Paul and Jan are doing. There are so many people that need help. I feel blessed with such an incredible marriage, 43 years and counting, that I feel that I should give back.
