At A Beautiful HEART Ministries, we are deeply grateful to the foundations, corporations, and philanthropic partners whose generous grants make our work possible. Their belief in our mission allows us to reach more women, youth, and justice-impacted individuals with programs that heal, empower, and transform lives. Together with our funders, we are building pathways to hope, equity, and lasting change in communities across the nation.
Dr. Clover A. Perez, Executive Director
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At A Beautiful HEART Ministries, we believe that incarceration does not define a woman or girl's future. Through healing, empowerment, advocacy, resilience, and transformation, we turn stories or struggle into stories of strength, breaking cycles of incarceration and creating pathways to dignity, freedom, and lasting change.
About Us
A Beautiful HEART Ministries is more than a nonprofit—we are a movement committed to
restoring dignity, breaking cycles of incarceration, and building futures rooted in healing and hope. Founded by Dr. Clover A. Perez, a nationally recognized advocate and justice reform leader, our mission is clear: to uplift justice-impacted women, girls, and communities through trauma-informed care, mental health support, reentry services, and empowerment programs that change lives.
Our Vision
We envision a future where justice-impacted women and girls are no longer defined by incarceration, but empowered by healing, dignity, and opportunity to lead thriving lives. We see communities where cycles of trauma and recidivism are broken, and where the justice system itself is transformed, rooted not in punishment , but in healing, equity, and restoration.
Our Story
A Beautiful HEART Ministries was founded in Danbury, Connecticut in 2017 by Dr. Clover A. Perez, after she witnessed an influx of women and girls returning to prison shortly after their release. Determined not to let that be her reality, Dr. Perez sat down with these women to understand why they were coming back. What she discovered was heartbreaking.
OUR CREATIVE BOARD
Dr. Clover A. Perez
Founder/Executive Director
Dr. Clover A. Perez is the Founder and Executive Director of A Beautiful HEART Ministries (ABHM). She holds a PhD in Philosophy and is a Justice in Education Scholar at Columbia University. Dr. Perez also serves as an Ambassador for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and sits on several nonprofit boards.
A nationally recognized speaker and passionate advocate for justice-impacted individuals and those affected by mental health challenges, Dr. Perez has testified before Congress on the importance of second chances and has been featured on CBS This Morning. She has spoken at universities, colleges, and community forums across the country, inspiring audiences through her message of transformation, resilience, and hope. Her leadership and advocacy have earned her numerous awards and citations for impacts and service.
Michel Weksler
Board Member
Michel Weksler is a software engineer and passionate advocate for underrepresented communities. Throughout his distinguished career in Silicon Valley, he has built and managed large-scale payment systems for PayPal, Google and Airbnb. Beyond his technical expertise, Michel has dedicated his work to creating pathways that welcome formerly incarcerated individuals into the tech industry. He is deeply committed to empowering returning citizens and expanding access to opportunity through innovation and inclusion.
Anne Fabiny
Board Member
Dr. Anne Fabiny is a fellowship- trained geriatrician and longtime advocate for marginalized older adults. An accomplished academic, educator, and program innovator, she has held leadership roles at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged (now Hebrew Senior Life), Beth Isreal Deaconess Medical Center, and Cambridge Health Alliance in Massachusetts.
Currently a Professor of Medicine at UCSF School of Medicine, Dr. Fabiny recently retired as Associate Chief of Staff for Geriatrics, Palliative, and Extended Care at the San Francisco VA Health Care System. A former John A. Hartford Foundation/West Heath and Aging Policy Fellow, she helped design an innovative housing and medical care model for chronically homeless, medically complex older veterans. Her work now focuses on improving systems that supports older adults reentering society after incarceration.
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Vivianne Guevara
Board Member
Vivianne Guevara is the Director of Social Work and Mitigation at the Federal Defenders Office in New York. With over a decade in public defense, she has championed efforts to humanize the justice system and advocate for marginalized communities. Previously, she worked at the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta, supporting litigation that challenged inhumane prison conditions and inequities in defense.
Vivianne began her career at the Bronx Defenders and later conducted outreach with the Bowery Residents' Committee, assisting people experiencing homelessness across New York City. A practitioner of restorative and transformative justice, she facilitates healing circles with public defenders, schools. and community groups to foster accountability and collective healing.
Our
Funding Partners
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