At A Beautiful HEART Ministries, we are profoundly grateful to the foundations, corporations, and philanthropic partners whose generosity makes our work possible. Your belief in our mission allows us to reach more women, girls, and gender-fluid 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 of 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 work is guided by our HEART pillars- Healing, Empowerment, Advocacy, Resilience, and Transformation. These core principles shape every program, workshop, and act of support we provide. They remind us that true restoration begins with healing, grows through empowerment, strengthens through advocacy, is sustained by resilience, and leads to the profound transformation every woman and girls deserves.
Our Vision
We envision a future where justice-impacted women and girls are no longer defined by their past, but by their potential. A world where healing replaces punishment, dignity replaces stigma, and opportunity replaces barriers. We see communities where cycles of trauma and incarceration are broken, and a justice system transformed, rooted not in fear or retribution, but healing, equity, and restoration.
Our Story
A Beautiful HEART Ministries was founded in Danbury, Connecticut, in 2017 by Dr. Clover A. Perez, after witnessing an alarming number 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 heard were stories filled with trauma, loss, and barriers that had gone unaddressed for far too long.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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 Israel 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 support older adults reentering society after incarceration.
Michelle Horne-Findley, LMSW, SIFI, MS
Board Member
Michelle Horne-Findley, LMSW, SIFI, MS, is a senior mental health and justice professional with cross-sector expertise in government affairs, forensic social work, clinical practice, and systems reform.
A New York City and New York State registered lobbyist, she brings a proven ability to influence public policy, align multi-system stakeholders, and advance equitable, community-centered solutions for
justice-involved and underserved populations.
Michelle currently serves as a Forensic Social Worker and Internal Lobbyist with the Center for Justice Innovation at Manhattan Justice Opportunities in New York City, where she partners with senior leadership to shape advocacy strategies, legislative priorities, and cross-agency collaborations focused
on mental-health-centered justice reform. Her work bridges courts, prosecutors, government agencies, and community-based providers to improve outcomes for individuals with complex mental health needs. In addition to her policy and advocacy work, Michelle is a practicing therapist at Queens Consultation
Center, LLC, where she provides trauma-informed care to individuals, families, and groups. She also brings a strong academic and financial background, having previously served as an Adjunct Professor of Accounting at Long Island University, Brooklyn.
Michelle holds a Master of Social Work with Forensic Certification (summa cum laude) and a dual
B.S./M.S. degree in Accounting (cum laude). Her leadership has been recognized through honors
, including Schneps Media’s 2025 Manhattan Power Woman and selection as a Coro Leadership New York Fellow. She remains actively engaged in board service and professional affiliations that advance public health, equity, and justice.
Our
Funding Partners
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