This episode: In 2009, I'm sentenced to five years in federal prison. I was convicted of conspiracy and wire fraud.
Here’s what you’ll learn about:
Life changes and resilience. (0:00)
Life events and business ventures. (4:24)
Personal struggles and resilience. (11:43)
Overcoming obstacles and advocating for oneself. (18:22)
Overcoming trauma and injustices in the criminal justice system. (24:37)
To learn more about Ivy, go to LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivywoolfturk-cpc/ or you can go to Ivy’s website at http://www.ivywoolfturk.com/
Ivy Woolf Turk Bio: Even the most well lived lives can contain moments when obstacles require us to find new tools to deal with adversity or the unexpected.…when life throws curve balls, and we feel stuck or “imprisoned” in one way or another. I sure did!
For almost 20 years, I co-owned and managed a multi-million-dollar real estate portfolio, survived cancer, divorce, and single parenthood. All of this culminated in the betrayal of my business partner and I unwittingly got caught up in a fraudulent scheme and was sentenced to five years in Danbury Federal Prison!
During my time in Danbury, I realized that I was imprisoned in my outwardly successful life long before I was actually sentenced to serve my time. And, by the time I walked out of my seven by seven-foot cube for the last time after living there for forty-seven months, I realized that it shouldn't take a stint in Federal Prison for a woman to find her worth. And although Federal Prison gave me nothing, it certainly took a lot away. It took my home, my business, my reputation, and my place in my family. I was isolated, humiliated and degraded.
Even though I was surrounded by 200 suffering strangers, I was so very alone. With no other way to grieve my overwhelming losses, I found myself turning within. And it was there that I found the real riches in my life. They had been there all along…I just didn’t know it!
Upon release, I needed a credential other than “ex-felon” to effectuate my dreams. So after a year of working odd jobs while pursuing my certification with Coaching for Transformation/ Leadership that Works, I became a certified professional coach. I founded Resiliency Coaching to work with individuals one on one and two years later, founded Project Liberation. Our trauma informed and healing workshops provide justice involved women the tools they need to create powerful and transformational relationships with self, other and community.
Ten years later, it has become crystal clear to me that there are many prisons in which we find ourselves- but most don’t involve bars and cement walls. After coaching thousands of individuals both one on one and in group settings, Ihave founded A Liberated Lifeseries for those who want to move from the life they have to one they may not have even dared to dream of!
As a Champion of Freedom, I utilize my story to inspire others, not only as a coach, but as a keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, consultant and as an author. I have spoken domestically and internationally at many conferences, at the White House and from high schools to Harvard, partnered with the Department of Health and the United Nations. I was named New Yorker of the week and have been featured in Forbes, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The Telegraph/ India and many other media outlets.
But none of those platforms or my B.S from Boston University are as important to me as regaining my place as matriarch of my family. I am inspired every day by my four adult children and my two very special grandchildren.
