Dr. Clarissa Hersey-James is a tower of strength to all who know her and a vivacious motivational speaker. She has graciously survived child abuse, domestic and substance abuse, as well as, sexual abuse. She is considered a leader and expert in the domestic violence and substance abuse field, with 20 years of sobriety, knowledge and experience. Dr. Heresy-James' vision includes telling her story to educate individuals and agencies about the intersectionality of homelessness, substance abuse and domestic violence and how to utilize faith- based principles toward internal empowerment.
Dr. Hersey-James holds professional privilege with the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence(FCADV) and the state of Florida. She developed the FCADV curriculum for the Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence Training Model. In 1995, she became a Certified Addictions Specialist (C.A.S.) under the American Academy of Health Care Providers.
Dr. Hersey-James has served on the board of directors of Advocates for Shelter Action Policy (ASAP) since 1998. ASAP provides shelter and community services for the homeless.
Dr. Hersey-James is an active member of the New Frontier, Inc. and assisted with this implementation in 1989. In the past she served as a board member for this is organization that provides drug and alcohol referral services and 12-step meetings for recovering addicts. For 10 years, Dr. Hersey-James worked for Operation PAR Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center as a substance abuse counselor working with women and children as well as a Counselor in their Federal Outpatient Program working with men and women getting out of federal prison with a reported substance abuse problem and or history.
In August 1999, Dr. Hersey-James and her husband Ernest owned an urban restaurant, By-Faith Seafood Cafe'. They served a mixture of wonderful food, love and respect to hungry customers.
Dr. Hersey-James worked for CASA, a local domestic violence center in St. Petersburg, Florida, for 10 years (1996-2006). Dr. Hersey-James moved up the ranks to residential director with responsibilities for the daily operations of the Emergency Shelter and the Transitional Housing Program. In 2002, As a President of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Women of Color Caucus, she served on the Board of Directors to represent the concerns of women of color as an undeserved population. She is also a unique FCADV state certified domestic violence trainer -of- trainers. In September 2006, Dr. Hersey-James was selected to serve as a National Mentor for the Women of Color Network (WOCN).
During October 2003, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Dr. Hersey-James was instrumental organizing the first community forum, " What's Love Got to Do With It." Currently, it is a well-attended community forum called the Bay Area People of Color Forum. The Forum has a reputation as a "life-changing experience."
In October 2004, Dr. Hersey-James became a certified train the trainer on Human Trafficking with Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Dr. Hersey-James is a licensed Elder of the Gospel since January 2005 and has incorporated in her training religion as it relates to substance abuse and domestic violence and a sought after motivational speaker and trainer. On October 19, 2005, Dr. Hersey-James received an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Ministry from Florida Beacon College & Seminary, Jacksonville, Florida.
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