Today we’d like to introduce you to Donna Terrano.
Hi Donna , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I definitely didn’t plan on ending up where I am today, and honestly, that’s kind of the beauty of it. My background is in Fine Art and Graphic Design. I was a nail tech as well, which is a far cry from what I do now. But I also have a background in recovery, and that part of my life moved me in the direction of LEAP. Addiction is such a prevalent issue, and I’ve seen firsthand how hard it is to rebuild after hitting rock bottom.
My stepfather, Dale Quaint, who recently passed, was actually the reason I started volunteering with LEAP. He was the instructor for our Trauma-Informed Addiction class, a wonderful man with a huge heart who the ladies at HCI dubbed “Saint Quaint”. One day, he invited me to attend a LEAP graduation inside Homestead Correctional Institution. I went thinking I was just there to support him and carry in all the food, but that day completely changed me. Watching those women share their stories, celebrating not just what they’d learned but who they’d become, I was hooked. I couldn’t imagine not getting involved with LEAP in one way or another after that.
From there, I jumped in headfirst, first as an assistant instructor, then administrative work, planning events, and now I’m the Director of Community Engagement for LEAP and run the social media for Dragonfly Thrift Boutique. (Which, by the way, is hands-down the most fun thrift store in Miami, and I say that with zero shame and total bias.)
What keeps me here is the magic that happens when women are given a real second chance. Every day, I get to work alongside women who remind me that strength can come from the hardest places, and that recovery, growth, and healing aren’t linear, but they’re absolutely possible.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Most of what I had to overcome was my own insecurity. I fell into imposter syndrome, how very millennial of me, I know, and had to push through a lot of anxiety and discomfort to figure out who I wanted to be and actually become that person.
Somewhere along the way, I learned that I could rely on myself to show up, I could trust myself and that was a really powerful moment for me. Every struggle I’ve gone through, even those struggles that felt like the worst possible thing at the time, turned out to be incredible blessings. I’ve learned more from the hard times than I ever did when things were easy.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Ladies Empowerment & Action Program?
I work with the Ladies Empowerment and Action Program, or LEAP for short, a nonprofit that helps women put prison in the past. We focus on reentry, education, and empowerment, giving women the tools they need to build new lives after incarceration.
LEAP runs several programs, including our in-prison entrepreneurship and trauma recovery classes, a women’s reentry hub in Miami that provides support and resources, and our employment social enterprise, Dragonfly Thrift Boutique. Dragonfly isn’t just a thrift store, it’s a job training site, a community space, and sometimes a little bit of therapy disguised as retail. We teach technology skills, customer service, and workplace readiness while creating a welcoming environment for everyone who walks in.
What sets us apart is the fact that everything we do comes from lived experience and genuine compassion. Our leadership is absolutely representative of those we serve. We’re not just helping women find jobs; we’re helping them find themselves again. And we know it’s possible because we’ve done it ourselves. There is nothing like peer-to-peer compassion. I’m proud that LEAP is known for giving second chances with dignity and respect. Brand-wise, I’m most proud that Dragonfly has become a symbol of transformation and second chances, for women and for clothing.
If readers take one thing away, I want them to know that change is absolutely possible. The women we serve prove that every single day, and they do it with grace and a really good sense of humor.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Just try it. If it doesn’t work out, try something else. Nothing in this life is permanent, nothing, and it’s so much better to do and fail than to never try at all.
I’d also say, trust yourself and show up no matter what. You don’t have to have it all figured out; you just have to keep showing up. That’s where the growth, and the good stuff, really happens. My mom says, “There’s no growth in the comfort zone, and there’s no comfort in the growth zone”. I wholeheartedly believe that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://leapforladies.org/
- Instagram: @Dragonflythrift
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-terrano-422267298/
Image Credits
Nola Schoder
