Imani (Aviva Imuna)

A Legacy of Strength and Healing

Imani Fecu (Aviva Imuna) was a kind and gentle soul, a natural healer, and a guiding light in her community. She uplifted those around her, inspiring creativity and hope. With deep compassion and sensitivity, she was the glue that held her family together.

But in 2020, Imani struggled with thoughts of ending her life. Despite her intelligence, resilience, and proactive efforts to seek help, the healthcare system failed her. A survivor of multiple Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), she courageously reached out to her doctor—only to be dismissed without the care she desperately needed. Just two months before her 25th birthday, her life was tragically cut short.

Imani’s struggles were deeply intertwined with systemic barriers she faced from birth. Her mother spent 18 of Imani’s 24 years incarcerated, leaving Imani and her sister to navigate life without the stability and support every child deserves. The carceral system doesn’t just punish individuals—it devastates families, perpetuating cycles of generational trauma.

Imani’s Safehouse exists to disrupt these cycles—to honor Imani’s legacy by advocating for systemic change, providing compassionate support, and creating pathways to healing.

Why Imani’s Safehouse Inc.?

Because we are not just support—

we are about empowerment.

As an organization founded by an impacted woman, we prioritize lived experience and ensure that every initiative is grounded in understanding, respect, and solutions shaped by the voices of those we serve.

Picture of Imani and her "Moma" in 2020

Why We Do What We Do

At Imani’s Safehouse Inc., our mission is deeply rooted in the lived experiences of those impacted by incarceration, injustice, and systemic oppression. The combined stories of Imani and Noah—both shaped by the realities of a system that often fails the most vulnerable—serve as the foundation for our work.

The Problem:
For far too long, communities—especially Black and marginalized individuals—have endured the lasting consequences of mass incarceration, economic disenfranchisement, and social exclusion. The barriers to reentry, lack of accessible resources, and systemic discrimination continue to perpetuate cycles of hardship.

The Story:
Imani and Noah's journeys reflect the broader struggles of so many. Having navigated the carceral system firsthand, Noah recognized the urgent need for a space of empowerment, advocacy, and tangible support—one that prioritizes autonomy, dignity, and justice. From these experiences, Imani’s Safehouse Inc. was born, not just as an organization, but as a movement to disrupt systemic harm and create pathways to true liberation.

The Solution:
Through Know Your Rights, Career Development, and Community Connects, we provide legal education, professional empowerment, and community-driven support—bridging the gap between struggle and opportunity. We believe that healing, transformation, and justice are possible when those most affected are at the forefront of the fight.

This is why we do what we do—justice is not just an ideal but a human right and a necessity.