From Scars to Safeguards: How Dr. Andrea A. Anthony Is Turning Pain into Protection for the Next Generation

If you were to meet Dr. Andrea A. Anthony outside of the titles Author, Speaker, and Advocate, you'd meet a woman whose laughter heals, whose late-night beach walks bring her peace, and whose conversations with God sound like soul-deep jazz.

She's not just building a nonprofit, she's building a movement. One rooted in prevention, protection, and purpose. As the Founder and CEO of Guarded Wings Promise, Dr. Andrea has transformed her personal journey of surviving childhood sexual abuse into a calling that shields others from harm. Her work is raw, honest, and fueled by a vow: to never let another child feel unprotected, unseen, or unheard.

With her heart firmly planted in faith and her voice echoing across classrooms, churches, and communities, Dr. Andrea is not just speaking, she's shifting the silence. Her story isn't about titles or accolades. It's about showing up, loving without fear, and leaving a legacy where protection is the norm, not the exception.

If someone were to ask you who is Dr. Andrea A. Anthony outside of being an Author, Speaker, Advocate, what would your reply be?

Dr. Andrea: I'm a woman who prays with purpose, laughs loudly, and I am on a journey to laugh often, and believes piano jazz is a whole love language. I find peace in nighttime walks on the beach. I love laughing until my cheeks ache. I love to cheer people on like it's a sport and creating safe spaces for healing and growth.

I'm the kind of soul who finds peace in long drives alongside a body of water, windows up, music blaring, and thoughts flowing freer than the wind. I talk to God like He's riding shotgun, and I dance freely in my seat like the sky is my stage. I'm a mission-driven soul. A protector of innocence. A survivor who wears her scars with honor and believes healing can sound like deep laughter or the soft strokes of Joe Sample on a piano.

I show up, keep my word, hug with intention, and learning how to love without fear. I'm learning how to rest without apologies. At my core, I'm just a night beach-walking, jazz-loving, joy-chasing woman who's walked through fire barefoot, came out with wings, and now spends her life being a light for those who forgot, or never knew, they were born to shine. That's my ministry.

We celebrate your selfless work dedicating your life to creating a safer world for children. As the Founder and CEO of Guarded Wings Promise, please tell us what this work entails on a personal and professional level.

Dr. Andrea: Thank you for that kind acknowledgment. As the Founder and CEO of Guarded Wings Promise, this work is deeply personal for me. It was born from my own journey of surviving childhood sexual abuse and choosing to transform that pain into purpose. On a personal level, it means facing the hardest parts of my story with courage so I can break cycles of silence in families like mine. It means being intentional every day in how I guide, how I love, and how I protect the children who are the smallest souls.

Professionally, it means building systems, programs, and tools that equip families and communities with knowledge, language, and practical steps to safeguard children. It means training ambassadors, collaborating with educators and faith leaders, and speaking hard truths in spaces where silence has been the norm. This work is about prevention, protection, and empowerment from the inside out. And every step I take professionally is rooted in my personal vow to never let another child, girl or boy, experience what I and more than 100,060 Million females and males globally.

We would love to learn about your work in the literary world. Please tell us about your latest work as a published author and how can our readers obtain your books?

Dr. Andrea: Thank you for your interest in my literary work. I'm so proud of my latest publication, Guarded Wings Promise: The Journey of Protection Begins Before Birth-A Parent's Guide to Prevent Childhood Sexual Abuse from Birth to Five years. This is an extension of my mission through my nonprofit, Guarded Wings Promise. This guide is designed to help expecting and new parents begin the vital work of safeguarding their children from sexual abuse starting before the child is even born.

It's both practical and empowering, offering tools, knowledge, and language to help create a culture of protection in families. This book is for more than just parents, it's for everyone who interacts with, cares for, or influences children. Protecting children is a collective responsibility that belongs to all of us who have children in our homes, communities, or daily lives.

This book is deeply personal to me. It reflects a shift from reacting to harm to intentionally preventing it. It's a promise to raise children in homes and communities that are safe, informed, and empowered. My book is available on Amazon.

Your expertise and personal experience have made you an in demand public speaker. What are some topics you often speak about? Do you have any upcoming speaking engagements we can be on the lookout for?

Dr. Andrea: Thanks for asking. I'm truly humbled every time I'm invited to speak, because I know the topics I cover aren't easy, but they are necessary. I often speak about safeguarding children from sexual abuse, the power of one person becoming an agent of change within their family, and how healing from trauma can lead to a life of purpose. I also speak about resilience, faith, motherhood, and how to have courageous conversations within families and communities that break cycles of silence and secrecy.

One of my most requested talks is centered around my work with Guarded Wings Promise and our initiative, Guarded Wings Ambassadors, which trains and empowers one person in every family to take the lead in protecting the children in their care.

At this present time, I am slated to speak at multiple school districts and a couple of local churches. I am currently planning a national awareness tour tied to the release of my latest publication. Readers can stay connected and receive updates on upcoming events by visiting DrAndreaAnthony.com, GuardedWingsPromise.org, and they can find me on my social media platforms, IG - IamDrAndrea, Facebook and LinkedIn @GuardedWingsPromise and Dr. Andrea A. Anthony. My mission is to make sure no child's safety is left to chance and I do that one talk, one family, and one community at a time.

Women's History Month has come to a close, but women like yourself continue to make an impact. What does the history you will continue to make look like?

Dr. Andrea: As for me and women like me, the work continues every single day. The history I'm striving to make isn't about headlines, it's about protection, educating and healing. It's about being a mother, a survivor, and a leader who refuses to let silence win. The legacy I want to leave is one where families are educated, children are protected, and generational cycles of trauma are broken because someone dared to speak up, take action, and lead with love.

The history I will continue to make looks like training a movement of Guarded Wings Ambassadors, one person in every family who will be equipped to protect every child in their care. It looks like literature, policies, and faith-based partnerships that change the way our communities view prevention and protection. It looks like young girls and boys growing up with the freedom to be whole, safe, and heard.

Ultimately, it's about building something that lasts long after I'm gone, a safer, more informed world for our children, where protection is the norm, not the exception.

Lastly, we would like to provide this moment for you to vocalize any additional information or empowering message that you would like to share with our readers. What would you like to say or share?

Dr. Andrea: Thanks for this opportunity. If I could leave your readers with one message, it would be this: You have more power than you think. You have more courage than you realize. Whether you're a parent, guardian, educator, a pastor, or simply someone who cares, your voice matters. The safety and future of our children start with the courage of adults who are willing to break the silence, ask hard questions, and take intentional action.

The journey to protection isn't always easy, but it is always worth it. I want every reader to know that healing is possible, that purpose can rise from pain, and that we each have a role to play in creating a world where children are not just loved, but truly safe.

If you've ever wondered, what can I do? Start with your own family. Start with one conversation. Start by becoming a Guarded Wings Ambassador. Together, we can build strong intentional families, communities, and legacies rooted in protection, love, and truth."

To learn more or sign up to become a Guarded Wings Ambassador, visit www.guardedwingspromise.org.

Let's be the generation that didn't turn away - but stood up and said, 'Not on my watch.'"