by Sue Ann Rybak

Rev. Michelle Anne Simmons, 50, the founder of Why Not Prosper, a nonprofit that provides transitional living and services for formerly incarcerated women at 717 E. Chelten Ave. in Germantown, listened intently as her client asked questions about her writing assignment to acknowledge the client’s “inner child.”

When Simmons, a certified Allied Addictions Practitioner, Domestic Violence Counselor and Germantown native, asks her about trauma or any painful childhood memories she might have experienced as a little girl, the woman’s hands begin to tremble and shake. She becomes anxious and holds back tears as she recalls how her father began sexually abusing her at age 4, which eventually led her to cut herself and later become addicted to cocaine.

Simmons, who has a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology, knows what it’s like to sit on the other side of the desk; raised by her father, who was a drug dealer, she is a recovering drug addict who served time in the California State Penitentiary.

In her autobiography, “Keep Moving,” she recalls waking up in a hospital wearing “half a body cast covering one hip and leg” after a motorcycle accident, helping her father to deliver drugs and “thinking at least the drugs and money were safe.”

Simmons’ injuries caused her to be an additional burden to her single mother. Simmons always craved her father’s attention and devotion, so when her parents arranged for her to stay at her father’s house during the week, she was thrilled. Unfortunately, her visions of eating snacks in bed and watching T.V. all day were abruptly replaced by the reality of incest.

In her book, she wrote, “The incest continued on until I left for California at the age of 27. When I look back and wonder why it continued for so long, I can only say I was numb to the entire event and really didn’t know what normal was.” She said because most of the family was involved in using drugs, everyone “looked the other way.”

In her book, she writes, “I went from a kid enjoying life to its fullest to a kid who now used drugs and maintained a drug-induced high by snorting all day.”

In California State Prison, Simmons’ cellmate was Susan Atkins, a member of Charles Manson’s “Family.” Atkins was convicted of the group’s infamous 1969 murder of Sharon Tate. Simmons wrote that Atkins told her, “God had a plan for my life and for you.” She believes that plan came in a vision in 2000 to open Why Not Prosper. She had just gotten released from prison.

“When I moved here (Norristown) on July 11, 2000, all I had was a green hefty bag full of trash, and I was about eight months clean,” she said. “I had lost my children to the system. I had a lot of broken family relationships.”

The first thing Simmons did after she was released on probation and was allowed to return home to Norristown was to apply for custody to get her children back. “The judge told me he couldn’t give me back my kids until I had housing,” she said. “So I asked the pastor at my church if he knew where I could stay. And he said maybe he had a place — and that’s when the vision was dropped in my spirit.”

From that point on, Rev. Simmons’ life underwent a remarkable transformation. In 2008 she graduated from Chestnut Hill College with a bachelor’s degree in Human Services, and in December of 2010 she graduated with a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. In addition, she received her Doctorate in Ministry from Friends International Christian Academy.

Why Not Prosper uses a trauma-informed and evidence-based approach to healing. Simmons said Why Not Prosper is one of the few recovery houses that specializes in treating women. She said without the support of the community, many generous sponsors and volunteers, she would not be able to keep the doors of Why Not Prosper open.

The nonprofit currently has four recovery houses and a resource center with a total of 37 beds. Simmons said, “Eight out of 10 women [in prison] suffered from domestic violence or sexual abuse.” She said it’s important to address “the root of each woman’s issue … These women are amazing. They are leaders, but the drugs and alcohol stunted their growth for a little while. They come in full of guilt, shame and remorse, but here at Why Not Prosper we want our clients to be able to dump all that junk here.

“Our job is to help them build a new foundation. To help them believe in themselves again. You are not that label. You made mistakes, but you are not your mistakes. You are not your experience. That was just an event. It is not who you are!

“My motto is to see a person in their loving essence. It means I don’t care what you did or who you did it to. I am not judging you. I never would have imagined that in 2001 when God gave me the vision how big this place would grow. I am so proud that God has used me to be the ambassador to keep Why Not Prosper’s doors open.”

Why Not Prosper, Inc., Founder & CEO Rev. Michelle Simmons will be presented with the Dorothy Height Award by the Philadelphia Section of the National Council of Negro Women during their 72nd Founder’s Day & Awards Luncheon on Saturday, Dec. 8. For more information or to make a donation, go to whynotprosper.wixsite.com/whynotprosper or call 215-842-2360.