The Power of the Comma: How Colene Marie Kennedy is Rewriting the Script for Survivors
- Founder 100 Magazine
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
In the heart of Boise, Idaho, Colene Marie Kennedy isn't just running a nonprofit; she’s building a lifeline. As the force behind Quest for Freedom Corporation, Colene has turned her own survival into a blueprint for others navigating the heavy intersections of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and mental health crises.
Meeting Colene feels like catching up with a long-lost friend who also happens to be a world-class strategist. Her 501(c)(3) has become a critical "hub" where "awareness" isn't a buzzword—it’s the baseline for a much deeper, more sustainable transformation. We sat down with her to discuss how she’s using everything from financial stabilization to improv therapy to ensure that for survivors, the story is just beginning.
The Turning Point: A Blueprint for Resilience
Q: Colene, the story of how Quest for Freedom started is incredibly powerful. What was that initial "spark" that moved you from survivor to leader?
Colene Marie Kennedy: My own journey provided the blueprint. On July 12, 2005—what should have been my wedding anniversary—I fled with my five children to a domestic violence shelter. We spent three months in a single bedroom with two sets of bunk beds and a playpen. That year, over 2,000 women and children sought help in that same place.
Watching my kids in a closed-down daycare room, it hit me: the pain was real, but the path forward was missing. Survivors need more than a safe exit; they need a sustainable future. I founded this organization to empower the broken to take back their stories. Awareness educates, but it’s empowerment that evokes real change.
Q: Dealing with high-trauma backgrounds requires a very specific kind of environment. How do you cultivate that at Quest for Freedom?
CMK: We prioritize what I call the "sensitization of trauma." It’s a strictly non-judgmental space because safety isn't just about a locked door—it's a psychological state. Every mentor and volunteer we bring in goes through rigorous background checks because trust is everything. We walk at the survivor's pace. Whether someone needs months or a decade to find independence, we meet them exactly where they are.
Expanding the Mission: Mental Health & The Science of Play
Q: You’ve recently expanded your focus into mental health and suicide prevention. Why was that move so vital for the organization?
CMK: This became deeply personal on October 17, 2022, when my son took his life. I saw a massive gap in safe spaces for those struggling with ideation. We now partner with local nonprofits to provide counseling and SOS group therapy.
We’ve even introduced innovative tools like Improv Character Creation. It sounds unconventional, but improv was originally designed as a therapeutic tool for trauma. By addressing the cognitive and physical aspects of the experience, we help survivors build a more resilient mental framework through play and creativity.
The Hub Model: "We Ride Together"
Q: You often talk about Quest for Freedom being a "hub" rather than an island. How does that collaboration work?
CMK: We can’t do this alone. We connect, we collaborate, and we ride together. We volunteer for other organizations and share our stage with other missions. If resources aren't fluidly moving to where they are needed most, the system fails. We make sure that "hub" stays connected.
Sustainable Innovation: #CommaNotPeriod
Q: Fundraising is a challenge for any nonprofit. How do you keep the message fresh and the lights on?
CMK: You have to dare to do the unknown. Our annual benefit concert, #commanotperiod, stems from a simple mantra: do not put a period where a comma belongs. We sell apparel that sparks those "uncomfortable" but necessary conversations. We even have local businesses where employees wear our shirts on the 17th of every month. If a campaign fails, we just "fail forward" and pivot.
Q: How do you balance that big-picture advocacy with the day-to-day needs of someone who just walked through your door?
CMK: Advocacy is the "battlefield," but direct support is the actual mission. I work with legislation in Idaho to strengthen victims' rights, but if we don't provide the car insurance, the school clothes, or the gym membership to help a mom regulate her health today, the legislation won't matter to her. One mom we worked with for a year is now a college graduate. That generational impact is the ultimate form of advocacy.
The Global Vision: Dignity as a Human Right
Q: What does the future look like for Colene Marie Kennedy and Quest for Freedom?
CMK: I want us to be global. We’ve already worked with women from Afghanistan and across Africa, and we want to scale that. Locally, we need attorneys on retainer who truly understand the psychology of abuse, and eventually, our own housing units.
We want to partner with dentists to restore the confidence that healthy teeth bring, and with tech schools for scholarships. These are basic human rights. My dream is a world where Quest for Freedom doesn't need to exist—but until then, we aim to be the place that never has to turn a soul away.
At a Glance: Colene Marie Kennedy
Role: Founder & CEO, Quest for Freedom Corporation
Location: Boise, Idaho
Key Initiative: #CommaNotPeriod (Benefit Concert & Apparel)
Specialty: Trauma-informed mentorship and Improv Therapy
Impact: From local legislative advocacy to global survivor support
