About Us
Scroll down to learn more about the visionaries behind Amour Center and Safe House.
Our Story
We are a team dedicated to supporting ALL survivors of rape, abuse, and trafficking, especially the most marginalized and stigmatized.
Meet The Team
Amber Johnson is the Founder of Amour Center and an Author, Certified Sexual Assault Victim Advocate, Spiritual Coach, Certified Kemetic Reiki Practitioner, Sex Educator, Linguist, Humanitarian, and a Motivational Speaker. She is a former employee of the Human Rights Campaign, creator of #StopRapeEducate, and Creating Consent Culture. Amber has deep compassion for sex workers and trafficking victims, alike.
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She has been a guest speaker at the University of California Riverside, University of California Santa Barbara, Arizona State University, Manhattan College and at the University of Cape Town. Amber’s work has been featured in The Huffington Post, Tiny Buddha, Elle, Marie Claire, Galore Magazine and international publications worldwide. She has written four ebooks on consent and healing after sexual assault. Amber has been offering tropical retreats for survivors of sexual assault since 2019 and has been working on opening a retreat center since 2020.
She speaks French and Spanish proficiently and is currently learning American Sign Language. She also speaks her ancestral languages (Yoruba, Medu Neter, Taino), Italian, Portuguese, German, and Arabic at a novice level.
Amber is a survivor. This is why she is fully committed to helping survivors thrive through healing.
Amber Johnson, Founder
Board of Directors
Vanessa Green, Board President
Vanessa Green relocated to San Diego in September 2018 to be closer to her children. In May 2019 she began working for Alliance San Diego as the Census and Redistricting manger. In June 2021 Vanessa was hired for the newly created County of San Diego Office for Equity and Racial Justice as Equity Impact Manager. One of the missions of the office is to champion belonging for all and advocate for people suffering from structural and systemic racism and exclusion.
Vanessa Green was the Director of the VCS Domestic Violence Program for Men and was the organizer of all anti-oppression work at VCS Inc. Her anti-oppression work included Rockland Pride, and their LGBTQI initiative in Hudson Valley New York for over 25 years. Vanessa was recognized in New York State as an activist in the fight to end men’s violence against women. In addition, Vanessa’s article, “The Impact of Pornography on Women” was published and shared widely.
Her specific interests revolve around Human’s rights, women’s rights (including Trans) and sexuality, and race and identity politics concerning diaspora’d peoples. She is founder of Call BlackLine a crisis listening line for Black, Indigenous and People of Color, LGBTQI, gender non-conforming community. Witnessing caller’s negative interaction with police, vigilante and businesses across the United States and Canada. Call BlackLine is non-judgmental, affirming, and supportive, listener-witnessing and information gathering about BIPOC, LGBTQI, gender non-conforming experience.
Vanessa along with #100Sistas organized Black Women’s March Continuing the Legacy of Harriet Tubman on April 7th, 2018. The largest march in the Hudson Valley NY with demands and issues focusing on gender and racial injustice, since the Tawana Brawley case in 1987.
As a multi-generational Black Women, Vanessa was raised by an outspoken and politically active mother, Jean Green, and has two beautiful children, Nyisha and Ahkiem.
Dr. Dulcinea Alex Pitagora, Board Treasurer
Dr. Dulcinea Alex Pitagora (they/them) has been a member of and mentor in New York City's LGBTQ, BDSM, and Sex Work communities for about two decades. They hold a Master of Arts in Psychology, a Master of Social Work, a Master of Education in Human Sexuality, and a Doctoral degree in clinical sexology. Dr. Pitagora is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed to practice psychotherapy by New York State and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST) and CST Supervisor. They have completed EMDRIA-approved EMDR Basic Training through the Parnell Institute, which specializes in Attachment-Focused EMDR, and also offer Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy in partnership with Journey Clinical. Dr. Pitagora has a private psychotherapy practice in Manhattan, and works with people across the spectrum of power role identification, gender expression, and sexual orientation, as well as those who are unsure of or evolving through identifications. Their therapeutic approach is psychodynamic-based, person-centered, holistic, and tailored to fit their clients. They do not believe in a one-size-fits-all therapeutic approach, and integrate different methods as each collaboration indicates.
Dr. Pitagora believes that encouraging sex positive outreach, education, empathy, and tolerance in mainstream communities is equally as important as cultivating self-acceptance and -actualization in all individuals, no matter how they identify or choose to live life. While their work as a therapist is their primary focus, they like to stay involved in education, research, and outreach. To those ends, they supervise early career therapists and therapists-in-training; offer supervision and consultations to seasoned psychotherapists and sex therapists; teach sexual health in social work practice at New York University; founded and maintain ManhattanAlternative.com, a nonprofit listing of alternative lifestyle affirmative providers serving New York City; and co-founded the AltSex NYC Conference. They are also the creator and host of the talk show pilot Kink Doctor. Dr. Pitagora has published articles in peer-reviewed journals, presented at conferences, lectured in universities, and conducted training in clinical environments on topics of gender diversity and non-mainstream sexuality. They are regularly quoted in the press as an identity and sexuality expert.
Julia Koerwer, Board Secretary
Julia Koerwer, LMSW is a therapist who works primarily with clients who provide as part of the LGBTQIA+, kink, non-monogamy, or sex work communities. She specializes in working with trauma. Julia holds an MSW from Hunter College of the City University of New York and is pursuing education to become a certified sex therapist.
While her work as a therapist is centered around helping individuals, she passionately believes that systemic change is necessary to improve the lives of everyone, especially those in historically oppressed populations. She believes that safe housing is a human right, that sex work should be decriminalized, and that everyone deserves access to health and mental health care. In her spare time, she likes to play board games and hang out with her cats.
Eldotha Fields
Eldotha W. Fields serves as a Recovery Care Coordinator. She builds community, develops and coordinates recovering service members recovery plans; cultivates and maintains relationships with the necessary resources for warriors on her caseload; and enacts culturally responsive practices. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration from Georgia Southwestern State University and Master of Science in Human Services (with distinction) from Capella University. Eldotha has over 20+ years of experience within the social services profession to include living and working abroad in Japan with the Department of the Navy.
She has worked as a Case Manager and served as a Domestic Violence Victim Advocate as well as equipping parents with resources to support family members with special needs. Eldotha serves as member of the Poiema Movement Personal Development Team as a volunteer/mentor to residents housed in the transitional living program. Eldotha is a certified Anger Management Specialist-II (CAMS-II); National Advocate Credentialing Program as an Advanced Advocate, and Mental Health First Aid USA.
She is eager to serve all survivors of sexual assault, including, but not limited to: Black and Indigenous people of color, women, adult trafficking survivors, men, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disabilities, tribal communities, and those who have experienced sexual trauma while working in the military or adult entertainment industry.
Eldotha received a Mediation Training Certification from the Community Mediation of Maryland. She is the proud mother of Jordan, a two-time graduate of Savannah State University and Madysen, an SSU graduate, as well. Eldotha enjoys spending time with family and friends, partaking in international foods and travel, and serving others.
Prather Stinson
Prather Stinson is an Addiction Counselor at Cowlitz Tribal Health. She services both Indigenous and non-indigenous clients with a substance use disorder. Prather strives to create a safe place for those she serves by combining a holistic healing approach to treatment. She incorporates cultural ceremonies and aspects such as drumming, sweating, beading, smudging and traditional native medicines.
She received her Associate Degree in Healthcare Administration from Pima Medical Institute, Bachelor of Social Work from Talladega College, and Master of Science in Addiction Counseling from Grand Canyon University. She is a Certified Medical Assistant, Phlebotomist and Certified Allied Health Instructor. Prather served as member of the Washington State Department of Health Rules Committee as a Credentialing Advisor, and Jones & Bartlett Clinical Medical Assisting Education Reviewer (Published).
Prather is an Army Veteran who has over 20+ years of experience working with diverse and underserved populations in the social services and education arena. She has worked as a Medical Assistant Instructor and Program Director at Pima Medical Institute. During her tenure at Pima, she taught students from various nationalities, ethnic groups, races, and backgrounds. While working as a Mental Health Case Manager and Case Manager for the state of Texas, she assisted individuals with disabilities, sexual trauma, domestic violence, sex workers, child and adult trafficking survivors, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, Black and Indigenous people of color, women, and adult entertainment industry.
She is happy to support all survivors of sexual assault, including, but not limited to: Black and Indigenous people of color, women, adult trafficking survivors, men, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, individuals with disabilities, tribal communities, and those who have experienced sexual trauma while working in the adult entertainment industry.
Advisory Board Members
Karen Campbell
Matthew Southworth
Danielle Simpson-Baker
John Rickenbacker
Isabella DeLuca
Karen Marie Campbell
Sumayya Diop
Kimberly Harris
Shenita Johnson
Damali Robertson
Christina Tesoro
Mike Fusilli
