Shepherd’s Door President Tunisia Offray to Be Honored in John Muir Alumni Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Tunisia Offray, Board President and Co-director of the nonprofit Shepherd’s Door Domestic Violence Resource Center in Pasadena, will be inducted into the John Muir High School Alumni Hall of Fame in a ceremony on campus on Saturday, Oct. 28, starting at 10 a.m. 

Tunisia Offray’s recognition in the John Muir Alumni Hall of Fame is a testament to her outstanding contributions to the community through advocacy, education, and empowerment. This honor coincides with the culmination of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, underscoring the critical work done by Shepherd’s Door in addressing domestic violence issues in Pasadena.

The induction ceremony will be at 1905 Lincoln Ave. in Pasadena.

Shepherd’s Door was founded by Tunisia Offray’s mother Linda Offray in 2000 to assist and support victims of domestic violence. 

Tunisia earlier told about her personal experience during her high school years as a driving force behind the creation of Shepherd’s Door.

“I am a victim of teen dating violence and also sexual assault, which I experienced in high school,” Offray told Pasadena Now in September. “That really took my family through a lot.” 

Through her own journey of healing, Offray transitioned from being a victim to a survivor. She later joined her mother in running the center, along with other staff members who also have lived experience.

Shepherd’s Door’s services for domestic violence victims include counseling, support groups, financial literacy workshops, healing art workshops, and legal assistance. They also conduct education workshops for youth in local schools to raise awareness of healthy relationships versus unhealthy relationships and aid in violence prevention.

Despite its successes, Shepherd’s Door faces challenges related to funding and resource distribution. The nonprofit relies on foundations, corporate and individual donors, and self-revenue generating programs for funding.

“In our society, we have a bad habit of continuously funding the exact same organizations and not stretching out the funding to other organizations who are doing the same level of work,” Tunisia said, emphasizing the need to distribute funding equally to ensure that no one is left without support. 

The John Muir High School Alumni Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding contributions made by the school’s alumni in their respective careers. Since its establishment in 1988, it has honored notable alumni from various fields, leaving a positive mark on their careers and endeavors, and setting an inspiring legacy for others to follow.

To learn more about the Alumni Hall of Fame, visit https://jmhsaa.org/hall-of-fame. 

If you’re interested in supporting Shepherd’s Door, donations can be made through their website at www.shepherddoor.org/how-you-can-help/. 

If you or someone you know needs the nonprofit’s services, contact Shepherd’s Door at (626) 765-9967 or email sd@shepherddoor.org.