In Newport News, the Still She Rose Foundation brings domestic violence support together with a belief that young women deserve room to thrive.

Its founder and president, Tamika Benson, a 39-year-old Newport News mother, sees those goals as connected rather than separate missions.

The nonprofit supports survivors while developing mentorship and prevention programs for young women.

Benson oversees daily operations and designs program curriculums, work that turns broad hopes into opportunities to learn and grow.

Survival is not the finish line when confidence, stability and a sense of control still need rebuilding.

Her commitment also reaches beyond the foundation’s programs through food and clothing drives that address everyday needs.

Across Hampton Roads, people value the region’s resources, but knowing help exists is different from feeling able to ask for it.

Benson hopes to make the foundation an additional resource for the community, not simply another name people recognize.

That distinction matters in domestic violence prevention, where trust and consistent support can shape whether someone feels ready to reach out.

Her vision extends to owning a building, expanding into another state and offering monthly support to surrounding communities.

At home in Newport News, she is raising her son, Jaydin Mercado Benson, and daughter, Mia Mercado.

Writing, movies and time beside the water offer her a pause from the demands of service.

She also recognizes the cost of giving endlessly without care in return, a tension familiar to many people who help others.

Care for caregivers cannot be an afterthought if a community expects them to keep showing up.

Her advice to young people is to act with integrity, give their best effort and take pride in who they are.

The foundation’s approach links immediate support with a longer view: young women deserve more than a warning about danger.