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 Devon's
Story.
Devon Hansen has spent more than 20
years inspiring and encouraging others with her poignant and uplifting
story of personal triumph over adversity. That story began in 1979 when
Devon first became aware that her husband at the time was abusing their
children and conspiring with local government authorities to cover up
his behavior.
After confronting her husband and seeking a divorce, she was railroaded by the local judiciary, which without the benefit of due process, put her children into foster care while simultaneously forcing Devon out of her home. In addition, she was advised by her personal attorney (the local prosecutor who was secretly in league with the system) that if she didn’t leave town, she would never see her children again.
With no supportive family to assist her, Devon went to a nearby city where she wound up living on the streets, often in the company of addicted, victimized and criminal members of the street community. This experience was intensely traumatic and shook Devon to the core. But in the end, the process of surviving and becoming accepted as a member of this community of social outcasts also had the effect of building Devon’s confidence in her ability to win her children back.
As a life long sufferer of serious learning disabilities, Devon seemed to have the odds stacked against her as she made a commitment to regain her children by first rebuilding her life. Devon began by finishing school and graduating from college while still homeless. She then continued her rise from the streets by finding work, moving into a low-income housing project and starting her own speaking business.
Once stabilized, Devon then began the arduous legal process of trying
to regain custody of her children. Single-handedly confronting the local
judiciary in her home town, Devon mounted an investigation that eventually
allowed her to rescue her children from her abusive ex-husband. Although
it took ten torturous years to accomplish, Devon was finally reunited
with her daughters two tender young girls now officially adjudicated as
Victims of Crime by the Supreme Court of Ohio.
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Devon as a young girl - inspiration for Heartperson. Check out knobby knees.
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Since that remarkable legal victory, Devon has remained determined to do whatever she can to address the domestic inequities and traumas with which she struggled for so many years. In the time since, Devon has successfully focused that fiercely quiet determination by becoming a nationally known speaker, author, artist and conflict/change consultant.
Her book, Angry? Do You Mind If I Scream?, has been used by many as an effective
self-discovery tool, including the survivors of the bombing of the Oklahoma
City Federal Building. Devon is also a recognized national speaker and consultant
with business, professional and non-profit clients ranging from Bank One,
GTE and Rockwell International to the YMCA Women’s Resource Center,
Women Survivors of Childhood Abuse and the Domestic Violence Conference.
In 1996, Devon created a special Valentine for her daughters. That innocent, loving and heartfelt little drawing quickly developed a life of its own, and has now grown to become a whole new platform for the support of Devon’s service-based initiatives. In 2004, Devon created a purpose-driven non-profit corporation to channel the energy of her Heartpeople® artwork back to the worldwide community.
Heartpeople® Inc. licenses Devon's Heartpeople® artwork in order
to generate revenues for the support of Ms. Hansen's service-based initiatives.
Working with a broad range of licensing partners, Heartpeople® Inc.
facilitates opportunities for joy and learning through its responsible
participation in the design and development of purpose-driven Heartpeople®
media and products. Devon's Heartpeople® artwork is now also increasingly
featured in healthcare environments where the loving energy of her Heartpeople®
can support others who are reaching out for hope and love.
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