Janine Powell
Executive Director for Joan’s House of Refuge, Incorporated
Washington, DC

Janine N. Powell

 is the visionary and founder of Joan’s House of Refuge, Incorporated in Washington, DC.  It was in 2000 when Powell received the vision to provide support, training, and engagement with women from all walks of life who needed a stable residence and assistance with the tools, resources and skillset to enjoy a better quality of life.  This vision included transitional housing for women with (1) child who has been challenged with domestic violence, substance abuse, homelessness, aged-out foster care participants, and teenage mothers.  While this is an enormous task, Powell has stepped up as a leader in her home, local community, and nationally to serve.

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Affectionately known to many as “Angel” because of her birthdate on December 24, the name is most fitting because her desire to serve and be an angel to others is evident.  Powell has thirty-plus years of combined service in the Federal government and private sector, most recently serving as a Paralegal Specialist with the Office of Personnel Management (January 01/2012 - Retired 08/2021), a licensed cosmetologist since 2001, and a licensed foster parent to teenage mothers in the state of Maryland.  She accepted Christ and converted to Christianity in 1990 and has since served in numerous churches with the women’s ministry & youth departments, as well as the help of ministry through the greeters and sign language teams. 

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A sought-after speaker, lecturer, upcoming author and teacher; Powell has her own story of tragedy, trial, and triumph.  Understanding that every life experience has set her up for today and that today is only establishing tomorrow, she understands the necessity of Joan’s House of Refuge, Incorporated, and why God has charged her to bring it forth.  While the half has not been told, the tragedy of being shot in the head in 1990, paralyzed neck down, the trail of two failed marriages, being a single mother, severely stricken with COVID-19 in 01/2021 and Transverse-Myelitis in 12/2021 all leads to the triumphant life Powell now lives.  Not perfect but she is an overcomer, a victor in every sense of those words.

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Powell recently appeared in a short film on gun violence in the DMV called; PR616 

When hate is all you know in 04/2022.  Additionally, she has been the focus of two documentaries with the Office of Personnel Management in Washington, DC for the United Way for the Combined Federal Campaign in 2000.  Served as the cover story for Selise Christian Magazine in 2010 and made countless local and national radio and television appearances to share her story, provide guidance in overcoming tragedy and how to recover from life’s trial.

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Powell is the proud mother of one son, Michael Scott now age 22, and enjoys serving others and carrying out God’s plan as He reveals it to her for her life.  She is an avid reader, an enjoyer of music and culture.  A lifelong resident of the Washington, DC metropolitan area and advocate for women and women’s rights.