Martine Desmolieres’ journey to purpose did not begin in a boardroom. It began in survival.
Having relocated to Houston from Connecticut by way of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Desmolieres spent more than two decades working in the oil and gas industry. She mastered the corporate world, building stability and professional credibility. But beneath that success was a calling rooted not in profit margins, but in liberation.
“I transitioned and decided to work for myself and start Going Out Divine (GOD)… a non-profit organization that focuses on domestic violence awareness, education, and teen prevention,” said Desmolieres.
Freedom’s path
For her, this work is not abstract. It is a lived experience—pain transformed into purpose.
“Unfortunately, when I was 17, I experienced domestic violence or teen dating violence at that time, which went into my early 20s. So, for me, this work is very personal,” she said.
Desmolieres’ story reflects a broader social crisis often hidden behind closed doors. Domestic violence, particularly among young people, remains underreported and misunderstood. In communities already navigating economic and social instability, abuse can become normalized.
“And not only was it something that I experienced, I grew up in a neighborhood that wasn’t the safest,” she explained. “Whether I would hear it behind closed doors or see it happening on school grounds, I was always exposed to it.”
What ultimately shifted her trajectory was not just endurance, but awakening. That moment came unexpectedly, sparked by a co-worker’s book recommendation.
She recalled reading a few pages of Living Your Best Life Now by Joel Osteen while covering a colleague’s desk.
“It immediately captivated me,” she said.
Encouraged to buy a copy, she used money she could barely spare.
“I finished it within 48 hours… it made me realize that I was valuable, that I was worth it, and that there was more to life than just this.”
What followed was an act of courage that would redefine her life. With just $40 to her name, she changed the locks on her apartment, packed her abuser’s belongings, and forced a separation.
“I could see a dent in the door—he had tried to break it down. But that was what shifted everything… it unlocked something inside of me,” recalled Desmolieres.
That moment was not just an exit. It was a rebirth.
Building Going Out Divine
Desmolieres founded GOD with a clear mission: To ensure that other women and girls have access to the tools, knowledge, and support she had to fight to find.
“We have community outreach where we support local domestic violence shelters with essentials that they need, such as toiletries,” she said.
But the organization’s work goes far beyond material support. It addresses the deeper structural and cultural gaps that allow abuse to persist—particularly among young people.
One of GOD’s most impactful initiatives is In Her League, a teen empowerment program designed for middle and high school girls.
“We talk about healthy relationships, boundaries, and red flags. But we also give them the skills and the tool sets that they need to have strong futures.”
Martine Desmolieres
“We talk about healthy relationships, boundaries, and red flags,” Desmolieres explained. “But we also give them the skills and the tool sets that they need to have strong futures.”
That includes financial literacy, professional development, college readiness, and holistic life skills—an approach that recognizes that vulnerability to abuse is often tied to economic dependency and lack of access.
The impact is already visible.
“In Her League wasn’t just an event—it was an empowerment summit,” said Shan Greggs, CEO of Simply Scents Candle Company. “Houston teens showed up, asked bold questions, healed, and walked out confident.”
In a society that too often teaches young women to endure rather than resist, programs like this represent a radical intervention.
Expanding the vision
Desmolieres is not stopping with girls. Recognizing that prevention must include boys and young men, GOD is developing a co-ed initiative called The League Academy, set to launch this fall.
“We are opening it up to not just teen girls but to teen boys, as well,” she said. “The curriculum is extensive, and schools will have the opportunity to send their students.”
This expansion reflects a critical truth: Addressing domestic violence requires transforming the socialization of all young people, not just those most visibly harmed by it.
In addition to her nonprofit work, Desmolieres has launched Voices Restored, a for-profit organization that extends her mission into institutional spaces.
“We partner with corporations, schools, and organizations to bring various workshops and training programs that deal with domestic violence education and awareness,” she said. “We also want to work with the schools… and connect with the parents so they can be involved.”
This dual model—nonprofit advocacy paired with professional training—positions her work at the intersection of community empowerment and systemic change.
From survival to strategy
Desmolieres’ story is not simply one of personal triumph. It is a case study in what happens when lived experience is transformed into an organized intervention.
In a nation where domestic violence continues to devastate lives across lines of race, class, and geography, her work underscores a deeper reality: Survival alone is not enough. What is required is structure, education, and collective accountability.
For Desmolieres and those impacted by her work, “Going Out Divine” is more than a name. It’s a declaration.
