Meet Shannon DeGrooms | Executive Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shannon DeGrooms and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shannon, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Like some entrepreneurs, hardship and gut instinct led me to start a business. After surviving a violent carjacking in 2016, I was left riddled with symptoms of PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. After months of struggling, someone suggested that I try medicinal cannabis, which after much trepidation, I did. I saw a reduction in my symptoms almost immediately. I was able to leave my house again, to move my body again, and most importantly, my recurring nightmares about that evening began to dissipate. That experience led to the creation of, This is Jane Project, a CA & CO nonprofit organization that sheds light, builds community, and uplifts the lives of women and non-binary trauma survivors. To date, we have served nearly 3k survivors, or “Janes”, with access to healing-centered events, low-to-no-cost cannabis in Denver and Los Angeles, and heavily discounted physician’s recommendations.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Our work at This is Jane Project is trauma-informed and works to uplift the lives of women and non-binary trauma survivors. We touch the lives of trauma survivors through programming such as our monthly Healing Happy Hours, a virtual, free event series that brings Janes together to explore a wide spectrum of trauma-informed healing modalities, quarterly HEARTs Healing Arts events, which are virtual, free, artist-led community events using creative mediums like drawing, painting, and coloring with a group-led discussion on a healing topic, and bi-monthly compassionate cannabis giveaways in Denver and Los Angeles through our Survivors Without Access (SWA) program. I am most excited to expand our SWA program to serve Janes in Chicago, Illinois beginning in May of 2024. There, we will ensure the compliant donations of cannabis to women and non-binary trauma survivors in need.

Being a trauma survivor myself has landed me here, as the Executive Director of TIJP. With my background in advocacy and nonprofit management, I am well equipt to serve a community that I am both passionate about and a part of. The lessons I have learned along the way have been that when you believe in something with everything that you are, it is possible. Whatever “it” is. I have also learned that when you have a good idea that you believe in, you just have to get started, and the Universe will provide the rest.

I want the world to know that trauma happens and that for many, cannabis is medicine. In fact, those with PTSD who use cannabis can be 2.5x more likely to experience symptom relief. The fact that we encourage the use of medicinal cannabis sets us apart from other trauma-informed organizations. We believe that cannabis can be a bridge and a vessel for discussing the hard things about life and our work continues to make space to elevate the stories of Janes.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
While I have never been to Denver personally, I can’t wait to visit! I hear the Botanical Gardens are absolutely beautiful! I’m also excited to delve into the food scene in the Rino Arts District.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I dedicate my shoutout to the first 5 Janes who gathered in my backyard in 2019. Their trust in both the project– and me, was the foundation upon which the organization was created. I’d also like to give a special shoutout to our outgoing Program Director, Jennifer “Axcell”. Axcell, a Denver native and conscious entrepreneur, was a founding member and contributed greatly to the success of This is Jane Project. Now, she is the founder and creator of LOTO Wellness Collective.

Website: https://thisisjaneproject.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisjaneproject/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannondegrooms/