Today we’d like to introduce you to Leona Vann.
Hi Leona, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a kid I grew up in an adoptive home that could not meet my needs from infancy to age
seventeen. I never felt like I belonged and the messaging was that I would not turn out to be
anything worthwhile. During that time I never gave up hope I could have a better life and my
passion for helping others never changed. At age sixteen I started my path helping others as a
CNA. From there, I held other jobs and roles as a young adult such as direct support
professional, tutor and eventually a Guardian Ad Litem and Social Worker. Fourteen years later
and I currently work as an outpatient therapist working with adults and children and helping
them create a life that feels fulfilling to them. I fulfill my own passions in creativity through writing
poetry, which you can find in Austur Magazine, and my hobby business, Lotus and Love
Photography where I focus on capturing memories for others.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
* Trigger Warning *
My road to where I currently am is nothing short of halfway paved, potholes and even a chasm
here and there. From one to seventeen I faced loss of family members that rocked my world,
bullying from peers that ended in nightly tears, rape, being separated from my siblings through
foster care/adoption and three attempts to take my own life. In my twenties I faced the loss
through miscarriage of three babies, an emotional divorce, an assault and the loss of my
grandmother. I could go on and on about the challenges and obstacles that I faced or the
resilience that people tell me I have but I won’t. While they play an integrated part of who I am, I
am also so much more.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As mentioned I am an outpatient therapist! I primarily specialize in working with teens who have
street involvement (truancy, gang involvement, unhoused) and also individuals who have
experienced adoption/foster care. I also practice therapy in a generalist setting. I am beyond
proud of my accomplishments in my certifications and license and my ability to use my strengths
and intellect to help others.
On the flip side, I write poetry and practice hobby photography through my start up, Lotus and
Love Photography. Through this I capture the memories and moments for families, couples, high
school seniors and engagements. One thing that sets me aside is my pricing. To be clear I
understand the dilemma of pricing and worth in the photography community however my goal is
to reach the people who may not be able to afford the standard pricing of photography. As a
high school senior and as an adult there have been moments where I could barely afford a
photography session or even where I had to forgo it completely. Being part of my community for
me means giving back and that is my hope and dream with this hobby of mine.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Accepting that I am a human who makes mistakes AND IT’S OKAY is one of the biggest
lessons I have learned and am still learning. I work my hardest to be my best self everyday. As a
Type A aspiring perfectionist it is really hard for me when I make a mistake, and boy do I make
them. I’m learning that while I take accountability for my mistakes and it does not always feel
great, my mistakes do not have to define me.
