About Abuse

Understanding the Barriers

Why We Must Confront Abuse and Adversity

Education for Freedom Foundation exists because many women face circumstances that threaten their safety, independence, and hope for the future. Abuse—whether physical, emotional, financial, or legal—is only one of the barriers that can hold women back.

Others face poverty, instability, or the challenge of becoming a family’s primary provider. Understanding these realities helps us see why education isn’t just a goal, it’s a pathway to lasting freedom and resilience.

West Jordan displays scale of domestic violence with field of flags, pinwheels. Photo Credit: Par Kermani, KSL.com. Read article.

The Reality of Abuse

A Widespread Crisis with Local Impact

1 in 3 women worldwide will experience abuse in their lifetime, impacting their safety, confidence, and independence.

1 in 5 women experience financial abuse, where a partner controls income, loans, or access to money, limiting financial independence.

In Utah, violence against women ranks among the nation’s highest, and many single mothers still lack access to higher education.

These numbers aren’t just statistics. They represent the daily realities of women in our communities.

Types of Abuse

More Than Physical Violence

Abuse takes many forms, often overlapping and extending beyond physical harm.

Physical Abuse

This looks like causing bodily harm through hitting, choking, shoving, or other forms of physical violence.

Mental/Emotional Abuse

This looks like manipulation, threats, intimidation, or control that damages confidence and self-worth.

Verbal Abuse

This looks like yelling, insults, humiliation, or constant criticism meant to belittle and degrade.

Financial Abuse

This looks like controlling money, blocking access to accounts, or sabotaging education and employment.

Sexual Abuse

This looks like unwanted sexual contact, coercion, assault, or pressuring someone into intimacy.

Digital Abuse

This looks like using phones, social media, or tracking devices to monitor, stalk, or harass.

Litigation Abuse

This looks like misusing the legal system to intimidate, control, or exhaust someone financially.

Cultural/Identity Abuse

This looks like attacking someone’s race, religion, gender identity, orientation, disability, or immigration status.

Exploiting Family

This looks like threatening custody, manipulating children, or using loved ones as leverage to force compliance.

Research and Resources

Why Education Matters

Breaking Cycles, Creating Futures

Education provides survivors with more than knowledge. It creates independence, stability, and hope. Research shows:
  • Women with access to education are less vulnerable to repeated abuse.
  • Education leads to career opportunities and financial independence, reducing reliance on abusers.
  • When mothers succeed, children thrive, breaking generational cycles of abuse and poverty.
This belief is at the heart of the Education for Freedom Foundation. By focusing on education, we turn awareness into action, giving women the tools to step into independence and children the opportunity to grow up in safe, stable homes.
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Rachel Dalton

VP of Education Grants

Advocate for Educational Opportunity and Community Service

Rachel Dalton’s passion for education and service permeates her work and community engagement. As Vice President of Education Grants, she leads the Foundation’s efforts to provide survivors of abuse with educational opportunities—opening new pathways for women to rebuild and achieve their goals.

Her longstanding volunteer roles within her local school district reflect a deep belief in the power of education to transform lives. Rachel’s commitment to supporting students, teachers, and families speaks to her integrity, compassion, and spirit of service.

Rachel brings professional expertise as a loan processor to our mission of expanding educational opportunities. Her keen attention to detail, financial acumen, and commitment to fairness—skills honed in her day job—ensure our grant programs are efficient, transparent, and impactful.

By guiding grant initiatives and advocating for access, Rachel directly advances the Foundation’s mission—empowering women and children in adverse situations to find renewal, healing, and hope through the gift of learning.

Emily Sparks

VP of Reading Grants

Innovator in Literacy and Differentiated Instruction

With 13 years of teaching excellence, Emily Sparks is an educator whose commitment to student growth and learning shines through every endeavor. She holds a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and a Master’s in Instructional Design and Technology, complemented by endorsements in Reading, STEM, Technology, and ESL.

Emily’s training in the Science of Reading and LETRS equips her with evidence-based strategies that make her one of the state’s top-scoring reading teachers. Her expertise in phonics-based methods and literacy instruction nurtures strong foundational skills and reading confidence in young learners—an essential element in the Foundation’s mission to foster academic success and independence.

Emily’s dedication to differentiated instruction and support for diverse learners ensures that every student, regardless of background or ability, has the opportunity to thrive. Her innovative approach and mastery of best practices make her an invaluable asset to the Board, guiding efforts to expand reading support and cultivate lifelong curiosity.

Laura Hesson

Secretary & VP of Communications

Champion for Educational Equity and Community Empowerment

Laura Hesson’s career is defined by over two decades of unwavering service to education and advocacy. With a lifelong love of learning and a belief in its transformational power, Laura has shaped equitable opportunities for underserved and at-risk women and children.

Her 18-year tenure as an elected official on her local school board attests to her leadership and vision—developing policy, overseeing budgets, and championing equity initiatives to ensure that every child, regardless of background, receives a quality education. Her strategic planning and engagement have left an indelible mark on her community, earning respect from peers, families, and educators.

Laura’s experience working with PTAs at every level for over 20 years further amplifies her impact. From parent engagement to community programs and student advocacy, Laura has fostered meaningful connections and empowered families.

Professionally, Laura brings organizational leadership and executive support experience, alongside a background in marketing to promote causes and forge genuine community bonds. Her blend of heart, strategy, and administrative expertise makes her uniquely qualified to help the Foundation create safe spaces where education becomes a pathway to hope, healing, and opportunity.

Cinthanie R. Crenshaw

Founder & Executive Director

Visionary Leader, Compassionate Advocate

For over three decades, Cinthanie R. Barton Crenshaw has devoted her life to service—evolving from business owner to community leader, volunteer, and most importantly, mother and grandmother. As a survivor of abuse, Cinthanie transformed her personal journey into a source of hope for others, founding the Education for Freedom Foundation to provide survivors with educational grants and the chance to attend technical colleges on scholarships.

Her philosophy is simple but profound: through education, freedom is possible—not only for women rebuilding their lives, but for generations yet to come. Her vision extends to fostering early literacy through reading tutoring, nurturing a love of learning from the start.

Cinthanie’s qualifications reflect both academic achievement and real-world experience. With a Bachelor of Science in Psychology (minor in Communication) from Utah Tech University and ongoing graduate study in Non-Profit Leadership and Management at Arizona State University, she pairs theoretical understanding with hands-on expertise. Her entrepreneurial journey spans 30+ years, managing businesses and properties across Utah and Nevada, while her volunteer service includes roles as foster mother, PTA leader, CASA advocate for at-risk youth, and support for organizations such as Boy Scouts of America and Utah Foster Care Foundation.

Cinthanie’s deep community involvement—including service as Secretary/Treasurer for her local Republican district and HOA management committee—illustrates her tireless dedication. Now living in the peaceful woods of Utah, she embodies the foundation’s mission every day, guided by a steadfast commitment to helping others achieve renewal and freedom through learning.