Tracy Rector

Activist, Change agent, Christian, Concerned citizen, Connector, Explorer, Filmmaker, Foodie, Global soul, Idea generator, Life mentor, Parent, Philanthropist, Producer, Public servant, World traveler

Tracy Rector served as executive producer on her first foray into independent film with the award-winning social-impact feature No Ordinary Love, released Summer 2021. As a survivor of a 23-year marriage with intimate partner violence, Tracy served for seven years on the board of directors for SafeHaven of Tarrant County (Texas), the area’s only domestic violence shelter and service agency. Her experience on the board and as a domestic violence survivor drove her passion to create a film to raise awareness of intimate partner violence. She created a program PROJECT #RaiseAwareness to use the film to educate students on college campuses on domestic violence and dating violence to meet the schools’ Title IX programming requirement. Several universities are signed up to screen the film followed by a Q&A hosted by Rector and her director during Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October. While serving on the board for SafeHaven, Rector served two years as board chair and headed a task force to explore a potential merger with another nonprofit. Through her leadership and in-depth research into the merging process, she ultimately led the agency to walk away from the merger. Prior to filmmaking, Rector served in various capacities in the community. She worked with a second-chance high school for eight years by creating and directing a mentor program to connect underprivileged students to community leaders. She also served on a feasibility committee to bring a college-prep work-study model high school for youth living in poverty to Fort Worth, which will have its first graduating class in 2022. Tracy currently lives near Fort Worth, Texas with her husband. She enjoys spending time with their five children and four grandchildren when they aren’t hiking in the mountains of Colorado.

Raising awareness of domestic violence Working to end domestic violence Creating conversations that challenge the culture around male violence against women Reading and life-long learning Exploring new places and spaces preferably outdoors by hiking in the mountains Family and creating healing spaces where prior trauma may linger

Working to end domestic violence by helping to create culture changes, educating and engaging community leaders, and raising awareness among all the population will ultimately benefit all of us by having communities where male violence against women no longer is accepted and more of us can live in peace without fear especially in our homes and families.

Leading in a capacity to make a change for the betterment of the community.

After years of being in an abusive marriage to a well-known minister, I found my voice and stood up to my abuser and walked out. I encountered rejection and disbelief from most friends as they sought to defend their beloved pastor. My faith denied my abuse by rejecting my attempt to annul my marriage. I used what courage I had to re-apply for the annulment which surprisingly was accepted and included a mandate restricting my ex from ever marrying again in the church due to the extreme psychological nature of his abuse. There is a happy ending as I've been married now for six years to a wonderful, kind and loving man who has helped me reconfigure a new normal for a healthy relationship.