Natasha Guynes, an advocate for young women experiencing complex trauma, died Saturday evening, the nonprofit she founded said on social media. She was 45.
Details regarding memorial services will be shared soon, according to a HER Resiliency Center social media post, which did not provide the cause of death.
Those who knew her praised Guynes for her candor and passion for the organization’s mission.
As a young adult, Guynes dealt with addiction, experienced homelessness and was involved with sex work, she said in media interviews. She became sober at 21 through Alcoholics Anonymous and went on to advocate for women with similar experiences, according to the nonprofit.
City Council President Zeke Cohen said on social media that Guynes dedicated her life to “serving women that are made to feel invisible,” turning her trauma into “a platform for survivors.”
“She taught me what resilience looks like,” he said. “She was kind and she was loved.”
Councilman Antonio Glover, who represents parts of Northeast Baltimore, called Guynes a “true fighter” and “one of the strongest voices our city has ever had for women facing homelessness, trauma, addiction and exploitation.” Guynes lived in Glover’s district, he wrote in a social media post.
“What made Natasha special was her ability to turn pain into purpose,” Glover wrote. “She dedicated her life to helping women who felt forgotten by the world, and because of her, countless lives were changed forever.”
After going through a 12-step recovery program, Guynes earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and worked several years on Capitol Hill, according to the nonprofit, starting at the office of former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
She founded HER Resiliency Center in 2015, and her organization expanded into a brick-and-mortar space in Fells Point in 2023.
The center serves women 18 to 25 years old, using a holistic approach to support those dealing with poverty, substance use, homelessness and sexual exploitation, according to the organization’s website. Last year, the center sued Gov. Wes Moore’s administration, alleging the Office of Crime Prevention and Policy withheld reimbursements for money spent on victim services.
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