(318) 674-2900 | www.gingerbreadhousecac.org 1700 Buckner Square, Suite 101 | Shreveport, LA 71101

As executive director of the Gingerbread House for the past 13 years, Jessica Milan Miller is proud of this safe haven where children who have been sexually or physically abused are interviewed to obtain details for a complete and effective investigation. While the job can be sometimes painful, her faith keeps her strong.

Miller credits the people she works with for her continued inspiration. With a dedicated board of directors and a top-notch staff, they pour their hearts into the battle against child abuse. Detectives, social workers, prosecutors and medical and mental health professionals fight with them to protect the children from further victimization.

“We all have bad days, and in this field, those days tug at your heart strings like no other, but I choose joy – happiness is a form of courage. The children we serve have taught me that,” says Miller. She tries to find balance through an optimistic outlook.

In April 2015, Miller won the top honor in her field with the Geaux Blue for Kids Leadership Award. “It is one of the biggest professional honors I have received,” she adds. “I’m so proud that this shines the light brightly – not on me – but on our Child Advocacy Center, the Gingerbread House.

“My family and faith inspire and nurture me and they give me the support system I need to be an advocate for the most innocent among us. Life is a gift meant to be celebrated. I want all children to have that opportunity.”