Atara Estes

Atara Estes is an author, Community Health Worker (CHW) strategist, and empowerment coach based in St. Louis, Missouri. Born in Chicago, Illinois, she overcame a childhood shaped by domestic violence and adversity to become a voice for healing and transformation. In 2014, she self-published Damaged Goods: My Journey, sharing her survival story to inspire others to reclaim their lives.

She is the founder of TATU (Thriving After Trauma Unashamed), a movement helping women move from survival to intentional thriving through self-love, faith, and personal development. Her work bridges lived experience with leadership, equipping individuals and communities with tools for healing and growth.

She has received multiple honors, including the “I Am a Conqueror” Award, an NAACP Image Award nomination, the Power of Faith Leadership Award (2023), the St. Louis Integrated Health Network Health Equity Champion Award (2024), and the JADASA Warrior Overcoming Obstacles (WOO) Award (2026). She continues to use her voice, story, and leadership to empower others to heal, lead, and thrive unashamed.