How Does A Child Survive? – Being a True Example - Dennis Petersen

Welcome to Resilience in the Shadows, the podcast by TentMakers, where we illuminate the powerful journey of individuals overcoming the darkness.

Dennis Peterson is a former aerospace engineer whose résumé spans orbit‑analysis work at Lockheed Martin and senior security‑systems engineering on classified drone programs at Raytheon. Financially independent by 48, he pivoted from high‑pressure defense projects to a life of scuba instruction, ultra‑endurance athletics, and hands‑on philanthropy. Through his nonprofit umbrella “JWICS—Just What I Can Support, Just What I Can Share,” Dennis funds scholarships, outfits orphanages, and is launching a free‑breakfast community kitchen for schoolchildren in Cozumel, Mexico.

Alex and Leticia Payton trace Dennis’s arc from a 14‑year‑old clerical‑abuse survivor to accomplished engineer and, ultimately, philanthropic changemaker. Dennis recounts how trauma shaped his life plan—marry young, stay active with his kids, retire early—and how a Catholic‑Charities training video finally propelled him to report his abuser decades later. The trio dig into the career ceilings imposed by secrecy and shame, Dennis’s unsuccessful bid to be formally excommunicated from the Church, and his decision to pour settlement money and personal savings into Jay Wicks instead of “a new Corvette.” They also explore survivor stigma, the power of straightforward apologies, and practical ways allies can break the silence. Throughout, Dennis emphasizes that transforming pain into purposeful giving—whether scholarships, soup kitchens, or mentoring—has proven more fulfilling than any corporate accolade.

Follow Dennis! https://www.facebook.com/myJWICS

Tentmakers Website: www.Tentmakers.la

Apple Podcasts Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/resilience-in-the-shadows/id1727772192

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vvl7WTTHZzmIzI84YOlvr?si=1575dc7ea9334f0e

Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/@ResilienceintheShadows