chelsea brown

At Warrior’s Way Forward Association, we’re not just raising awareness—we’re actively building solutions.

[chelsea brown @WarriorsWFA]

@MrBeast 3 million pennies

[chelsea brown @WarriorsWFA]

Over the last year, Warrior’s Way Forward Association has been working alongside incredible partners to help develop a survivor-led, immersive trauma-informed training initiative focused on improving domestic violence response across Canada.

[chelsea brown @WarriorsWFA]

@edmontonjournal Thank you for sharing my story!

[Edmonton Journal @edmontonjournal]

Edmonton woman says police didn't take domestic violence case seriously https://t.co/fhRy2O9OuG

[chelsea brown @WarriorsWFA]

https://t.co/zeEQxb1hS7

[chelsea brown @WarriorsWFA]

Pls come join us Oct 4th 2025 at Lago Lindo Community Hall for our first fundraiser/community event. #enddomesticviolence #Yeg #edmonton

[chelsea brown @WarriorsWFA]

Today I have the privilege of meeting with the Edmonton Police Service Research & Innovations team to discuss the project I’ve been building in collaboration with Grant MacEwan University and the Coalition for Canadian Police Reform. Tomorrow, I’ll be pitching this project in person to 4th-year sociology students at MacEwan, who will be working alongside us to explore policing and community, with a focus on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV).

Our goal is clear: to push for police policy reform that reflects trauma-informed responses, ensuring that victims of domestic violence are truly seen, heard, and supported when they come into contact with EPS. This work is deeply personal to me, and it’s an honor to be able to stand in this space where lived experience meets academic research and real-world change.

A huge thank you to Dave Cassels and John Lilley from the Coalition for Canadian Police Reform for walking alongside me in this momentous step forward. Change doesn’t happen overnight, but together, we are making sure that victims and survivors will no longer fall through the cracks.

#DoRightly #TraumaInformed #IPVReform #CommunityAndPolicing #WarriorsWayForward

[chelsea brown @WarriorsWFA]

This is important. We're raising funds for a nonprofit that helps survivors of domestic violence. Every dollar counts and can make a real difference. Please consider donating or sharing! https://t.co/rW1M2zJSoa

[chelsea brown @WarriorsWFA]

Knowledge is power — but only if we use it with humility and courage.

Being willing to acknowledge when systems are broken is the first step toward fixing them. Too often, we place responsibility on victims to adapt to systems that no longer serve them, instead of transforming those systems to do the right thing.

As a survivor of domestic violence, I’ve seen first-hand the gaps women face when trying to flee abuse:

When programs exist to help victims but cannot be accessed because police don’t recognize them as victims at first contact — that’s a problem.

When women are blamed or revictimized by the very organizations meant to protect them — that’s a problem.

When women are charged with assault for defending themselves against their abuser — that’s a problem.

When frontline responders ask, “Why didn’t you leave sooner?” without understanding the reality of coercive control, narcissistic abuse, gaslighting, and the psychological impact of trauma — that’s a problem.

If these problems keep happening, we don’t just need band-aid fixes. We need solutions that address the root causes.

The only way forward is education and policy change. We must train police, Child and Family Services, and frontline responders in trauma-informed approaches — and create domestic violence policies that close these gaps. Victims deserve to be recognized, believed, and supported at first contact.

Because knowledge is power. But using it rightly is what saves lives.

[chelsea brown @WarriorsWFA]

This is what “not enough evidence” looks like.

I was shot in the head.
I survived. I was beat over and over again for trying to leave.

Every day in Canada, women report abuse and are told there’s nothing police can do.
Every 2.5 days, a woman is murdered—most often by a partner.

We deserve to be believed.
We deserve to be safe.

If you want to help me fight for change: https://t.co/0yCJWIdJfF

#DomesticViolence #EndViolenceAgainstWomen #BelieveSurvivors #JusticeForSurvivors #DVReform #AbuseAwareness #TraumaInformed #SurvivorStrong #StopTheViolence #WomensSafety

[chelsea brown @WarriorsWFA]

Leaving is the most dangerous time.

Most people think the abuse ends when a woman leaves her abuser.
But the truth is, that’s when it can become deadly.

The majority of domestic violence homicides happen during or shortly after the victim tries to leave — because that’s when the abuser realizes they’ve lost control, and they have nothing left to lose.

And leaving?
It’s not as simple as it sounds.

It’s not just packing a bag and walking out the door.
It’s facing the fear of retaliation.
It’s wondering if you’ll lose your kids.
It’s not knowing where you’ll sleep, or how you’ll survive.
It’s hoping someone will believe you — when systems often don’t.

This is why shelters matter.
Why trauma-informed policing matters.
Why real support and safe exit strategies save lives.

Because women aren’t “just leaving.”
They’re risking everything.
And some of them never make it out alive.

I was one of the lucky ones.
But too many women in our city weren’t.

This weekend, the Edmonton Journal is publishing an article about Warriors Way Forward Association — and about why the system must change.

Please read it.
Please share it.
Please support the fight to protect women and children before it’s too late.

#EndTheCycle #DVSurvivor #Edmonton #TraumaInformed #WarriorsWayForward #BelieveSurvivors

[chelsea brown @WarriorsWFA]

We don’t break the cycle of domestic violence by ignoring it — we break it by understanding it.

If we want safer communities, we must start by ensuring that the people first called to respond — our police — are trained in trauma-informed domestic violence response. Right now, too many victims are being silenced, disbelieved, or retraumatized by systems that were meant to protect them.

When women and children finally find the strength to flee abuse, they’re often met with barriers:
🚫 Shelters are full
🚫 Alberta Works denies them help
🚫 They're blamed for not leaving sooner
🚫 Police don’t understand trauma bonds
🚫 Courts fail to see the full picture

This is where cycles of violence either end or continue.
When we fix these gaps at the root cause — with proper trauma training for police, coordinated support systems, and real safety nets for survivors — we change the outcome for future generations.

Children who grow up in homes free from violence don’t become abusers or victims — they become cycle breakers.

It starts here. It starts with us.

Support survivor-led solutions.
Support trauma-informed change.
Support breaking the cycle — for good.

#EndDV #TraumaInformedPolicy #WarriorsWayForward #BreakTheCycle #DVSurvivors #ProtectWomenAndChildren #AlbertaDVReform

👉 If you believe in breaking the cycle of abuse, please consider donating to support our work — every dollar helps us build a safer future for women and children
https://t.co/E1ZSfrNstz

[chelsea brown @WarriorsWFA]

#enddomesticviolence #yeg #WarriorsWayForward #HerStoryMatters #LoveShouldntHurt

[chelsea brown @WarriorsWFA]

How do we create a safe environment for women to come forward, speak their truth, and know they will be protected—not punished—for doing so?

Every day, women across Alberta face barriers that silence them:

Fear of not being believed—leading to escalated abuse.

Fear of losing their children—for not leaving "soon enough."

Fear of homelessness—with no safe place to go.

Fear of poverty—unable to financially support their children.

These fears aren’t irrational. They are rooted in real stories, real failures, and real systems that weren’t built with survivors in mind.

At Warrior’s Way Forward, we are working to change that.

Because no woman should ever have to ask herself:
“Is staying in the abuse easier than trying to leave?”

We are building survivor-led solutions—housing, emergency support, trauma-informed systems, and real-time help from people who understand.

If you believe no one should be left to suffer in silence, we invite you to stand with us. Share our message. Donate if you can. Let’s build the safety net women deserve—before they fall.

#WarriorsWayForward #DVReform #SupportSurvivors #EndTheSilence #TraumaInformedCare #NonprofitLeadership #AlbertaAdvocacy

https://t.co/78UWF4ZdOy

[chelsea brown @WarriorsWFA]

https://t.co/n0pyYG133A

[chelsea brown @WarriorsWFA]

We need to stop slapping bandaids on deep wounds and hoping they’ll heal.
They don’t.
Not without addressing the root. Not without real accountability.

The systems are broken—and no one wants to admit it.
No one wants to do the hard work of actually fixing what’s underneath.

But what if it was your mother?
Your sister?
The woman you love more than anything?

I’m building Warrior’s Way Forward so no more women die waiting for change.
But I can’t do this alone.
Please—donate. Share. Support us so we can support them.

#FixTheSystem
#DVReform
#SupportSurvivors
🔗 https://t.co/KPddbZtnwH

[chelsea brown @WarriorsWFA]

"I can’t do this anymore."
But where do I go?

"The shelters are full."
Now what?

"Alberta Works won’t help."
Maybe I should just stay.

"I'll take the beatings..."
As long as my kids have a home.

I'll call the police."
Why didn't they help?

"Maybe he’s right."
No one cares.

This is the reality for too many women right now.
Trapped. Exhausted. Abandoned by the very systems that promised safety.

I know this voice—because it used to be mine.
That’s why I’m building Warrior’s Way Forward.
A place of real help. Real hope. Real change.

But I can’t build it alone.
Please—donate, share, show up.
Because someone out there is whispering these words right now.

#SurvivorVoices
#DVReform
#BuildBetterSupports
🔗 https://t.co/KPddbZtnwH

[chelsea brown @WarriorsWFA]

We need to stop slapping bandaids on deep wounds and hoping they’ll heal.
They don’t.
Not without addressing the root. Not without real accountability.

The systems are broken—and no one wants to admit it.
No one wants to do the hard work of actually fixing what’s underneath.

But what if it was your mother?
Your sister?
The woman you love more than anything?

I’m building Warrior’s Way Forward so no more women die waiting for change.
But I can’t do this alone.
Please—donate. Share. Support us so we can support them.

#FixTheSystem
#DVReform
#SupportSurvivors
🔗 https://t.co/KPddbZtnwH

[chelsea brown @WarriorsWFA]

https://t.co/5y0mWjWrsY

[chelsea brown @WarriorsWFA]

This is my story, Why I founded Warriors Way Forward Association. No woman should ever have to go through what I went through.
EDMONTON WE NEED TO STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T. My name is Chelsea, and I'm not only a survivor, I'm a warrior.

In 2024, after enduring severe physical, emotional, and psychological abuse from my son's father, I sought help from the Edmonton Police Service (EPS). Using a hidden laptop, I contacted EPS through their online reporting portal under a different report-a-crime title. Officers arrested my abuser on an unrelated warrant, but no charges were laid concerning my abuse.

Shortly after, Child and Family Services (CFS) intervened. Instead of offering support, they gave me 10 minutes to vacate my home with my child, threatening apprehension if I failed to comply. With shelters full, I was placed in a motel, initially funded out-of-pocket, and later briefly supported by Alberta Works. When that assistance ceased, I was left homeless with my child until Jordan’s Principle provided temporary relief.

Despite these efforts, my abuser located us, and the cycle of abuse resumed. On April 10, 2024, he assaulted me severely, resulting in a ruptured spleen and a terminated pregnancy. While hospitalized, I received messages from him threatening to take my son away. Despite my mother's pleas, EPS initially refused to intervene. Only after persistent efforts did CFS apprehend my son and place him with my parents.

While I was still recovering in the hospital after emergency spleen surgery, police came to my bedside—not to offer protection, but to inform me there wasn’t enough evidence to charge the man who nearly killed me.

Upon my release, CFS mandated that I leave my parents' home or risk losing my child again. With shelters still full, I faced homelessness once more. Eventually, after months of compliance with court-ordered programs and medical treatments, I regained custody of my son. However, CFS's support waned, and I was pressured into signing a Family Enhancement Agreement under duress, fearing further legal battles during my cancer treatment.

I overcame thyroid cancer, completed all mandated parenting programs, and was reunited with my son. I continue to advocate for survivors of domestic abuse, working with other grieving families whose daughters were murdered by their partners, to seek justice and systemic reform.

Two of those women were Erin Kern and Alyissa Rovere. Both had reached out to police before their deaths. In both cases, police charged the women—not their abusers—with assault, simply for defending themselves. Because of these charges, their abusers were not prosecuted, which allowed the abuse to continue and ultimately cost both women their lives.I have read the 2020 Alberta Domestic Violence Police Guidelines and was disheartened to see that only a short paragraph is dedicated to viewing domestic violence situations through a “trauma-informed lens.” While the words on paper sound promising, the reality on the ground is very different. Currently, I am working on a survivor-led policy proposal with the support of SAiF Society Clinical Director Marci Gordeyko. The goal is to create and implement a trauma-informed domestic violence training model that truly reflects the realities survivors face. We are advocating for a policy that addresses the role of trauma bonds and narcissistic abuse in whether or not a woman is able to leave her abuser. This understanding is crucial for police officers and frontline responders.

If victims are not being recognized as victims in the first place, then the policy—no matter how well-written—is not protecting anyone. We must move from paper to practice. We must build a system where training is not only delivered but implemented in real-world situations, guided by the voices and experiences of survivors themselves.
https://t.co/nO54fdHXRU
#enddomesticviolence #yeg #PolicyFailure #warriorswayforward

[chelsea brown @WarriorsWFA]

This is my story, Why I founded Warriors Way Forward Association. No woman should ever have to go through what I went through.
EDMONTON WE NEED TO STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T. My name is Chelsea, and I'm not only a survivor, I'm a warrior.

In 2024, after enduring severe physical, emotional, and psychological abuse from my son's father, I sought help from the Edmonton Police Service (EPS). Using a hidden laptop, I contacted EPS through their online reporting portal under a different report-a-crime title. Officers arrested my abuser on an unrelated warrant, but no charges were laid concerning my abuse.

Shortly after, Child and Family Services (CFS) intervened. Instead of offering support, they gave me 10 minutes to vacate my home with my child, threatening apprehension if I failed to comply. With shelters full, I was placed in a motel, initially funded out-of-pocket, and later briefly supported by Alberta Works. When that assistance ceased, I was left homeless with my child until Jordan’s Principle provided temporary relief.

Despite these efforts, my abuser located us, and the cycle of abuse resumed. On April 10, 2024, he assaulted me severely, resulting in a ruptured spleen and a terminated pregnancy. While hospitalized, I received messages from him threatening to take my son away. Despite my mother's pleas, EPS initially refused to intervene. Only after persistent efforts did CFS apprehend my son and place him with my parents.

While I was still recovering in the hospital after emergency spleen surgery, police came to my bedside—not to offer protection, but to inform me there wasn’t enough evidence to charge the man who nearly killed me.

Upon my release, CFS mandated that I leave my parents' home or risk losing my child again. With shelters still full, I faced homelessness once more. Eventually, after months of compliance with court-ordered programs and medical treatments, I regained custody of my son. However, CFS's support waned, and I was pressured into signing a Family Enhancement Agreement under duress, fearing further legal battles during my cancer treatment.

I overcame thyroid cancer, completed all mandated parenting programs, and was reunited with my son. I continue to advocate for survivors of domestic abuse, working with other grieving families whose daughters were murdered by their partners, to seek justice and systemic reform.

Two of those women were Erin Kern and Alyissa Rovere. Both had reached out to police before their deaths. In both cases, police charged the women—not their abusers—with assault, simply for defending themselves. Because of these charges, their abusers were not prosecuted, which allowed the abuse to continue and ultimately cost both women their lives.I have read the 2020 Alberta Domestic Violence Police Guidelines and was disheartened to see that only a short paragraph is dedicated to viewing domestic violence situations through a “trauma-informed lens.” While the words on paper sound promising, the reality on the ground is very different. Currently, I am working on a survivor-led policy proposal with the support of SAiF Society Clinical Director Marci Gordeyko. The goal is to create and implement a trauma-informed domestic violence training model that truly reflects the realities survivors face. We are advocating for a policy that addresses the role of trauma bonds and narcissistic abuse in whether or not a woman is able to leave her abuser. This understanding is crucial for police officers and frontline responders.

If victims are not being recognized as victims in the first place, then the policy—no matter how well-written—is not protecting anyone. We must move from paper to practice. We must build a system where training is not only delivered but implemented in real-world situations, guided by the voices and experiences of survivors themselves.
https://t.co/nO54fdHXRU
#enddomesticviolence #yeg #PolicyFailure #warriorswayforward

[chelsea brown @WarriorsWFA]

I almost lost my life to domestic violence.
Erin Kern and Alyissa Rovere did lose theirs—just two of far too many.
I’m fighting for those who can’t.
But I can’t do it alone.
Please help me create real change:
👉 https://t.co/Wo1ftUWjsa
#DVReform #JusticeForErin #JusticeForAlyissa #SurvivorLed #WarriorsWayForward #walkwithus @yegwave