Braver Collective, 10 Town Plaza #138, Durango, CO (2026)

03/31/2026

For Taylan, rowing across the Pacific Ocean wasn’t just about the 20-foot waves or the world record; it was about the quiet, radical act of finally feeling at home in their own body. 🚣✨

As a survivor and the first out trans person to row across the Pacific Ocean, Taylan reminds us that sexual trauma often tries to make our world and our voices feel small. But through the rhythm of the oars, they found a way to reclaim what was taken.

"As a survivor, I spent a lot of my life feeling like I didn’t deserve joy, or that joy was unobtainable for me. But reconnecting with joy in sports allowed me to find joy in other areas of my life."

Click the link to read “The Healing Potential of Sports How Rowing Helped Me Reclaim My Body and Find My Power” by Taylan Stulting https://bravercollective.org/resources/healing-potential-of-sports

This Transgender Day of Visibility, we’re honoring the power of taking up space on the water, in our communities, and within our own skin. Visibility isn’t just about being seen; it’s about the right to exist, to move, and to thrive exactly as we are.

Taylan (they/them/theirs) is a PhD student in social work at the University of Wisconsin, Madison where they research healing justice and anti-trans violence. Taylan is also a survivor, trans athlete, and rowing coach. In 2025, Taylan became the first out trans person to row across any ocean and broke a world record with their team, Oar the Rainbow.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR ATHLETES & SURVIVORS

- Trauma Informed Weight Lifting: Healing through anti-oppressive movement.
- Allies with Oars: Promoting LGBTQ+ inclusion in rowing.
- Dear Schuyler: A podcast by Schuyler Bailar on gender and mental health.
- NYAD: A film exploring the link between endurance and survivorship.

03/23/2026

"𝐈 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐚𝐫𝐭." ⋆˚꩜｡

“I created a series of photographs where I used my body and self as the canvas. Art became the outlet that therapy and anti-depressants alone could not reach. It allowed me to move from a state of "freezing" as a means to cope into a state of "becoming the light" and bringing joy to others.” - Melanie Canales (she/her)

𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞'𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤:

• The first pieces, 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦 and 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴, allowed me to visually depict the "indescribable moments" of emotional distress I had experienced.

• 𝘔𝘺 𝘛𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘺 represented my process of speaking the truth and what I imagined it would have been like if my case had gone to trial.

• 𝘙𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘍𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 was a take on how good memories became tainted by trauma. At the time I wasn't able to fully appreciate any joyful moments and friendships I had because I was constantly struggling with sorrowful thoughts of my past.

• Lastly, 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 demonstrated the bruised body and breaking point of reaching the overwhelming points. All were pivotal aspects in the self reflection of this voyage. It brought me great comfort to visually communicate these viewpoints.

🔗Click the links below to read:

𝐌𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞'𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲: Healing Beyond the Justice System → https://bravercollective.org/stories/healing-beyond-justice-system

𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞: The Many Layers of Justice: Finding Healing Through and Beyond the Criminal Justice System → https://bravercollective.org/resources/many-layers-of-justice

𝐁𝐢𝐨: Melanie Canales is a Mexican Honduran American multidisciplinary artist and "photography connoisseur" currently studying Graphic Design, Theology, and Sculpture at Dominican University. Her mission is deeply rooted in justice and survivorhood, bridging the gap between technical precision and fine art expression.

03/23/2026

“𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡.” ⚖️✨

For years, Melanie Canales () lived in a world where conversations about sexual violence were "not meant to be had." She grew up hearing, “What happened in the family should stay within the family,” and “How could you ‘betray’ your own blood?” To protect a family image, her world was kept quiet.

At 16, she broke the silence.

Melanie’s path to justice wasn't just about a legal outcome; it was about proving to her eight-year-old self that she was worthy of being heard. When she finally stood in that courtroom, she faced her abuser and spoke her truth in both English and Spanish—ensuring her voice reached the entire gallery.

“I am not that silent girl who stands by people like you. I am no longer 8 anymore.”

Today, we are honored to share the voice of our recent intern and author. Her journey has inspired her to pursue law school, not just to navigate the system, but to change the experience for those who come after her.

“Whether it has been eight days or eight years, it is never too late to speak up.”

🔗 Melanie’s full journey is available now at bravercollective.org. Tap the link in our bio to read:

𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞: The Many Layers of Justice: Finding Healing Through and Beyond the Criminal Justice System → https://bravercollective.org/resources/many-layers-of-justice
𝐌𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞'𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲: Healing Beyond the Justice System → https://bravercollective.org/stories/healing-beyond-justice-system

𝐁𝐢𝐨: Melanie Canales is a graphic designer, photography connoisseur, and multidisciplinary artist driven by a mission rooted in justice and survivorhood. A Mexican Honduran American currently studying Graphic Design, Theology, and Sculpture at Dominican University, Melanie bridges the gap between technical precision and fine art expression.

03/20/2026

“𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦" —

In her piece, "The Pressure to Be an Inspirational Survivor and the Cost of That Expectation," Lacy lays down the truth we carry: Resilience is often praised as a character trait, when in reality, it was an emergency adaptation. We didn't "choose" to be resilient. We chose to survive.

The world loves a polished success story, but it often ignores the bone-deep exhaustion underneath. If your survival isn't “quiet” or “inspiring” today, even if it’s loud, messy, or demanding, it is more than enough.

If you read nothing else today, remember this:

—> It’s okay if your healing is loud.

—> It’s okay if your survival makes people uncomfortable.

—> You don't owe the world a "palatable" version of your trauma.

🔗 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://bravercollective.org/stories/the-pressure-to-be-inspirational

𝐁𝐢𝐨: Lacy Ray is a writer whose work examines trauma, embodiment, and the cultural demand for resilience. Drawing from lived experience, her lyric essays explore survival as biological adaptation rather than moral virtue, and attend to the long-term neurological and relational costs of prolonged harm. She is currently completing a lyric essay manuscript titled The Shape of What Survival Costs. Lacy lives and writes in Kentucky.

03/13/2026

“𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 / 𝐧𝐨 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 / 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 / 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐦𝐞.” — J Palmer

In their moving piece, "No Amount of Prison," survivor and poet J Palmer explores the complicated reality of seeking accountability years later. When the laws changed and the chance to "tell a judge" finally arrived, it came with a sobering realization: a sentence can punish a person, but it cannot undo the past.

We often feel that "justice" is the finish line. But for many of us, the path to peace doesn't run through a courtroom. It’s found in the quiet, difficult work of reclaiming what was taken.

🔗 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲: https://bravercollective.org/stories/no-amount-of-prison

𝐉 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐞𝐫 (𝐬𝐡𝐞/𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲) writes poetry, creative non-fiction, picture books, radical love notes, and academic journal articles. She spends her time as an activist, parent, writer, and professor. J.'s poems, creative non-fiction, and children's books focus on themes such as resilience, resistance, , , loss, and .

03/10/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡, 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝. 🎨

Sometimes the path to healing feels like it requires so much talking. But for many of us, trauma doesn’t live in our words—it lives in our bodies.

In our latest resource, our own Laura Kinter shares how "expressive arts" can be a gentle bridge back to ourselves. It’s not about being a "good" artist or creating a masterpiece. It’s about the simple, rhythmic magic of coloring, doodling, or moving—the kind of quiet creativity that tells our nervous system, “It’s okay. You’re safe here.”

𝐈𝐧 “𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐦𝐚 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬” 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭:

✨ The "Flow State"—that sweet spot where the world goes quiet and your brain begins to rest.

✨ Why you don't need a therapist’s office to find healing in a sketchbook.

✨ How art helps us process the hard things without having to stare them directly in the face.

You don’t need special supplies or a background in art. You just need a moment for yourself. 🤍

🔗 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: https://bravercollective.org/resources/healing-trauma-through-expressive-art-activities

Laura has spent the past decade nurturing a sanctuary for survivors at , and for the last few years, she’s brought that same heart to her role as our Chief Strategy & Operating Officer here at Braver Collective. This guide is a beautiful reflection of the deep warmth and wisdom she’s gathered along the way.

03/06/2026

𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐞; 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭.

“When most people hear the term sexual assault survivor, an image comes to mind. For many, that image is a woman, but the reality we never talk about is that men are survivors, too.

They are our fathers, our sons, our friends, our battle buddies.

They serve in our military, they work in our offices, they play on our sports teams.

They suffer in silence for years, sometimes decades, because shame forces them to stay hidden, as it did me for so long. Just like female survivors, sexual assault can be physically, emotionally, and psychologically damaging, the impact unfathomable.”

Aaron Stone is a retired U.S. Army combat medic who served 27 years with multiple tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Bosnia. But his deepest battle began at 15, when a male teacher groomed and r***d him. For nearly twenty years, he lived in silence, struggling with shame, depression, and PTSD. Speaking out became his turning point.

Read Aaron’s full insight piece, “Shattering the Silence” at https://bravercollective.org/resources/shattering-the-silence

In this powerful insight piece, Aaron challenges the toxic beliefs that keep men silent and reminds every survivor that they are never alone, it is never their fault, and help is always within reach.

Learn more about his advocacy at 18winters.com

**e

02/14/2026

Today is loud, and for many of us, the noise of romantic love feels heavy. We’ve learned that sometimes the most radical thing we can do is just exist—choosing to meet ourselves with a little bit of compassion, even when shame or anger feel constant.

can be isolating or just plain exhausting when you’re navigating the aftermath of sexual abuse and trying to figure out what safety even looks like in your own body.

We’ve gathered a library of stories and resources at bravercollective.org that honor the reality of this journey without trying to “fix” the parts that hurt. We know this isn’t a polished Hallmark moment; it’s the hardest, bravest, and often messiest kind of love there is.

01/27/2026

It took me years of healing before I could finally say the word “r**e” out loud. For a long time, the word wouldn’t even leave my mouth without triggering a full-on visceral panic attack.

Saying it meant it was real. It meant acknowledging that it really happened and that it was part of my experience. But I realized that as long as I kept it unnamed, the trauma stayed stuck in my body. What we can’t name still holds power over us.

I want you to know that it is truly possible to heal and to reclaim authorship over our own stories.

Reclaiming our voices might start small—a sentence in a journal or a quiet disclosure to a trusted friend. But when we finally name what happened to us, we take the power back. We begin to understand that while this experience happened, it does not define us. It doesn’t define who we are or who we will become.

To my fellow survivors—whether you identify as a victim, a survivor, or something else entirely—your language is powerful and your words matter.

I’ve shared more of the journey of reclaiming my voice in my latest piece, “The Power of Naming: A Journey of Healing After Trauma.”

💜𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐢𝐨.

𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Annie Novotny is Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Board-Certified Registered Art Therapist, educator, author, artist, mother, and survivor of sexual violence. She facilitates art therapy and trauma counseling with individuals, couples, and groups within her private practice Roots and Rays Creative Counseling on Chicago’s Southwest side.

ArtTherapy Survivors Survivor reclaimyourpower survivorship SA

01/27/2026

For many of us, the words associated with our trauma can feel like landmines—hidden, heavy, and too painful to touch. We often stay silent because to speak the truth out loud feels like giving the trauma more power.

But we are learning that 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚 𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. ✊

In "The Power of Naming: A Journey of Healing After Trauma," therapist and survivor Annie Novotny [ ] reminds us that our healing belongs to us.

As Annie writes: "It requires bravery and tenacity to touch the intense moments of grief that arise within the traumascape of this work."

There is no "right" time or "correct" way to speak your truth. You have the right to feel safe in your body and to wait until you feel ready to confront the words that once terrified you. Whether you choose the word victim, survivor, or a term that is yours alone, you are the only one who gets to define your narrative.

We can move forward in our own time, at our own pace, and in our own words.

💜𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞: https://bravercollective.org/resources/the-power-of-naming-a-journey-of-healing-after-trauma

𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Annie is Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Board-Certified Registered Art Therapist, educator, author, artist, mother, and survivor of sexual violence. She facilitates art therapy and trauma counseling with individuals, couples, and groups within her private practice Roots and Rays Creative Counseling on Chicago’s Southwest side.

12/18/2025

In “Miss. Andrist,” Hannah tells exactly what happened—no distance, no softening. She writes from inside the silence, the fear, and the feeling of drowning in a place where no one stepped in. Say it with your full chest, Hannah. We see you and we won’t let you drown.

Read Hannah’s truth at https://bravercollective.org/stories/miss-andrist

Bio: Hannah Varga is a passionate poet and writer whose work delves into the complexities of human emotion. Her writing is raw and deeply personal. A firm believer in the power of vulnerability and unapologetic truth, she unravels the hidden turmoil of the inner self.

12/16/2025

In “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐲 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐌𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐈,” Ariana Suits (, she/her) shares a stark, honest account of how trauma can repeat itself across relationships. Her work names the quiet, confusing moments where harm is mistaken for intimacy—and it is a reminder to survivors that this confusion does not belong to us. 𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐭.

By naming moments where violence is framed as consent, Ariana makes space for us that often carry this confusion and hurt alone: being asked does not make harm acceptable, and love should never hurt. This kind of naming matters.

✨𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐀𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚’𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲: https://bravercollective.org/stories/boy-who-held

About the Author: Ariana Suits (she/her) has recently earned her undergraduate degree in Government and is currently working toward her Master’s in History. Recently published for the first time in an academic journal, she hopes to continue her research on Indigenous Peoples’ movements in Latin America. Ariana reminds us that success does not negate sadness or pain, nor does it necessarily heal—but happiness is still possible, in any circumstance.

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