Hello, I am Chelsea and I was born and raised in Denver. At twelve years old, I had my first sip of alcohol, and my life hasn’t been the same since. I turned to alcohol because I didn’t know how to handle all the pain from trauma I experienced earlier in my life. It was my way of self-medicating for the many issues that stemmed from the trauma. Alcohol turned into pills, pills turned into meth, and meth eventually turned into heroin. I had a turning point when I started to get very sick from meth. I was experiencing heart attack symptoms at twenty-eight years old from the drugs and beginning to lose everything in my life. I knew it was time for a big change.
Seeking help, I contacted a friend who took me in and invited me to an “Art Expressions” class at Women’s Bean Project. It was at this class that I found out Women’s Bean Project was hiring, and I applied for a job. My daughter was the only reason I wanted to get clean, but I never knew how. Women’s Bean Project helped me discover how. Women’s Bean Project has given me an opportunity to regain stability and be reliable. They understand where I came from, which makes all the difference.
Because of Women’s Bean Project, I have new goals. I hope to clear my record and go back to school to be a registered nurse or to help people with addiction. I want to use my experience to help others. I am looking forward to pursuing these goals, and I am happy to be back in my daughter’s life. Outside of work, the things that make me happy are the peace I get when I start to get close to God, spending time with my daughter, going for a walk or listening to music.
![](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.womensbeanproject.com/stories/i-am-womens-bean-project-chelsea/&media=https://www.womensbeanproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Chelsea-Stories_800x800.png"){kind=small}
7 Comments
Chelsea! I’m so inspired by your story and how you – with the help of Women’s Bean Project – turned your life around. You should be so proud of yourself. Keep up the great work and progress toward your goals. You’ve proven you can do anything you put your mind to. I’m rooting for you.
Love,
Lori
What an inspiration. Your inner beauty, strength and resiliency really shines through your photo. You are truly amazing. You will no doubt go far in your life and I just know that your daughter is so proud of you.
Thank you so much. I appreciate all of your kind words. 🙂
Thank you so much. I appreciate your support. 🙂
Hi Chelsea,
Your beans have produced a special moment with my son as we cooked the soup together this morning. We wanted to personally thank you for your part in the experience we shared and the delicious soup. Also, we are so proud of you for working toward your dreams and overcoming so much trauma and working toward healing. We hope your journey in becoming a helpful professional in nursing or addictions will be fulfilling and fruitful.
My boyfriend’s aunt gifted us a box of snickerdoodles and I noticed that it was prepared by you. I didn’t know what this was, so after I baked myself a batch of (freaking delicious) cookies, I looked up this program and looked for your name.I am so inspired by your story and I feel so honored to be having these cookies made by such a strong woman who worked herself back onto the right path for her daughter and well-being. Congratulations, my dear. You are amazing! God Bless you.
Congratulations on your resilience. Giving up an addiction is so damn hard, but you did it! I am so hopeful for you as you continue down this new path!