Turning Pain Into Purpose

When I became a widow at 21, I never imagined my loss would lead me to found the American Widow Project—or shape the work I do today. What began as a fragile seed of grief grew into a nationally recognized nonprofit that supported thousands of women and helped reshape the conversation around resilience, loss, and what it means to rebuild a life.

For over 18 years, I’ve lived at the intersection of grief and purpose—both behind the scenes of a nonprofit and within my own lived experience of loss. My work has been featured in places like The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, and The Today Show, with recognition from VH1, CNN, L’Oréal, DVF, among others. I’ve built partnerships with organizations like Lockheed Martin, but through it all, I’ve held fast to one truth: every single life matters.

Over time, I’ve come to see that grief doesn’t exist in isolation—it shapes how we lead, how we build, how we tell stories, and how we connect. And yet, so often, it’s misunderstood, oversimplified, or reduced to a moment rather than honored as a lifelong experience.

That’s where my work now lives.

I offer consulting for those building mission-driven organizations who want to lead with heart, clarity, and integrity—and for media, journalists, and storytellers who want to portray grief, widowhood, and loss with honesty, depth, and humanity.

Because whether you are creating something to serve others or telling a story that will reach millions… how we hold grief matters.

I offer grief and lived-experience consulting for media, journalism, and storytelling, alongside my non-profit and organizational consulting work. As a war widow nearly two decades into loss and the founder of the American Widow Project, I bring both personal and collective insight into how grief evolves—far beyond the immediate aftermath and into the lived, ongoing reality.

I work with journalists, authors, filmmakers, and production teams to ensure portrayals of loss, widowhood, and military grief are grounded in truth, nuance, and emotional integrity.

Consulting may include:

  • Script and storyline review

  • Character development (widowhood, military loss, trauma)

  • Interview guidance for journalists and media teams

  • Sensitivity and accuracy reads

  • On-call support throughout the creative or reporting process

Grief
& Lived-Experience Consulting

Non-Profit Guidance

  • Clarifying Your Why → Unearthing the heart of your story and shaping it into a mission that resonates.

  • Planting the Foundations → Gentle guidance on the structures and first steps that help your vision take root.

  • Sharing Your Story → Finding authentic ways to tell your story so others feel invited to join and support.

  • Sustaining the Work → Exploring pathways for funding and support that align with your values, not just numbers.

  • Nurturing the Founder → Honoring your own wholeness while you hold space for others—because you are the heartbeat of the mission.

These are not checklists, but invitations. Every journey is unique, and together we’ll shape what feels true to you.