The Brave Women's Community Center

Experience the transformative power of collective belonging.

At The Brave Women’s Community Center, we are guided by a deep commitment to creating a space of true belonging and survivor-centered healing.

We recognize that healing from trauma and the lies of abuse cannot happen in isolation. It requires a community of safety, compassion, and understanding—especially for women. Within a secure and nurturing environment—free from judgment and comparison—we begin to reclaim the truths that were taken from us. Here, we remember that we are not broken, that our stories matter, and that our voices are powerful.

In this brave community, we transform our pain into purpose. We challenge and unlearn the social constructs and conditioned beliefs that told us to stay small, silent, or pleasing. Together, we replace those old narratives with authenticity, creativity, and courage.

Through peaceful collaboration rather than competition, we discover what it means to be in community with other women who lift as they rise. This is a space where individuality is celebrated, self-expression is sacred, and healing is an act of defiance and freedom.

At The Brave Women’s Community Center, we don’t just survive—we reclaim, we create, and we thrive.

Meet Lucia Severtson: Founder of The Brave Women's Community Center

Lucia Severtson, licensed psychotherapist and creative arts therapist, is the founder and visionary behind The Brave Women’s Community Center — a trauma-informed, arts-based nonprofit that helps women and girls heal from abuse, reconnect with their inner voice, and reclaim their power.

Drawing on her background in theatre, dance/movement therapy, and psychotherapy, Lucia has spent more than a decade helping women untangle the grip of trauma and social conditioning. In 2019, during her own mental health crisis, she realized what was missing: a brave, loving, and nonjudgmental community of women. That insight sparked the birth of BWCC — not just as a healing space, but as a movement to reimagine how women recover, reconnect, and rise.

BWCC offers trauma-informed programs like therapeutic improv, storytelling circles, empowerment workshops for girls, and the Brave Hearts Speak podcast and audio library. Each is designed to affirm that healing isn’t just about surviving, but about rediscovering joy, creativity, and purpose.

Lucia leads with a deep belief that bravery isn’t fearlessness or perfection — it’s showing up anyway. She is passionate about creating spaces where every story matters, every voice is valid, and women can move beyond survival into bold, creative, and fulfilling lives.

In addition to her nonprofit work, Lucia offers 1:1 and small-group coaching for women who are ready to reclaim their lives from abuse, trauma, and social conditioning. Her coaching blends therapeutic insight with creative practices to help women:

Untangle the internalized voices of doubt, shame, and fear
Reconnect with their passions and gifts
Build everyday bravery through bold, aligned action
Create a life rooted in authenticity, joy, and purpose

This isn’t about “fixing” yourself — it’s about remembering who you are and designing a life that matches it.

👉 Find out more about Coaching with Lucia

Meet Shea Miles: Body Based Coach and Co-Creator at The Brave Women's Community Center

Shea (Shay) Miles is a body-based coach and mentor with a passion for guiding her clients in living a life that feels aligned with their inner voice and alive with joy and purpose.She has a certification in Embodiment Coaching from the School of Embodied Arts, along with personal mastery in moving from people-pleasing to authentically embodying who she is.Shea's work focuses on helping people cultivate self-worth, self-care, healthy and happy boundaries, and a life that is aligned with who they truly are (not who they're expected to be.)As a co-creator of Stories of Resilience, she is helping to build a micro-community where people can...

-safely liberate the shame around having been abused or mistreated
-step into their personal power
-and use it to create a safer and more loving world.

Shea's hope is that the safety and love cultivated in this community will ripple out to anyone who may need it.You can follow along with her current offerings at sheamiles.com.

Meet Meghann Saige Volz! Yoga Instructor, Teacher Trainer, Retreat Facilitator

Meghann’s journey with yoga began at 17 as a way to support her athletic goals, but it wasn’t until she faced overwhelming personal hardships that she discovered its true power as a healing refuge. After navigating family struggles, unhealthy patterns, and a traumatic relationship, Meghann found the resilience to stand back up, first as a survivor, and then as a pioneer in her family by going to college while still in recovery. Through every challenge, the practice of yoga taught her grace, self-compassion, and how to nourish her spirit.

When Meghann connected with The Brave Women’s Community Center, she finally discovered a place where her own survival story could light the way for others. Here, she steps fully into her calling: to hold safe, welcoming spaces where women who have endured abuse and trauma can move, breathe, and simply be, knowing they’re seen, supported, and celebrated. With over 4,000 teaching hours across Vinyasa, Deep Stretch, Trauma-Sensitive Yoga, Buti, Paddleboard, Prenatal, Sculpt, Embodied Dance Movement, and Breathwork, Meghann weaves community, clarity, and compassion into every class. As a lifelong student and guide, she believes magic is all around us—and that healing happens when survivors come together to share their gifts.

Learn more about Meghann: Meghann Saige Volz | Linktree

Meet Rayven Hoffman! Creative Consultant • Poetic Storyteller • Trauma-Informed Advocate

Rayven brings her unique blend of Animal Science training and multimedia expertise to every project, using poetry, photography, and digital storytelling to turn pain into purpose. After surviving domestic abuse in a marriage to a Special Forces service member, she witnessed firsthand how societal grooming and internalized beliefs can keep women trapped in cycles of harm. Determined to break those patterns, Rayven’s work centers on helping women reclaim their voices and rewrite the narratives that once kept them silent or small.

Through her viral series, Psychopaths Are Sexy, Rayven shines a light on grooming, awakening, and personal alchemydemonstrating how honest storytelling can spark both individual transformation and broader systems change. Joining The Brave Women’s Community Center allows her to deepen that impact: here, she collaborates to elevate survivor stories, reimagine pathways to justice, and co-create a future where healing is not only possible, but inevitable. Whether she’s crafting evocative visuals, leading writing workshops, or consulting on outreach strategy, Rayven is dedicated to ensuring every survivor knows her story has power—and that her voice matters.

Learn more about Rayven: Rayven Libre Veritas | Instagram, TikTok | Linktree

Meet Krista Hanely and Kayla Berry

Krista Hanley is a writer, speaker, and violence prevention educator with over ten years of expertise facilitating programs in the areas of self-defense, trauma recovery, and embodiment. As a Columbine survivor, she brings her experience as a trauma survivor to the development of safety programs at We Are Safer Together. Some of her specialized certifications and trainings include: Empowerment Self-Defense Professional credential through the Association of ESD Professionals, Impact self-defense instructor and instructor-trainer certification, mental health first aid, Colorado mandatory reporter training, Community Emergency Response Team training (CERT), Trauma Informed Instructor certification, ALERRT Active Shooter Civilian Response, Advanced Behavioral Threat Assessment Training, Adaptive Sport Abuse Prevention Trainer (accredited by Safe Sport), and non-violent communication training.

Kayla Berry is a certified empowerment self-defense instructor with over 6 years of experience in teaching kids, teens, and adults of all abilities in safety, self-defense, and violence prevention. She has also undergone specialized training in various areas, including first aid, Colorado Mandatory Reporter certification, Advanced Behavioral Threat Assessment Training, Community Emergency Response (CERT), Abuse Prevention (accredited by Safe Sport), and non-violent communication. On top of providing empowerment safety and self-defense trainings, Kayla works teaching emergency preparedness classes with the Denver Office of Emergency Management.

Visit their website to learn more: Personal and Employee Safety Training Programs | We Are Safer Together

Janet Herm

Janet Snyder Herm—author, grandmother, and creator of The 30-Day Path to a Life You Will Love—believes it’s never too late to transform your life. Seen here with her three beloved “grandgirls,” Janet embodies the power of resilience and the beauty of rewriting your own story. After decades of self-study, inner work, and determination, she found her authentic voice and uncovered her true life purpose: helping others heal from psychological trauma and reclaim their self-worth. Janet created this program to shorten the path for others—to help them experience in 30 days what took her decades to discover. Inspired by one of her mentors, the late Earl Nightingale, she embraced his idea of devoting 30 days to thinking only positive thoughts about your future—and built a practical, heartfelt program around it. Through her program, Janet shares her hard-earned wisdom and tools so others can break free from the past and step boldly into a life filled with peace, gratitude, and love.

Visit Janet's website at: Storybook Path

Jennifer Alford

Hi! I’m Jennifer. I’m a mom of four, ages 10, 14, 21 and 23. We have two dogs, a cat, and five chickens. I love to garden, hike, read, and when I can, snowshoe and paddleboard. I run a community garden and this summer, added a therapeutic sensory garden for the community to enjoy.

My journey into women’s health has been both personal and professional. My background is in biology and public health, and I recently returned to school to get a doctorate in occupational therapy. Through my studies and lived experience, I’ve come to recognize how overlooked and underserved the perimenopause transition can be. That’s why I’m passionate about creating supportive, evidence-based resources that empower women to navigate this stage with confidence, clarity, and care.

Empowering Women Through Liberation and Unity

We believe in the profound transformation that occurs when women unite, shed societal constructs, and embrace their authentic selves. In a world often filled with expectations and competition, our women's programs are crafted with a unique vision: to foster kindness, inclusivity, and celebration among women.

Why It Matters:

1. Shedding Social Constructs:

We recognize the need for women to liberate themselves from societal norms and family constructs that may stifle authenticity. Our programs provide a nurturing space to challenge and shed these constructs, empowering women to redefine their identities on their terms.

2. Unified Empowerment:

The essence of our community lies in unified empowerment. We seek to redefine how women interact, moving away from competition and towards collaboration. Together, we celebrate individual goals, passions, and achievements, fostering an environment where every woman is supported in her unique journey.

3. Reprogramming Interactions:

It's time to reprogram the conditioned ways we treat one another. Our programs aim to break down barriers and create a culture of kindness, encouragement, and mutual upliftment. We believe that through shared experiences, women can foster deeper connections and understanding.

4. Expanding Identity Horizons:

Beyond rigid definitions, our goal is to help women expand their identities. We encourage them to explore the vast possibilities of who they can be, freeing themselves from limiting beliefs and embracing the richness of their true selves.

5. Creating, Not Competing:

Our community is a space where women come together to create, not compete. Whether it's collaborative projects or supportive ventures, we believe in the power of women joining forces to achieve greatness.

6. Magic of Play and Creativity:

Rediscover the magic of play and creativity. Our programs infuse a sense of joy and curiosity, breaking down fear blocks and reigniting the spark of creativity that often lies dormant within.

7. Real-World Impact:

What is learned in our workshops is meant to be brought into the real world. We provide practical tools and support, empowering women to apply newfound insights to their daily lives.

The Brave Women's Community Center:
A Colorado-based 501 (c) (3)