w'at abowt us

Anita Sarda is a mom of two teens and has a corporate background. She has two degrees (double major honors and a MBA). She joined a top Fortune 50 company and excelled at it. Now she is an entrepreneur and helps people be empowered, protected, and finds way to build a financial legacy. She has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and is passionate about travelling, reading and her children.

The W’AT ABOWT US project helped Anita understand that she has a voice. It has opened up new horizons; specifically, she has been cast to play a wife and mother in an upcoming dramatic film that is eerily similar to her own story.  Regarding her story being a gift, she says, “If what I went through helps one woman, then telling my story was worth it!”

Eahwahewi (Cindy Lynn Martin) is an Indigenous Haudenosaunee specifically of the Cayuga Nation turtle clan and a mother of 3 grown children. She was nominated in 2017 for the Woman of Worth program by L’Oreal Paris Canada, and is an international speaker on topics empowering our women and actively supporting the health of our environment. She is a founding member of the WEE Women of the Earth Empowerment group. It is focused on standing, supporting and sharing their gifts, talents, knowledge, while build a network of like-minded women.

Eahwahewi attended college at George Brown School in Culinary Management and Food & Nutrition Management and is also a graduate of the Indigenous Community Health Approaches of St. Lawrence College. She has been working in her community promoting traditional health since 1995. Among her presentations was one about the Reconnection Journey through the Tree Rings at a United Nations event. She is a trained Level 2 Fire Fighter and First Responder and was a volunteer for nine years in her community.

Her book about healing from her sexual assault is entitled Recover Rebuild Reclaim Self, the Empowerment of Eahwahewi. Her name means”Carrier of News.”  Nya:weh

Cindy appreciated everyone who has come on board for the documentary, and feels we are a great team on our way to becoming a family. “It is a wonderful feeling supporting women who have had violence in their lives.” W’AT ABOWT US is showing ‘you are not alone. As to her gift in the season of giving being her story, she says, “By giving of my story, I have been gifted in return. Releasing this story has given me my  

Kulbinder Saran Caldwell is a life coach, born in Canada and raised by parents who migrated from India, now married to a supportive white man. I am a work-from-home mom to a whole-wheat boy and adopted baby girl, devoted daughter and daughter-in-law, loyal sister, struggling step-mom, fiercely committed activist working with South Asian non-profits and an overall compassionate, non-judgmental person.

"Sometimes when you believe you have dealt with issues from a painful past, it’s only talk. There’s still something deep down that's still unresolved. By being involved in this documentary, I was finally able to say - YES, I AM REALLY HEALED. I'm a stronger person now, full of gratitude and seva (selfless service) to others. That's because I am not defined by what happened to me as a child when I was helpless, but by my actions and deeds of today. I have a good life and it’s what I deserve... with much to look forward to in the future while learning from, but not looking back at things that have come and gone. This holiday season, the gift I wish you and your loved ones are the lessons 

of love - love thyself, spread love to the world and take in all that love has to offer!"  

Laura Avolese grew up in a world filled with domestic abuse and violence. As an adult she came face-to-face with her own substance abuse. Looking into her children’s eyes, she knew she had to turn her life around. Today Laura’s a successful realtor, author, motivational speaker and life coach. What’s the secret to her positive transformation? 

In Laura’s book Breaking Barriers, A Woman’s Journey to Finding Forgiveness, Personal Growth and Positive Transformation, she shares her incredible life story and reveals how she used forgiveness, spirituality, and determination to forge a happy life and successful career. Today, Laura is focused on helping others overcome their own struggles. You’ll find her teaching forgiveness at retreats and speaking at events across North America.

For her, the W’AT ABOWT US project has meant spreading out the meaning behind #metoo in different ways. When she was growing up, this subject was taboo for many societies, and it is hurtful that it still happens to some extent today. In terms of being part of the documentary herself, Laura says that some of her social media following are grateful to her for speaking out and are looking to the film for giving them hope. She is honored to be part of this project, and knows it has helped her heal. Giving the gift of her story, especially in a hard year financially, caused Laura to realize that there are still those who are worse. It was this realization that prompted her to purchase two expensive gifts for two children of an underprivileged family when there were others who could have given more easily.  

Lee-Ann Thompson is a Professional Faith-Based transformation coach who enjoys working with women to help align their spirits, minds, and bodies enabling them to live completely whole assisting each heart to manage stresses in all aspects of life through exercise, nutrition, and mentorship. She is a fun-loving, spirit-filled adrenaline junkie who has proven that small movements can achieve great results. 

Lee-Ann has used the W’AT ABOWT US project to look deeper into ‘who I am.’ She didn’t think her story was impactful when she was first approached, but found that her story ‘had many layers.’ She also didn’t visualize her story as gift until recently. She feels that because the women of the cast had internalized their feelings so much towards their past that it was a lot harder for their stories to come out. Externalizing this was a twofold gift; they could now complete their healing,  

Melissa Helen Kimberley Hood survived battles in her 32 years of life, from bullying, molestation to severe domestic violence. She thrived to turn negatives into positives and is now a parent, caregiver and child advocate within education. She is the co-founder of C.A.P.E. building a centralized building for resources of agencies in one building and one website to help parents and children navigate through the education system. 

Melissa was very nervous at the commencement of this project and without much confidence; she now feels self-assured. She is humbled by this experience, and has accomplished so much in the past year. She feels especially grateful that the documentary will advocate for those that still have no voice and are broken, whether they are women, children, or even men. 

Palmonia Gordon is an Author, Communication and Speech Strategist as well as a Motivational Speaker. “I help people to understand the creative ability they have to design their life, by shifting their mindset and ordering what they truly desire, resulting in Growth, Action and Abundance.” 

For Palmonia, this documentary is bringing about a shift; a shift in our mindset, a shift in our view of culture, a shift in keeping things secret. What was done behind closed doors should no longer remain there. (#shift)

She realizes her daughter has reached the age when “things started happening to me, I look at my daughter and I see the past in front of my face, and it is horrific. I am so grateful that this project shows that someone believes in us enough to create a safe space where we can connect and make this necessary film.” 

Rachelle Cruz is a Toronto-based TV personality. She graduated from Ryerson University in 2008 and majored in TV/Radio Broadcasting. Her media career started in print with The Philippine Reporter. She is a TV correspondent for Balitang America, ABS-CBN News, North America Bureau, a global channel that caters to the Filipinos worldwide. Rachelle reports on issues and events that impact the community. She is also a segment producer for Lifestyle Network, showcasing Toronto events like fashion week and Christmas Market. In 2016, Rachelle created The It List, a lifestyle talk show that featured lifestyle, music, fashion, art, health and beauty. It ran two seasons on Filipino TV.

In 2015, Rachelle was nominated for the Notable Award in the Entertainment Category in Toronto. She was the host/ambassador for the Golden Balangay Awards 2017 and 2018. 

“When I first wrote my Me Too story, I thought I would share my story and then walk away. But after receiving so much response because I am a public figure in the media/entertainment industry, there was a call to action from my end. I felt that I had to do something. That's why I started the Filipinas Speak Out advocacy campaign. This campaign's initiatives are as follows:

1.     To raise awareness about the sexual assault/violence that is happening to women in our community.

2.     To challenge the debilitating beliefs and mentality in our community and society as a whole that discourages women from speaking out.

3.     To facilitate conversations/dialogues about this issue and this part of our narrative as a community and find ways to help women who have suffered from sexual assault/rape/violence through workshops, connecting them to culturally-sensitive intake centers; to create discussions for real policy changes.

So when there was an opportunity for me to share my advocacy through a different platform like this documentary, it only made sense to represent the women in my community. I am doing this for them, and I am following what God had asked me to do”.