Coleman’s Schweitzer Project Personal
Introduction
Bri Coleman did not recognize the 40-year-old woman staring back at her in the mirror. The reflection was that of a 4-year-old, a little girl who had suffered sexual abuse at the hands of a family member nearly 35 years ago. The incident haunted Coleman for years, as her mind kept returning to the tragic event, questioning why nothing was done to heal her pain. For 90 minutes she sobbed uncontrollably, but once the tears dried, she knew exactly what her purpose was in life.
A third-year master’s student in the Jane Addams College of Social Work’s PM program, Coleman is working to break generational cycles of domestic violence and trauma through holistic, survivor-centered care. Selected as a Schweitzer Fellow (she is one of eight University of Illinois Chicago students named in 2026-2027), she is creating a year-long service-learning program to address the health needs of underserved Chicago communities.
Partnering with the YWCA Evanston/North Shore, Coleman will implement a program rooted in the Science of Hope framework for residents and their children who have survived domestic violence. The initiative seeks to strengthen their capacity to envision and pursue meaningful futures through the development of goals, pathways, and willpower.
“My project focuses on Healing Circles co-led by survivors that create space for reflection, connection, and mutual support while integrating strategies that build hope,” said Coleman, who anticipates receiving her MSW in May 2027. “Hope is the number one factor in resilience. It’s an action; it can be taught. It’s not just for the survivors, but also people supporting the survivors.”
Bri Coleman continued
Participants in Coleman’s program will engage in structured activities designed to identify personal goals, navigate barriers, and build confidence in their ability to create positive change. The project is complemented by community resource navigation and strength-based workshops that help survivors connect hope to tangible opportunities and support.
An estimated 443,000 people aged 12 and over experience sexual violence in the United States each year, according to RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization and operator of the National Sexual Assault Hotline. More than half (54%) are between the ages of 18 and 34. An estimated 10 million people experience domestic violence in the United States each year, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). In addition, more than one in three women and one in four men have experienced physical violence from an intimate partner during their lifetime, highlighting the widespread and enduring impact of domestic violence across the country.
Domestic violence, Coleman said, is a profound health disparity in Chicago, disproportionately impacting Black and brown women and children.
“These communities experience higher rates of intimate partner violence and face systemic barriers to safety and care, including limited access to culturally competent mental health services, housing, and legal protections,” she said. “Survivors often endure repeated cycles of abuse, leading to chronic physical injuries, reproductive health complications, and severe mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety.
“My more than forty years of lived experience with domestic violence and sexual trauma have shaped both my sense of urgency and my approach to change,” said Coleman, who has also received a master’s degree in business administration and another in human services. “I believe healing must be culturally relevant, survivor-led, and accessible within the communities where harm happens.”
To minimize the chances of survivors suffering from a lifetime of pain and continued adversity as a result of their experiences, trauma should be treated first, she said.
Utilizing the expertise gained from the Schweitzer Fellowship, Coleman will refine the foundation of a non-profit organization she formed nearly 10 years ago. Through its trauma rehabilitation program, Dimensions of Intersections, Inc., will support, educate and empower victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse to achieve holistic healing. Her intent is to develop a replicable model and build partnerships with local domestic violence shelters and other community organizations.
“At Dimensions, we will plant SEEDS (support, empathy, education, empowerment, diversity and strength) of Hope with those we serve and truly believe our efforts can make a huge difference in our communities” she said. “Our hope is to assist our clients become their own advocates and use their voices to impact change with a “pay it forward” mindset.
“The Healing Circles we establish will provide a safe, supportive environment for survivors and their children to process trauma through practices such as mindfulness, yoga, guided meditation, and storytelling. Monthly workshops will also be held to focus on practical skills like financial literacy, job readiness, and housing navigation.”
Having herself suffered repeated cycles of abuse throughout her life, Coleman, a single mother of two adult children originally from Gary, Ind., felt she was being punished. Domestic violence and other social injustices reflect a broken system, she said.
“Repair must begin with centering survivors’ voices, community leadership, and evidence-informed practice, so healing becomes possible where people live, and equity advances as those most impacted shape the way forward,” she said.
When Coleman learned she was named a Schweitzer Fellow, she was ecstatic, as she will see the project she only envisioned come to fruition.
“The Fellowship will allow me to collaborate with frontline providers to observe and adapt innovative approaches, and I will actively engage with my peers, sharing insights from my work in fostering inclusion, trauma stewardship and operations, while remaining open to ongoing learning,” she said. “There have been a lot of moments I have lost my own sense of hopefulness, but now I can see that it is there and will always be.”