One of the most transformative experiences in my life has been participating in the powerful documentary film Survivor Made (2024) watch here. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Los Angeles during the holiday season, Survivor Made shares the stories of six dynamic survivors of gender-based violence. These incredible individuals pursue entrepreneurial dreams, nurture family connections, and build supportive communities to ensure they never return to the place of harm. The film shines a light on their journeys—building thriving businesses, lobbying for systemic change, and proving that investing in survivors saves lives.
My connection to Survivor Made is deeply personal. As a survivor entrepreneur, I create candles and body care products for Gifted by FreeFrom, a marketplace empowering survivors through sustainable business. My introduction to FreeFrom came from my friend Diana Ayala, with whom I worked with a long time ago doing trauma-informed care and non-violent parenting classes. In 2020, Diana encouraged me to visit FreeFrom’s website, and I immediately resonated with their mission. Not only were they crafting beautiful wellness gifts, but they were also fostering a space for survivors—like me—to heal and create abundance through our natural talents.
For a long time, I kept my identity as a survivor hidden, afraid it might define me. Learning about FreeFrom gave me a sense of belonging and safety, where the focus was on healing and creating a future filled with possibility. For the past four years, I’ve proudly created products for Gifted by FreeFrom and Chani as a survivor entrepreneur. Being part of Survivor Made allowed me to share my story publicly for the first time, supported by a compassionate and trauma-informed team—all survivors themselves.
The film captures not only the journey of Earthy Corazon but also the personal healing between my sister and me. Together, we confront our shared trauma, work to break cycles of harm within our family, and create new bonds of love and resilience. Through our intentional, handcrafted gifts rooted in love and nature, and by building a safe community space in City Terrace, we strive to inspire collective healing.
Survivor Made also chronicles the creation of Earthy Corazon’s physical shop in City Terrace—a labor of love that required immense effort and dedication. It’s a space that represents hope, healing, and community care.
Executive Produced by Padma Lakshmi, Nava Mau, Roxane Gay, Alok Vaid-Menon, and Debbie Millman, and featuring songs by FKA Twigs, the film highlights the profound impact of FreeFrom’s work. Gifted, FreeFrom’s survivor-owned marketplace, demonstrates how investing in survivor wealth can break generational cycles of gender-based violence. With a focus on living wages, entrepreneurial independence, and high-quality products, Gifted embodies how consumer choices can drive social change.
We hope this film reaches your homes with love, sparking conversations and inspiring action. Our vision is for survivors everywhere to access the resources and support they need for safety and security, and for more communities of allies to rise. Let’s shift the narrative of what it means to be a survivor, showing that healing and thriving are possible.
How You Can Support Survivors:
- Listen with Empathy: Believe and validate survivors’ experiences.
- Hold Space: Offer non-judgmental support and respect their boundaries.
- Educate Yourself: Challenge myths about gender-based violence and promote trauma-informed understanding.
- Advocate: Support policies and organizations, like FreeFrom, that prioritize survivor empowerment.
- Watch Survivor Made: Perfect holiday film to bring in the joy and learn about our stories.
- Shop with Survivor Made businesses.
As we continue to not only survive our lived experiences and live inside of an increasingly polarized world, let’s build together safer, more compassionate communities for liberation and healing.
With love 💗
Ely Valdivia (she/they)
Founder, Earthy Corazon
