From Grief to Action: Honoring Claudia, Preventing Tragedies

When Tim and Melanie lost their 33-year-old daughter, Claudia, to a drunk driver on February 7, 2021, their world was shattered in an instant. Claudia, adopted as a teenager from Guatemala, was a vibrant part of their blended family—full of love, complexity, and growth. In the wake of unimaginable grief, Tim and Melanie chose not to be silent.

Supported by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), they turned their heartbreak into a mission. Remember for Change leads the charge in prevention through impactful education:

• Drunk buster goggles that simulate impairment
• Teen pledges to drive sober
• QR-coded coasters offering safe ride options
• Recognition for DUI enforcement heroes in local law enforcement

But their most touching initiative is the Annual Memorial Drive—a moving event where the community gathers to speak aloud the names of loved ones lost to impaired driving. It’s a moment of unity, healing, and powerful remembrance.

Contact with Tim and Melanie:

Email: RememberForChange@gmail.com

Website: https://www.rememberforchange.org/

Connect with Jen:
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YouTube:
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Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567221068683
Website:
https://ineedblue.net/
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-need-blue/id1567450935

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Purchase my book or Audiobook: Why I Survived: How Sharing My Story Helped Me Heal from Dating Abuse, Armed Robbery, Abduction, and Other Forms of Trauma by Jennifer Lee
https://whyisurvived.com/

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What happens when you finally name the trauma that’s shaped your life?

Nicole’s powerful story of surviving childhood physical abuse reveals the journey from silence to truth. For 40 years, she carried the weight of her father’s violence—hit at age five, chased in fear, and witnessing her mother being choked—all while believing it was “normal.”

Even 1,100 miles away, a simple phone call from him could trigger panic. Her desperate need for his approval shaped her life—until she realized the cycle was repeating with her own child. Through therapy, breathwork, and courage, Nicole began connecting the dots and setting boundaries.

When she finally spoke out, her father denied the abuse and cut contact. The grief was real—but so was the freedom.

Nicole’s story is a raw and inspiring reminder: healing begins when we speak the truth.

Listen to her full journey on the I Need Blue podcast—where survivors reclaim their voice and power. Subscribe and join our community today.

Follow Nichole:

Facebook: @NicholeMarieCollective

Instagram: @NicholeMarieCollective

Connect with Jen:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ineedbluepodcast/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp1q8SfA_hEXRJ4EaizlW8Q
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567221068683
Website:
https://ineedblue.net/
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-need-blue/id1567450935

Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Purchase my book or Audiobook: Why I Survived: How Sharing My Story Helped Me Heal from Dating Abuse, Armed Robbery, Abduction, and Other Forms of Trauma by Jennifer Lee
https://whyisurvived.com/

Support the show

From childhood trauma to becoming a fierce protector of young girls, Shala’s journey is a testament to healing and purpose. After losing the grandmother who raised her, she was thrust back into chaos—pregnant at 14, trapped in abuse, and raising two children alone. Yet somehow, she graduated high school on time.

“How did I do it?” she wonders. Her answer: boundaries, self-love, and an unshakable will to break cycles.

Shala founded Treasure Coast Girls Coalition to be what she once needed—a safe, empowering space. Serving girls 9–18, TCGC offers more than programs. It gives sisterhood, hot meals, therapy access, STEM and culinary training, and most of all—hope.

“You weren’t supposed to survive, but you did,” she tells herself—and now 154 girls carry that same fire forward.

She wouldn’t change a thing about her past. Because from it, she built something life-changing.

Contact Shala:

Email: info@treasurecoastgirls.org

Phone: 772-202-8170

Address: 457 Sebastian BLVD, Suite A, Sebastian, FL 32958

Website: https://www.girlscoalition.org/

Donate now: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=BR423KXFGNVRC

Connect with Jen:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ineedbluepodcast/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp1q8SfA_hEXRJ4EaizlW8Q
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567221068683
Website:
https://ineedblue.net/
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-need-blue/id1567450935

Loved this episode? Leave a review and rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Purchase my book or Audiobook: Why I Survived: How Sharing My Story Helped Me Heal from Dating Abuse, Armed Robbery, Abduction, and Other Forms of Trauma by Jennifer Lee
https://whyisurvived.com/

Support the show