Today we’d like to introduce you to Sabella Neal.
Hi Sabella, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I’ve had this dream and vision to open a nonprofit organization for over 10 years now.
I am a recovering addict but recently found out that I am a survivor of child sexual exploitation and abuse. I have been praying and letting God lead me through this journey and it came quicker than I thought to open a nonprofit organization. Our co-founder and I have been working on creating this from the ground up since the middle of 2023 and opened doors on October 12, 2023.
Two survivor sisters joined forces as the founders of Breaking Chains Foundation Inc. Their shared mission was to assist fellow survivors and bridge the service gaps for trafficking victims. In 2023, the Breaking Chains Foundation Inc. was established through the collaborative efforts of two survivor sisters who recognized the critical need for comprehensive support for victims of trafficking. Sabella Elaina Neal, the Founder and President, and her sister Felicity Marie Case, the Co-founder and Vice President, came together to create this nonprofit organization.
What makes their journey even more remarkable is that Sabella was Felicity’s mentor five years ago when they first met. Sabella, as a survivor herself, understood the challenges that victims faced all too well, having personally endured child exploitation, addiction, and other traumatic events in life. She had experienced exploitation and abuse, but her story was far from ending in victimhood. Her engrained determination arose from a desire to ensure that others would not endure the same suffering she had. Sabella knew that healing extended beyond mere physical recovery; it encompassed emotional and mental well-being as well.
Through diligent research and community involvement, she and her sister Felicity discovered significant gaps in services available to victims of trafficking. This realization ignited a profound passion within them, leading to the establishment of the Breaking Chains Foundation Inc. Their nonprofit is dedicated to breaking the chains of exploitation and building brighter tomorrows for survivors. The foundation’s priority is committed to providing community education about human trafficking, empowering individuals to recognize the signs and take steps to prevent it.
The sisters are also focused on creating programs to provide survivors with the essential support they need. This support ranges from shelter and counseling to legal assistance during their most challenging times. Central to their approach was the belief in survivors supporting one another, crowning in the creation of a survivor mentorship & advocacy program for survivors to gain their voice and heal from exploitation and trauma through holistic healing. The Breaking Chains Foundation was established with the steadfast goal of rescuing, restoring, empowering, educating, mentoring, and advocating for victims of human trafficking.
Sabella and Felicity bring their lived experiences as survivors into the heart of their organization. Their mission is to help survivors regain their independence, dignity, and hope while working tirelessly to break the cycle of exploitation. These two survivor sisters, who had once found mentorship in each other’s lives, recognized the gaps in services for victims of trafficking and joined forces to create an organization dedicated to filling those gaps. The Breaking Chains Foundation Inc. symbolized their collective journey from victim to survivor and their commitment to making sure no one had to suffer as they did.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s never going to be a smooth road when you are in ministry and serving Jesus.
We have been struggling to find funding for our programs, but we are not giving up and applying for funding. This is not a competition, and we are not in this for the money. We are here for the people and want to save lives.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Breaking Chains Foundation Inc. operates in a landscape with other non-profit organizations addressing similar social issues. However, the foundation stands out through its distinctive approach and commitment to addressing community-specific needs, implementing hands-on programs, and adopting a holistic empowerment strategy.
Breaking Chains Foundation Inc. differentiates itself by tailoring its programs to address the unique needs of the communities it serves. The organization’s hands-on initiatives go beyond generic solutions, recognizing that the root causes of human trafficking and social injustice are often deeply embedded in specific community dynamics.
The holistic approach ensures that survivors receive comprehensive support, covering emotional, psychological, and physical well-being. This differentiation positions Breaking Chains Foundation Inc. as an organization that not only identifies problems but actively works towards sustainable and community-specific solutions.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I just finished my master’s degree in December of 2023. I am starting my Doctorate tomorrow, Jan. 15, 2024.
I am pursuing a degree in Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Management: Entrepreneurship. I will be in school full time as well as working pro bono for our nonprofit organization full time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://breakingchainsfl.org
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/BreakingChainsFoundationinc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breakingchainsfoundationinc
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/breakingchainsfoundationinc
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/breakingchainsf
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBAOBm3PDn5weFGzoCRKc1A
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/breaking-chains-foundation-parrish-3
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@breakingchainsfoundation
