Breaking The Chains Foundation

We focus on breaking the chains of mental health and body-image struggles. While providing artistic programming and services for those looking to “link” with others on their healthy mental and emotional wellness journeys.

We use the power of art and expression to provide programs, events, and services to build efficacy in the areas of mental health and body-image struggles, cancer, and eating disorders. Bringing tools, skills, and shared lived experiences to life. Areas that address problematic social media use and negative mental health among youth and young adults, productions integrating dance with mind/body wellness principles, and unique beauty experiences for cancer survivors.

Online Social Media Literacy Youth Program

Cancer Survivors and Care Givers Program

Self Enrichment and Confidence Building Event

Live Performance

Storytelling Dance and Movement Experience

Live Stage Production

Movement Workshop For Connection and Renewal

IMPACT AND COMMUNITY

We believe that positive body image, health and self-love are all possible. We believe in full recovery.

RESOURCES/FAQs

BTCF produces all forms of art, events, outreach, and campaigns to support overall wellness.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Meet the amazing celebrities who support BTCF and how they encourage and inspire others to bring forth healing, self-love & recovery.

CELEBRITIES

Meet our monthly featured artist.

FEATURED ART

Welcome to our BTCF Community and join our mailing list and stay connected with us!

CONNECT

“Art speaks to our need to reveal, heal, and transform”

JOIN US

Finding Alice

Canvas of Culinary Arts

Health and Wellness Conversations

Community and Support

PROUD MEMBER OF

GOLD SEAL

INSTAGRAM INSPIRATION

breakingthechainsfdn

Through the arts~we foster creativity, connections & communities to thrive; committed to the prevention of body-focused & mental well-being stigmas.

New treasure nature find 🍃🪷🌿 #wellness #

New treasure nature find 🍃🪷🌿

#wellness #health #nature #breathe

#BTCF Statistics Series💜 Stress Awareness Month

#BTCF Statistics Series💜 Stress Awareness Month

Within this series ~ How can stress affect us and how can we find ways to manage our stress? Our BTCF Youth Ambassador @jordyncuret_ shares her reflections on how her creative outlets help and reminds others to take time to care for their mind and heart.

Thank you BTCF Youth Ambassador Chair @mikaelazarsky for continuing to do research and create these BTCF Statistic Series for us!

#stress #awareness #education #selfcare

Such a wonderful @discoverbrightonhall Spring Bene

Such a wonderful @discoverbrightonhall Spring Benefit this weekend☀️

Thank you ⭐️#BTCF Youth Ambassador @jordyncuret_ and her amazing mom, Pennie Curet for supporting and representing #BTCF 💜 with a beautiful gift basket prize and sharing community awareness for our 2025 How To Love Yourselfie Youth Arts and Wellness Camp!

Shoutout thank you #BTCF Advisory @krysiastcyr and CLI for supporting us with your awesome contribution!

#selflove #selfcare #wellness #youth #htlys

be sTill ~ 💜 #btcf feature artist contributors

be sTill ~ 💜

#btcf feature artist contributors ~ @irelynn_bryan_dance43 @irelynnbryannnnn &
📸 @bellemattsonphotography

Introducing the #BTCF 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕠𝕣 𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕥 challenge! We have asked each of our Youth Ambassadors for their 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕠𝕣 𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕥 preferences. ➡️➡️➡️ Slide to see all of the magic ✨

We want to hear from you too! Screenshot the first slide, circle your answers, and share your customized response with us by tagging @breakingthechainsfdn ! Feel free to share on your story, page, with your friends, & family! We can’t wait to see the similarities and differences that each of you share. Have fun!! 💖 ~ Kayden Tokarski, #BTCF Youth Ambassador

We are thrilled to announce that our Advisory Boar

We are thrilled to announce that our Advisory Board Member Karen Kelly, DMT, CEP, CPT, CES has joined our Board of Directors! 💜

For over 35 years, Karen Kelly has instructed and led thousands of people in dance, fitness classes, healing movement, and corrective exercise. She has taught a wide array of fitness class formats in fitness facilities, colleges, and universities from coast to coast, owned a fitness studio for many years specializing in small group and one on one training, and was a nutritionist and wellness coordinator at Canyon Ranch Resort in Tucson, Arizona. She is an ordained interfaith/interspiritual minister, certified life and spirituality coach, healing touch practitioner, master’s degree level Dance Movement Therapist, certified and degreed exercise physiologist and a master personal trainer.

She is the owner of Truly Fit DBA Focused Fitness in Arizona. She is also the founder of New Goddess, whose mission is to breathe life into the feminine energy of our world, to educate people to value, foster, enliven, and embolden their feminine traits and characteristics which will help usher in a world that is just, equitable, sustainable, and kind to all.

Karen is a creative, free spirited, spiritually grounded healer, teacher and coach who is devoted to helping people to remember, reinvent, reclaim, and honor feminine consciousness. Her goal is to lead people back to their feminine spirit, through education, movement, and creative expression. She hopes to uplift and empower all people who identify as women and girls so that they will embrace their true selves, and deeply know their worth, beauty, and gifts. By empowering women, she believes we will create a more equitable, healthy, and sustainable world for everyone.

https://www.thenewgoddess.com/

As we continue to venture into 2025, we are excite

As we continue to venture into 2025, we are excited to announce that BTCF has a new chapter in Florida! We are very fortunate to be able to further our reach and serve a bigger community on the East Coast.💜

#florida #btcf #nonprofit #chapter

#BTCF Featured Artist Diana Wallace @divadianalynn

#BTCF Featured Artist Diana Wallace @divadianalynn 💜✨LINK IN BIO for full feature✨

Diana Wallace is a singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles. Growing up the daughter of a preacher, she has strong roots in gospel and choir. However, she draws inspiration from world rhythms and indigenous music and strives to weave the thread of her soul into this ageless loom’s musical narrative. She has spent nearly three decades in the musical realm studying voice and percussion, exercising her talents in reggae, afro-pop, jazz and blues, and most recently house music. She loves playing a variety of percussion instruments from around the world and enjoys her new role as a drum circle facilitator where she can share all of her passions with young and old while taking them on a journey of communal rhythm and song.

In September 2024, we had the pleasure of experiencing Diana’s talents and passion at our “How to Love Yourselfie” Youth Arts and Wellness Camp, where she facilitated both drumming and singing sessions. We are excited to welcome her back in 2025, as she will engage participants in drumming and singing, along with an enriching component focused on empowering their voices.

Thank you Diana!🪘❤️🥁

#drumming #singer #percussion #music #rhythm #reggae #afrobeats #jazz #blues #artist

“Each time a woman stands up for herself, withou

“Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women. ~ Maya Angelou

#BTCF Statistics Series💜

Within this series ~ How can women uplift themselves and each other regarding body image and mental health? Our BTCF Youth Ambassador @kaydentokarski shared her reflections on how creative practices support women dealing with trauma, body image issues, and mental health struggles.

#mentalhealth #bodyimage #journey #healing #support #knowledge #women #community

Get ready for some fun with our #BTCF Youth Ambass

Get ready for some fun with our #BTCF Youth Ambassadors in this RAPID FIRE QUESTION session!🔥

➡️➡️➡️➡️➡️Check out their fun responses, and we want to hear from you too! How would you answer? Let’s get the conversation going!
• Fav self-love activity?
• Movie you love to cry to?
• Best scream at the top of your lungs song?
• Fav sport or workout?
• Best comfort food?
• Best advice on loving yourself?💖

@mikaelazarsky @kaydentokarski @kennedyjean04 @audenwyle @jordyncuret_

#btcf #youth #ambassadors #conversation

#BTCF Health and Wellness Conversations ~ A person

#BTCF Health and Wellness Conversations ~ A personal experience as a high-performance athlete and dancer.

Facilitated by Krista Stryker @12minuteathlete , NSCA -CPT, Author, #BTCF Board with guest, Mikaela Zarsky @mikaelazarsky , dancer, choreographer, and athlete, #BTCF Youth Ambassador Chair.💜

These conversations highlight the stories of #BTCF team members and how these stories can help to inspire others and enrich our lives.

#dancer #choreographer #athlete #creator #performance #science #usc #experience #journey

Lifting up these amazing, creative, intelligent, c

Lifting up these amazing, creative, intelligent, compassionate, strong, supportive, and passionate women!❤️

A big shout out to all women ~
🙌🏼🙌🙌🏿🙌🏽🙌🏾🙌🏻
International Women’s Day!

#debrahopkins @thecourtneyhope @jillianrosereed @alex_little @krista.stryker @12minuteathlete @singingharts #karenkelly @krysiastcyr @katherineleist1 @mobilemozart @thejonathanfoundation @mghentis @karen_zarsky @ggtownson @mikaelazarsky @audenwyle @kennedyjean04 @jordyncuret_ @kaydentokarski @divadianalynn @tastybytina @daniellenievesrealestate
@sarabearaa._ @danikelmar #penniecuret @serenalaurel @tracywylemakeithappen

#internationalwomensday #btcf #women

📸 @photos_by_edward @itsjaneg27

t-shirts @itsdreamclothing ✨

Recovering from an eating disorder is a process th

Recovering from an eating disorder is a process that takes time, support, kindness, and patience. There will be good days as well as challenging days, but it’s important to remember that recovery is possible. Numerous strategies, steps, tools, support systems, and resources are available to assist you on your healing journey. You are not alone in this process! Additionally, for those who support a loved one in their recovery, you are not alone either.

Visit for support, tools, guidance and resources: @equiphealth @rockrecovery @neda @anadhelp @projectheal @eatingrecovery @pathlightbh @crcfored @harvardstriped

#eatingdisorderswarenessweek #eatingdisorder #recovery #healing #journey

“My eating disorder journey brought me to where

“My eating disorder journey brought me to where I am today. Thank you @canvasrebel for inviting me to share my story💜 - Debra Hopkins, #BTCF President/Founder 🔗 in bio for full interview.

What inspired Jillian Rose Reed to create our “H

What inspired Jillian Rose Reed to create our “How to Love Yourselfie” program? Tune in to hear how issues like comparison and perfectionism led her to question the real purpose of social media and whether we can cultivate a more positive experience for ourselves. The program encourages participants to shake up their feeds, make healthier choices, and reduce the harmful effects of social media on our well-being!

For more information 🔗in bio💗

#htlys #btcf #youth #socialmedia #wellness

New💗Statistics Series w/ #BTCF Youth Ambassador

New💗Statistics Series w/ #BTCF Youth Ambassador Chair @mikaelazarsky ✨In this series ~ How is social media affecting mental health?

Check out our “How To Love Yourselfie” online social media literacy & eating disorders prevention program for ways to navigate the ins and outs of social media. 🔗 in bio.

As Eating Disorder Awareness Week approaches, we w

As Eating Disorder Awareness Week approaches, we would like to share some updates about our “How To Love Yourselfie” online social media literacy & eating disorders prevention program with interactive videos and workbook. We are excited to expand the program to include wellness and movement within the 5 modules guided by @krysiastcyr , BTCF Advisory Board, Holistic Coach, and Director of Student Wellbeing for @cliconservatory !

***Please visit our link in the bio: “How To Love Yourselfie” to sign up for our June virtual workshop, and to learn how to bring the program to your school, organization, or home.

Feel free to reach out at iambreakingthechains@gmail.com for a free consultation or to learn about facilitator training, program options, and more!

HTLYS is developed as a prevention program to provide additional support to those who are looking for support and education around positive body image, self-esteem, and social media literacy. This program is intended to support and aid in cultivating positive and reflective conversations around body image. This program is not intended to be used in lieu of eating disorder treatment with a medical, clinical, and/or nutritional provider.

Follow up with your pediatrician or primary care doctor if you have concerns about eating disorder symptoms or treatment.

#howtoloveyourselfie #htlys #jillianrosereed #socialmedia #socialmedialiteracy #eatingdisorder #support #prevention #wellness #tools

Photo credit @photos_by_edward

#BTCF Featured Artist @kaydentokarski 💜✨LINK

#BTCF Featured Artist @kaydentokarski 💜✨LINK IN BIO for full feature✨

Kayden is an acclaimed actor from Orange County, California. She is recognized for portraying a young Julia Roberts (Martha Mitchell) in the Emmy, Critics Choice, and Golden Globes-nominated Starz original TV series “Gaslit” on Hulu. Kayden’s notable filmography includes “Love’s Fast Lane” on Peacock; “My Melancholy Baby” on Amazon Prime; My Professor’s Deadly Secret” and “Killer in the Woods” on Lifetime; “Roswell Delirium” alongside Anthony Michael Hall and Reginald VelJohnson on Apple TV; and the upcoming “Curse of Vandor” and its sequel with Dee Wallace. Kayden is currently in Mississippi filming her next movie.

Kayden is also a recurring actress on the inspirational Dhar Mann web series, with over 115 million social media followers worldwide.

In July 2024, Kayden won a Young Artists Academy award for her work as young Julia Roberts in “Gaslit.” In 2023, she won a Young Entertainer’s Award for her lead in the independent film “Bombay Beach.”

A multi-talented individual, Kayden also sings and reached Junior Olympian status on the 1-meter diving board. Her dedication to community service is evident through her keynote speeches at the 33rd annual Walk Against Drugs and a Red Cross LA fundraiser as well as her participation in the Joyful Child Foundation’s “Be Brave” pilot.

Kayden rocked it as our emcee at our How To Love Yourselfie Arts and Wellness Camp. We are thrilled to welcome Kayden as a BTCF Youth Ambassador and look forward to working with her!

Thank you Kayden!❤️

#btcf #youth #ambassador #actress #artist #film #tv

We are thrilled to announce #BTCF Youth Ambassador

We are thrilled to announce #BTCF Youth Ambassador Mikaela Zarsky is our new BTCF Youth Ambassador Chair!❤️

Mikaela has been with BTCF for 3 years. Her support, passion, and contributions to BTCF include featured artist, an Instagram live takeover from @cliconservatory , featured workshop panelist, program team member, and led our kick-off to our 2024 How To Love Yourselfie Youth Arts and Wellness Camp in addition to assisting BTCF Board, @alex_little in facilitating dance.

Mikaela is an incredibly gifted dancer, model, and choreographer. This creative and intelligent young woman is currently pursuing her Bachelor in Fine Arts in Dance with a minor in Performance Science @uscedu @usckaufman . Her training dance styles include ballet, pointe, contemporary, jazz, modern, lyrical, musical theatre, ballroom, hip hop/street styles, acrobatics, character, bollywood, and tap.

She graduated from both academics and dance as the valedictorian of her class at @abballetschool Professional Division. Additionally, she was a company member of @yycdanceproject . After graduation, she furthered her training at @cliconservatory under the direction of @teddyforance and signed with @go2talent .

As a multidisciplinary artist and human, when she is not dancing, Mikaela enjoys teaching younger students, fitness, fashion, photography, film production, nature, reading, and spending time with family and friends. She hopes to expand her career in commercial dance, concert dance, choreography, cinematic arts, and production while using research-based practices to help others creatively and mentally achieve their full potential.

We really look forward to 2025 working with Mikaela as our Youth Ambassador Chair!❤️ @mikaelazarsky

To learn more about Mikaela, please visit our website!

#btcf #youth #ambassador #chair #dance #creative #artist #arts #wellness

We look forward to sharing, connecting, serving, s

We look forward to sharing, connecting, serving, supporting, and creating with you all in 2025!❤️

Wishing each of you, your families, and loved ones a Happy New Year!

📸 @photos_by_edward

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