She co-created the Love Warrior Community(LWC), an online community which offers a place for exploring self-love through the creative process. Her latest endeavor is the creation of The Human Experience (T.H.E.), an online publication focusing on the diversity within the queer spectrum and the diversity of the human experience.

Emelina believes that people are best able to explore and grow into their authentic selves when they are listened to, valued and welcomed by others, and she strives to create that supportive space for others through her online and offline communities. Emelina is an EDRS Inc. Intern. She focuses on expanding the awareness of recovery from eating disorders through her writing, social media and her day-to-day interactions. Emelina is also an active self-love blogger on the LWC’s group blog, Self-Love Warrior. 

She was able to personalize the complexity of recovery, and the extra challenges that occur for those with a dual diagnosis. She spoke from the heart and touched many people with her story of hope and successes. Her personal choice to continue with on-going therapy in order to stay balanced and healthy helped others view therapy as a supportive process versus something you do if you are sick. She ended her presentation by reading a poem she wrote which helped the audience understand what recovery is. She received a standing ovation. Her story helped others trust that they could heal.

She received help from a 4 star chef who worked in a therapeutic program that treated people with eating disorders. She got donations for dinners from local restaurants, artwork, massages, jewelry and assorted gifts. She donated the profit from the fundraiser to a deserving young woman to help finance her continued recovery work. Thank you to Lauren Sowell, our second Love Warrior!

We offered our first community conference during Eating Disorders Awareness Week, EDAW in 2007. Professionals, as well as community members, shared their energy, experience, expertise and passion. One young woman stood out amongst the crowd. She was a Sonoma State student who wrote and performed a one-woman play as part of her course work, and she scheduled it for Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW). Her moving performance focused on her journey of healing from chronic sexual abuse, self-harm and anorexia. At the end of the show she invited the viewers to come to the stage, light a candle and speak. One audience member told the audience she would practice self-love by going back to residential treatment to recover from anorexia. Other people in the theatre spoke of feeling more self-love and acceptance, others resolved to go to therapy and seek help for themselves. There was laughter and tears. All who attended the play were moved by the power of the message. This student became our first EDRS Love Warrior. Thank You Lindsey Wert for your passion, honesty and courage in telling your story.