Chicago’s Ashley-Lauren Elrod: From Trauma to Triumph, Healing, and Change

From overcoming child abuse to founding Visionary Women Productions, Ashley-Lauren Elrod’s journey of resilience and advocacy has empowered countless others. Her story underscores the power of healing, awareness, and using personal experiences to create social impact (photos provided by Ashley-Lauren Elrod).

Ashley-Lauren Elrod has always believed she was born to stand out.

As CEO of Visionary Women Productions and dedicated mental health coach, she is deeply committed to social impact, advocacy, and promoting authentic healing. Her work reflects a passion for empowering others and creating meaningful change.

She says, “The strongest soldiers get the toughest fights.”

She has always felt destined to break generational cycles. Her passion for advocacy and helping others runs deep, especially in educating people about the pervasive and deep-rooted issues of exploitation and abuse. Her dedication to raising awareness has not only had a profound impact on others, but has also been a crucial part of her healing journey as she recognizes the long history of trauma in the world.

Furthermore, Ashley’s story not only illustrates the power of overcoming, but ultimately shows how you can use your trauma to improve the lives of others, especially young people.

The journey of Ashley’s trauma

Ashley traces her trauma back to her early childhood, when she first experienced abuse at the age of six. Growing up in an environment where silence often surrounded complex issues, her pain remained hidden for years.

It wasn’t until her teenage years, when another family member came forward with their own story of abuse, that Ashley’s trauma began to unravel. What had been hidden in secret for so long finally came to light, forcing Ashley to face the painful reality she has carried with her since childhood.

Born in Chicago’s Morgan Park neighborhood, with deep family roots, the city has always been her home. About seven years ago, a move to Brooklyn seemed like a temporary break from the norm, but time has flown by and she has lived in Brooklyn ever since.

Ashley is a survivor of multiple forms of trauma, including childhood sexual abuse and domestic violence. She acknowledges that it is difficult to discuss these experiences because of their complexity, but notes that, like many, she grew up in a family where such issues were not openly discussed. In her case, they were ignored or pushed aside and everyone just moved on.

However, a pivotal moment occurred during her senior year of high school. At age 17, her story began to unravel when another family member, who had been going through a tough time, came forward about their abuse.

A trial followed, which is rare for survivors, but they were able to pursue justice through the legal system. It was a moment that marked an important turning point in her life. Even after going through the legal process, the trauma remained. Because she had lived in secret for so long, she was suddenly expected to carry on as if everything was fine, but it wasn’t.

As she neared high school graduation and the transition to college, she had little time to process everything. It took a lot of thought to realize that running from her pain was not an option. Working overtime and pretending everything was fine were not solutions, and it wasn’t until years after college that the weight of it really started to bother her.

‘After my studies, when I was not distracted by the structure of school or work, all the repressed traumas resurfaced. In 2013, I had so much more free time, and with that came the weight of everything I had been pressuring,” Ashley said. “I had also just gotten out of a manipulative and abusive relationship, which caused even more emotional pain. It all led to PTSD, deep depression and ultimately my suicide attempts in 2014.”

For those in that space, the experience is often multifaceted.

In her case, she was completely committed to ending her life and planned to jump from a bridge on I-90 near her apartment at the Presidential Towers in the West Loop. Instead, she opted for a bottle of pills.

At that moment, one of her colleagues called, sensing that something was wrong, and was already on the way with her current husband. It almost felt like fate or a spiritual force was at play because their timing was impeccable. They arrived just in time and saved her from what could have been a fatal overdose.

The journey of healing: a gradual process

After her suicide attempt, her healing did not come immediately.

It was a spiritual and emotional journey without a “light bulb” moment when she felt better. It took time, and she is still on that path.

The process of recovery began after her life was saved, marked by a profound spiritual awakening that left her in awe. Ashley’s friends who witnessed it saw the change in her.

But even after that, she had to travel a long road filled with fog, numbness, sleepless nights and navigating the darkness. Ashley needed time, support and significant self-work to slowly get herself back on track.

“When people ask me how I got back on track, I often say that healing is a lifelong journey. There is no quick fix, and we should stop expecting one,” she said. “Healing is complex, especially if you have experienced trauma. For me, therapy was essential, and I began to immerse myself in activities I have always loved: nature, swimming and horse riding.”

“I relied on my family’s traditions and found strength in those roots. I also started changing my diet and focusing on holistic healing methods, all of which helped me regain control of my anxiety and overall health.”

Ashley added, “But talking openly about my story has been the most healing thing for me. Sharing my journey with others has been incredibly cathartic. I have been an advocate for the past eleven or twelve years and that work has given me purpose. I am extremely grateful for it; it helps me keep moving forward.”

Working together for change: Ashley’s work with the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center

Ashley recently hosted the event “A Night of Heroes” in collaboration with the Chicago Advocacy Centerwhere she is a committee member and host of the advisory board. She said they were lucky to have Abby Elliott from the Chicago-based television show “The Bear” participate in the silent auction.

Ashley is also on the advisory board of Project hopewhich is currently being developed as the first co-networked space in the US dedicated to survivors of sexual abuse and human trafficking, which will also be located in Chicago.

Visionary Women’s Productions: Amplifying Voices, Transforming Stories

Ashley’s passion and creativity during her studies played a crucial role in her healing journey and in shaping her career. While working for Lily’s Talent Agency in Chicago and present Columbia Collegeshe developed the skills and purpose that eventually led her to start her own production company, Visionary women’s productions.

“Visionary Women Productions started when I was still at Columbia. I had already signed with an agent and then gained some experience in the industry,” she said. “What struck me was that while Columbia provided excellent education, we didn’t learn much about the business side of the industry.”

I knew that I had valuable knowledge from my own experiences that could help my colleagues. So I started hosting workshops and offering guidance on headshots, resumes and cover letters, essentially providing insights into the industry that most students didn’t have,” she said.

Her first major casting job was for the TV show Shameless, a milestone in her career. Ashley offered talent consulting, short-term management and casting, emphasizing safe and sensible career choices for clients. She has consistently advocated for careful navigation of the industry, emphasizing the importance of reading contracts, hiring lawyers and ensuring parents are involved with child actors at every stage.

Being an advocate for children

One of her most important roles was advocating for children on set. She was a point of contact for children who needed support when their parents were away, so that they felt comfortable and safe. Its mission focused on protection and safety for both children and adults.

Ashley is also working to create a nonprofit called “Safe On Set,” which aims to train advocates in mental health awareness and safety on set, especially for youth. The goal is to certify professionals in dealing with crisis management and counseling, so that each set has a dedicated advocate to support anyone who feels uncomfortable or needs help. She is excited to further develop this initiative and make it standard in the industry.

Her movie “Edge of memory” is a psychological thriller inspired by her personal experiences with child abuse and PTSD. It follows the main character, Kayla, as she faces a significant life change while haunted by fragmented memories. The film explores PTSD in real time and illustrates how trauma manifests itself both mentally and physically.

Ashley wanted to capture the feeling of PTSD as an out-of-body experience, highlighting the horrors of trauma alongside the beauty of healing, forgiveness and familial love. Described as a terrifying journey of healing, the film leaves viewers questioning reality until crucial moments of revelation occur.

The film also seeks to raise awareness and funds for the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center.

Ultimately, Ashley emphasized that her journey wasn’t an instant “get-it-out” moment. Many people don’t understand what it means to be a suicide survivor. In reality, the experience is much more profound.

She wants to share her story to show others that they can survive too.

To learn more about Ashley Laren Elrod and her company, Visionary Women Productions, visit https://www.visionarywomanproductions.com/

About message author

Marcelle Sanders

Marshelle R. Sanders is a reporter for The Chicago Defender with deep roots in Chicago, Illinois, and the nearby suburb of Bellwood, Illinois. Her journalism has been featured in esteemed publications such as Felix Magazine and Eventnoire. In addition to her reporting, Marshelle is an influencer behind ‘The Beverage Library’, a brand that combines her passions for drinks and books to promote a relaxed social lifestyle. She is also an experienced mixologist. Marshelle holds degrees from Triton College and Governors State University.