Carlene, thanks for joining us. A story earlier this year in The Valley Breeze caught our attention. Let’s start with some of your background. We understand you are a first-generation Cape Verdean American. Please tell us about your background and education.
Thank you so much for having me. Yes, I’m a proud first-generation Cape Verdean American, raised in Central Falls by immigrant parents who worked incredibly hard to build a better future for our family. My mother was a teenage mom, and despite the challenges my parents faced, they raised four children with unwavering strength and love. Her resilience deeply shaped who I am today.
Education was always emphasized in our household. As the youngest of four, I had high expectations to do well in school—my siblings each graduated #1 in their class at Central Falls High School. I graduated #2, and to this day, they don’t let me live that down!
Growing up, books and basketball were my lifelines. I found inspiration in stories like The Color Purple and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and I poured my energy into the game—scoring 1,000 points in high school.
I went on to earn my Bachelor’s in Government from Georgetown University and a Master’s in Criminology from George Washington University. While in D.C., I had the opportunity to intern for then-Congressman Patrick Kennedy, both on Capitol Hill and in his Pawtucket office. I also worked full-time for USAID while attending graduate school.
In recent years, I’ve earned certifications in yoga, mental health first aid, and racial equity facilitation, and I’m currently in the process of becoming a recovery coach facilitator so I can offer trainings internationally. All of this aligns with my deep commitment to wellness, recovery, and community healing.
We understand that you are a survivor of trauma. What happened, how have you healed, and what does this experience bring to your work today?
I’ve survived many layers of trauma—childhood sexual abuse, emotional abuse, domestic violence, addiction, and the weight of unspoken pain. My mother did her best with what she had, but there were generational wounds that went unaddressed. I grew up in a culture and family where we didn’t talk about mental health, trauma, or emotions—especially in immigrant households where survival takes precedence over healing.
As a child, I was sexually abused and emotionally neglected in ways that deeply shaped my self-worth. After giving birth to my daughter, many of those childhood wounds reopened. I found myself in an abusive relationship and isolated, battling postpartum depression, shame, and suicidal ideations. I often say that shame thrives in secrecy—and I almost died in silence. That’s why today, I choose to live out loud and recover out loud.
For a long time, I was what people would call “high-functioning.” I was an overachiever—straight-A student, competitive athlete, ambitious leader—but I was also deeply wounded. I was running on fumes, trying to prove my worth through performance, never feeling enough.
My healing journey has been long and nonlinear. It includes trauma-informed therapy, recovery programs, spiritual practices, yoga, writing, community support, storytelling, and movement. Every time I speak my truth, I reclaim a part of myself.
I founded The Greatest You Consulting from that place—a desire to turn my pain into purpose and to build safe, trauma-informed spaces where others could feel seen, heard, and held. My lived experience now allows me to connect with people on a soul level, to help them reconnect with their own voice, and to remind them that healing is possible, even after the darkest of nights.
You live in Central Falls with your young daughter, correct?
Yes, I live in Central Falls with my daughter, Reyna. She’s truly my light—my joy, my mirror, and my motivation. We have the most beautiful relationship, and I believe she came into my life at exactly the moment I needed her. She gave me a new reason to live, to heal, and to fully step into breaking generational cycles.
I always dreamed of owning my first home in Central Falls, the city that raised me. Right before giving birth, I found a quaint little ranch home—nothing extravagant, but it was perfect. It was mine. It was ours. That home symbolized not just stability, but a fresh start, a place to rewrite the story for myself and for my daughter.
Becoming a mother made everything more urgent. I wanted to create the emotionally safe, loving environment I never had growing up—a home filled with truth-telling, laughter, softness, and the kind of freedom to just be. Reyna reminds me every day why this healing work matters. Through her, I’m not only raising a child—I’m raising a new legacy.
And you have served the Central Falls community in a number of ways, including being a member of the City Council. Please tell us about that.
At 25, I became the first African American woman and first Cape Verdean woman elected to any seat in Central Falls. I served four years on the City Council, and during that time I focused on increasing youth opportunities, strengthening community partnerships, job opportunities, and elevating the voices of residents who are too often left out of the conversation.
But what I’ve learned is that there are so many ways to give back and show up for the community—and not all of them require holding public office.
Since my time on the Council, I’ve continued to serve in a variety of roles rooted in equity and healing. I currently work with the Pawtucket Central Falls Health Equity Zone (HEZ) to improve health outcomes across both cities through community-driven strategies. I also serve on the Rhode Island College Upward Bound Scholarship Committee, which is especially meaningful to me as a proud Upward Bound alum. That program—founded by Viola Davis and her sister, Dr. Deloris Grant—helped shape my future, so being able to give back to the next generation of Central Falls students is incredibly full circle.
I’ve also stayed active in the basketball community here. Sports were my lifeline growing up, and now I get to be an active parent in the Central Falls School District, supporting my daughter and staying engaged in her school community.
All of this work—whether in elected office, community spaces, or parent circles—comes from the same place: a deep love for Central Falls and a belief that when we invest in our people, our healing, and our youth, we all rise.
OK, let’s learn about The Greatest You Consulting company, which you founded and lead. Please give us an overview.
The Greatest You Consulting is a trauma-informed wellness company I founded to help individuals, families, and organizations build healthier, more resilient, and purpose-driven lives. At the heart of our work is the 8 Dimensions of Wellness framework, which focuses on holistic healing—emotional, physical, spiritual, social, intellectual, environmental, financial, and occupational well-being.
We offer a wide range of services, including:
- Workshops and series for youth, parents, school staff, nonprofits, recovery and mental health organizations, and justice-involved individuals
- Professional development and staff wellness trainings
- Speaking engagements that combine lived experience with research-based tools
- Train-the-Trainer models for organizations looking to scale wellness initiatives
- Custom wellness planning and community engagement support
Our signature wellness products include:
- The “One Day at a Time: Journey to the Greatest You” wellness journal
- Daily inspirational calendars
- 8 Dimensions of Wellness workbook
We work with a diverse group of partners across Rhode Island, including:
- Pawtucket and Central Falls Health Equity Zones
- College Unbound, where I also teach
- Brown University Health, RICARES, and the Rhode Island Department of Health
As someone in long-term recovery and a trauma survivor, I bring both professional expertise and lived experience to everything I do. Whether I’m supporting a mom navigating burnout, a young person battling shame, or a team of frontline workers seeking balance, my mission is the same: to help people reclaim their wellness, their voice, and their sense of possibility—one day at a time.
On your website, you talk about the “8 Dimensions of Health framework.” Can you give us a brief overview of each, starting with emotional?
The 8 Dimensions of Wellness—emotional, physical, social, spiritual, financial, occupational, intellectual, and environmental—are all deeply connected. When I first began my healing journey, I focused on physical wellness—moving my body, eating better, showing up at the gym. But I quickly realized that true wellness requires more. I couldn’t fully care for my body while my finances were out of control, my relationships were draining, or my environment was chaotic. Each area influences the others, and if one is off, it can throw the rest out of balance.
Wellness isn’t about being perfect in every area—it’s about awareness, alignment, and intention. If your financial stress is overwhelming, it can affect your emotional health. If your social circle isn’t supportive, your mental and spiritual well-being can suffer. These dimensions don’t exist in silos—they interact constantly. The 8 Dimensions framework reminds us that we are whole people, and healing happens when we nurture each part of ourselves, not just one.
- Emotional Wellness is about understanding and honoring your feelings, and learning to manage stress, grief, and joy in healthy ways.
- Spiritual Wellness involves connecting to something bigger than yourself—whether that’s faith, purpose, nature, or a sense of inner peace.
- Intellectual Wellness is about lifelong learning and staying mentally stimulated—being curious, creative, and open to new ideas.
- Physical Wellness includes movement, rest, nutrition, and caring for your body in a way that helps you feel energized and alive.
- Environmental Wellness reminds us how much our surroundings impact us—from the spaces we live in to our relationship with nature.
- Financial Wellness is the ability to manage your resources, reduce stress about money, and make empowered financial choices.
- Occupational Wellness means finding purpose and satisfaction in your work—whether it’s a job, caregiving, or creative pursuits.
- Social Wellness is all about relationships—cultivating connection, healthy communication, and feeling a sense of belonging.
What are some of the lessons you are teaching your daughter?
I’m teaching her that her voice matters, her feelings are valid, and that healing is beautiful. I want her to know it’s okay to be sensitive, to rest, to say no, and to stand tall in her truth. Most importantly, I want her to grow up knowing she is already enough—she doesn’t have to earn her worth.
But if I’m being honest, she teaches me just as much—if not more. We think we’re here to teach our kids about life, but they end up becoming our greatest teachers. Reyna teaches me patience, presence, and how to breathe through the chaos. When I’m dysregulated or overwhelmed, she’ll look at me and say, “Mommy, count to ten.” And in those moments, I realize she’s guiding me just as much as I’m guiding her.
She reminds me daily to slow down, to “be where my feet are,” and to lead with love. Parenting her is not only about raising a child—it’s about reparenting myself and healing the parts of me that never felt safe or seen. Through her, I get a second chance to do things differently. And I don’t take that for granted.
Anything else we should know?
Yes—healing is possible, and it doesn’t always look perfect. Sometimes it looks like taking a deep breath, setting a boundary, crying in your car, or finally asking for help. I want people to know that they are not alone, that their story matters, and that the best version of themselves isn’t some distant version far down the road. It’s who they are when they choose to show up—with honesty, compassion, and courage—even in the messy moments.
Everyone has a story. We just don’t always feel safe enough to share it. That’s why I believe in living and recovering out loud—because when we see someone else name their truth, it gives us permission to name ours.
I shared a piece of my journey in my TEDx Talk, “Breaking Cycles, Rewriting Legacies,” which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgNnxMMNHmA
And I’m currently writing my memoir, because I believe stories—especially from millennials—are still underrepresented in the healing and recovery space. We need more people talking about trauma, addiction, mental health, and generational healing—not after they’ve made it, but while they’re still in the thick of it.
I hope my voice encourages others to find theirs. If I can help just one person feel seen, then it’s all worth it.
That’s what The Greatest You is all about—reclaiming your story, one day at a time.
