An Interview with Sabrina and Chelsea Valbrun of The Unspoken Belle Foundation

June 24, 2026

By Krista Martinelli

Why did you decide to start the Unspoken Belle Foundation? How long ago?

Sabrina: I founded it in 2016. My main reason comes from my own experience. I lost my birth mom at 8 years old, moved here from Haiti at 10 years old and joined my new family. I went through a period of loneliness and was also learning a new language. I realized there are many foster kids going through a lot where they keep it all inside. Today as a mother, I can look back and see there was favoritism back then. And I was not the favorite. As an adult in a better place, I understand things way better today. I can use that anger to help another child who might be going through a similar experience. While you might not be in an ideal situation, you can be grateful you have a roof over your head.

How do you raise awareness about sexual abuse?

Chelsea: Encouraging children like me to speak up. We get the word out through events, social media and community programs. People need to speak about their stories and get it out.

Sabrina: With most children who face abuse, it’s their parents who are the last to find out that they’ve been sexually abused. It’s important that my children know, I’m not just your mother, I’m also your protector. When someone says “not to tell your Mom or your Dad,” that’s a red flag. It all begins with providing your children with your friendship – make them feel comfortable to talk to you about anything.

How do you help children in foster care in Haiti?

Sabrina: In Haiti, we are paying for students’ tuition, including making sure they have books and uniforms. Sending $100 gives them everything a student will need for one year. We also provided $250 to help some parents to start a small business. We have three parents that we’ve started this program with. We have one mom who has a business selling hygiene items like soap and toothpaste. We have helped a single dad who grows vegetables and mangos and is a pig farmer. Another mom has a business selling fritters, fried plantains, and patties.

Tell us about your July 18^th fundraiser and upcoming events.

Sabrina: For July 18^th, we want to make it fun; it’s a 90’s party. We want to give everyone a purpose and an idea of what to wear. It’s $30 to attend and all of it goes toward tuition for kids in Haiti. We have a picnic at Tradewinds Park that we put on each year with another organization – there will be food, music, face painting and we will give away basic toiletries. This will be at the end of November, beginning of December.

We also do free haircuts for boys a few days before school starts, partnering with a barber in Lake Worth. Having a new haircut does great things for one’s self-esteem.

What’s the key to breaking the cycle of poverty in Haiti?

Sabrina: In my opinion, it’s through education. At the same time, we have a lot of young adults (often 19-21 year olds), still dependent on their parents. My goal is to be able to provide a technical school where they can learn a skill – for example, as a hair stylist or an agriculturalist. We have a saying in Haiti for when something doesn’t come to fruition. “It’s like washing your hands and then rubbing them on the floor.” My goal for the future is to get a piece of land for the technical school.

Tell us about the mentoring and training that you provide to young women.

Sabrina: Yes, we have a mentoring program. We go to the foster homes, teach them how to cook, healthy eating, how to do laundry and how to write a resume. Tracey Rosario, one of our Board Members, teaches the cooking and healthy eating. The kids age out of the foster home at age 18 and really need basic life skills.

Why is it important to speak up? How does The Unspoken Belle foundation “speak for the unspoken?”

Sabrina: It’s important to tell your story. People think they are going to get in trouble. But actually you get help for your problems; you get solutions. When you speak, you can release anger. I don’t like the word “victims” – “survivors” is a better word. People blame themselves and do so incorrectly. A lot of people are disguised, and we don’t know who they are. Speaking up is the key to receive the healing they need. I use the word “victorious” and not “victim” in our annual Sexual Abuse Awareness “Victorious” Dinner!

Tell us about your family.

Sabrina: I have an amazing, supportive husband, 2 amazing children who believe in this mission as much as I do. I don’t have to force them to go to our events. Chelsea is 11 and Chloe is 15.

What are your plans for the future for this organization?

Sabrina: My plan is to just make sure we are stable as an organization, and we would like to send 100 students to school in Haiti. I go to Haiti every year – I’m very hands on when I’m there. Of course, my bigger plan is to purchase the piece of land to build the technical school.

Anything else?

Chelsea: This is a great nonprofit and it’s going to grow even bigger!

Sabrina: I’m grateful for our Board Members Tracey Rosario (Vice President), Courtney Sharp (Director), Natalie Titus (Ambassador).