My Story
Why I created Project Cadence:
My name is Ella Cadence Chiulli.
When something is in your name, maybe you take it on … or maybe it was you the entire time. Either way, I found that “Cadence” was an unusually fitting word because it has both a literal meaning in cycling and a broader meaning about finding a sustainable rhythm through difficult circumstances.
When I was struggling within an unstable home environment, it took me years of searching, finding resources, asking for help, and struggling to understand what I was experiencing before I could recognize that the situation itself was unhealthy.
When you live with something every day, it becomes routine and can eventually become so normalized that you don’t realize its negative effects until it's too late. It wasn't until I had time to reflect that I started recognizing how many changes I had made to minimize myself instead of finding a way out of the abuse.
Since then, my mission has been to collect all the information and support I received in one place for others who have experienced or are experiencing an unhealthy relationship.
Project Cadence isn’t about implying that life is smooth. Finding a way to get help as a kid in an adult world can at times be daunting or even seem hopeless. Cadence isn't the road beneath you. It's the rhythm you choose to keep moving forward.
Why Project Cadence
You don’t choose your circumstances in life, but with the right resources, you can determine the rhythm you chart for yourself. Every kid in the world is familiar with Dory's famous refrain: “Just keep swimming.” But in life’s darkest moments, there were times when things seemed insurmountable and I felt trapped without hope. Maybe if someone else is in that moment now, I can offer a place to start, a friend to help, and the encouragement to make even a little progress each day. Maybe my story can offer hope, and this website can provide a way to find a pace out of a bad situation, even when the path is not yet clear.
Project Cadence is the resource I wish I had. I created this website to bring information about healthy relationships, support systems, tools, and resources together in one place. If there is someone out there who feels scared, alone, or trapped like I once did, I hope Project Cadence helps them realize that they have options, that support is within reach, and that moving forward is possible. Sometimes the first step is simply finding your rhythm again. I hope this helps you set the cadence for your path forward.
My Mission
My mission is to help people, especially children, teenagers, and young adults, not only understand and differentiate healthy relationships from unhealthy ones, but also go a step further and help ensure that anyone who may be in an unsafe situation receives support.
My Hope
I hope that everyone who finds Project Cadence leaves knowing that their feelings matter. You deserve to have boundaries, ask questions, and get support without feeling ignored or alone.
My Commitment
Project Cadence is just the beginning. I want to keep growing it, expanding its resources, and reaching more people. I promise to continue listening to people's experiences, learning from professionals and organizations, finding better resources, and improving this website over time.