Support a project to restore resilience to the unheard.
Inspired by Koelle Simpson’s true story of turning trauma into strength.
The Unheard project combines film, education, and social impact to raise awareness and foster resilience. Through her bond with horses, Koelle’s journey reveals that even in silence, we can rediscover our voice, power, and ability to heal.
The Story
After losing her hearing as a toddler, Koelle must navigate the next fifteen years, shaped by silence and trauma. An unbreakable bond with horses becomes her anchor, guiding her toward healing and the reclamation of her power, voice, and place in the world.
“Out of silence came her wild resilience.”
Inspired by Truth
If I’ve learned anything in my first three decades, it’s that trauma is universal, touching humans, animals, nations, and even our planet. It’s not just a single event but an ongoing experience that, when left unhealed, fuels cycles of pain, addiction, and loss. My own story includes abandonment, betrayal, abuse, and illness that left me deaf, yet the sum of these experiences is far less significant than the whole and healing person I’ve become. Horses became my unexpected teachers, guiding me toward reconnecting with myself, others, and the natural world. By sharing my journey, I hope to inspire anyone affected by trauma to realize they are not alone in their pain.
- Koelle Simpson
“There’s something about deep wounding that can be a pathway to deep, deep love.”
Director’s Statement
We all carry wounds that shape us and pain that connects us, even when we feel alone. The Unheard project reminds us that our past does not define our future. By sharing our stories, we find connection, understanding, and healing. Through empathy, we build resilience, letting shame and fear fade away. I believe the Unheard project can change how we see ourselves and others and support those who feel afraid and unheard.
- Erahm Christopher
The Team
Erahm Christopher
Writer, Director and Producer
Erahm Christopher is a filmmaker, social strategist, and speaker whose work fuses art, empathy, and impact through storytelling. Raised on his family’s century-old farm in northern California, he earned a theater scholarship to Santa Clara University. He moved to Los Angeles and worked across the entertainment industry—as an actor, Location Supervisor, and Business Affairs assistant at CBS Television—contributing to shows like Survivor and Judging Amy, before relocating to San Francisco to serve as the Senior Producer at a design firm. After the Columbine tragedy, he shifted his creative focus toward social change, developing the award-winning Teen Truth series, which empowered youth voices and reached over 10 million people worldwide. A graduate of Montreal’s Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema, Christopher went on to produce films and programs for corporations, pro athletes, non-profits, and government agencies that promote empathy and healing in schools and communities. His debut feature, Listen, inspired by real youth stories, launched a national mental health initiative that reached over 300,000 students. He has spoken to more than a million people at events worldwide. As an author of two children’s books and one for teens, a Washington Post contributor, and founder of the Montreal-based marketing firm Tansley, he continues to use storytelling to connect, heal, and inspire lasting change.
Brooke Dooley
Producer
Brooke Dooley, a graduate of San Francisco State University’s cinema program, is an accomplished producer whose passion for storytelling has driven a dynamic career across film, television, and branded content. Before turning 23, she had already produced more than two dozen films, including Joshua Moore’s I Think It’s Raining, which premiered at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. After working on a film in Pakistan, she became a development executive in Los Angeles, where she packaged projects for sponsorship and distribution, before founding her own boutique agency. Since 2009, she has produced over 200 projects for major clients, including Google, the U.S. Navy, Best Buy, BODYARMOR, Goodyear, Samsung, and Disney. Her film credits include Erahm Christopher’s Listen, Chase Joliet’s Grapefruit starring Rosanna Arquette, and Charles Whitcher’s short Mundo, executive produced by Eva Longoria. Most recently, she served as a Production Executive with Disney Branded Television, overseeing marketing shoots for Disney+ titles including American Born Chinese, The Santa Clauses, Out of My Mind, and Big Shot: Season 2.
Koelle Simpson
Producer
Koelle Simpson is a trauma-focused equus therapist who facilitates transformational sessions, experiences, and retreats that foster lasting restoration, resilience, and growth. With over twenty years of experience working globally, she utilizes animal wisdom, nature, and proven practices to support lifelong personal development.
Koelle’s healing journey began through a profound connection with horses, whose steady presence provided a refuge when the world felt unsafe. As a child shaped by trauma, she struggled to feel at home in her own body or the presence of others.
Yet, through the wordless wisdom of her equine teachers, she began to listen more intently to her inner voice, honor the shape of her boundaries, and rediscover a sense of belonging—one that asked nothing of her but to be wholly herself.
In 2006, she founded an equus coaching training program, which has since evolved into a thriving global training community. She has led retreats and trainings across five continents, and her work has been featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, TEDx, the BBC, and the OWN Network. Koelle has been supporting clients for twenty years to transform the ripple effect of trauma in order to access a life of vibrance and wellbeing.
Koelle lives in Colorado with her husband Patrick Gaines and is completing her memoir, which is being developed into a feature film and an educational program to support youth and adults.
Activation Timeline
2025
July-March
Finalize Fundraising
2026
March-June
Casting & Pre-Production
October
Principal Photography
September-November
Post-Production
Festival Submissions
January-March
Educational Preview Screenings
Data Collection
Fiscal Sponsorship Status
The Unheard project has a fiscal sponsorship granted by THE FILM COLLABORATIVE (TFC). This status means that the project has a 501(c)(3) status, and project supporters receive a 100% tax write-off for all donations (minus the TFC’s 5% processing fee) to support the development & production of Unheard, an educational curriculum, and data-driven screenings. The unique partnership with TFC lowers the barrier to support in bringing this life-changing project to life.
