About Heidi Yewman

Heidi Yewman is dedicated to amplifying the voices of those who have endured life-changing trauma. A writer, filmmaker, and longtime advocate, she uses storytelling to explore the deep-seated shame, resilience, and transformation that comes from surviving violence. Her work is both profoundly personal and powerfully public—rooted in her own experience as a survivor of childhood sexual and physical abuse.

Her new memoir, Dumb Girl—a raw, unflinching look at the long road from trauma to healing—reflects the heart of her life’s work: to foster empathy, break silence, and create change.

Heidi’s commitment to trauma advocacy began in 1999, when her former teacher and basketball coach, Dave Sanders, was killed in the Columbine High School massacre. Since then, she has spent over two decades elevating the stories of those affected by gun violence and trauma, believing that honest conversations can lead to lasting solutions.

She is the award-winning director and producer of Behind the Bullet, a documentary that follows the lives of people who have shot and killed in self-defense. She also authored Beyond the Bullet: Personal Stories of Gun Violence Aftermath and has written for USA Today, Ms. Magazine, The Seattle Times, The Oregonian, and The Huffington Post. Her widely recognized four-part series, My Month with a Gun, was featured in Ms. Magazine, The Daily Beast, and The Denver Post.

Heidi’s work is deeply informed by her service on the boards of Brady United, Women Donors Network, Develop Africa, and the Trauma Intervention Program. With empathy and clarity, she brings people together across divides—always searching for compassionate, community-based solutions to some of our toughest issues.