'RESILIENCE AFTER EXPERIENCING A HATE CRIME'

Experiencing a hate crime is something no one ever prepares for


As a photographer, artist, and graphic designer—and most importantly, as a human being—it shook me. But it did not define me.


I am Zelia Correia, founder of Zelias Designs Arts, Zelias Photography, Art Creations Store by ZDA, and ZDesign Us.


What was meant to silence me instead sharpened me.


What was meant to diminish me instead refined my purpose.

HOW IT HELPED ME GO FURTHER

1. It Helped Me Fine-Tune My Website


When you go through something traumatic, clarity becomes survival. I began looking at my websites not just as digital portfolios, but as reflections of my integrity, professionalism, and mission. Every word mattered. Every image mattered. Every service description had to be clear, strong, and unapologetic.


I refined my messaging to reflect not only creativity but also resilience. I streamlined navigation. I strengthened my brand voice. I made sure my platforms communicated trust, inclusion, and excellence. Instead of reacting emotionally, I responded strategically. The result? A stronger online presence that speaks with confidence and authority.

2. It Helped Me Focus My Social Media Ads


Adversity forces you to evaluate where your energy goes. I realized that my marketing could no longer be scattered. My ads needed intention. They needed direction. They needed to reach the right audience—people who value artistry, professionalism, and inclusion.


I began targeting more thoughtfully. I refined my visuals. I clarified my calls to action. Instead of chasing numbers, I focused on impact. I built campaigns that aligned with my values and attracted clients who respect diversity and understand the power of authentic storytelling.

In business, focus is power. And sometimes hardship is what sharpens it.

3. I Realized I Am Not How I’m Treated


One of the hardest but most transformative lessons was this: I am not defined by someone else’s prejudice.


As a disabled person in the United States, navigating professional spaces can already require strength. Facing a hate crime could have broken my confidence. Instead, it deepened my self-worth. I realized that someone’s attempt to degrade me revealed nothing about my value—and everything about their limitations.

DISCRIMINATION DIDN'T DEFINE LOVE TO HUMAN BEINGS

My work, my ethics, my consistency, and my character speak louder than hate ever could.


The Imperative to Elevate LGBTQ People and Minorities


Living and working in the United States—particularly in Maine—during a time of political inequality rhetoric has made something crystal clear:


Visibility matters.

Representation matters.

But not able to find any

Protection matters.


Landlords shouldn't have that much power over people's lives.

There was financial, housing, and physical harm caused by institutions that were supposed to protect the disabled!

There should not have been any cover-up over what happened to me!

landlord investigated by the maine human rights COMMISSION

Discrimination was found dated December 14, 2022.

It is more imperative than ever to elevate LGBTQ individuals and minorities through art, photography, branding, and storytelling.


Creativity shapes culture. Imagery shapes narratives.


When marginalized communities are seen with dignity and power, society shifts.

My camera is not just a tool—it is advocacy.

My design work is not just aesthetics—it is voice.

My businesses are not just companies—they are spaces of inclusion.


  • Built on Trust and Character
  • Before founding my brands, I worked with the federal government, the Center for Human Rights, and the Department of Health and Human Services. Those experiences shaped my professionalism. They instilled discipline, confidentiality, compliance awareness, and ethical responsibility. They strengthened my foundation.
  • Going through a hate crime did not erase that foundation—it revealed it.
  • Trustworthiness is not built in comfort. It is proven under pressure.
  • Turning Pain Into Purpose


WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WAS WRONG

But what I chose to do afterward was powerful

I chose refinement over resentment.


I chose focus over fear.


I chose elevation over silence.


I chose to speak it out loud.


I choose to advocate for myself as a disabled person.


As the founder of Zelias Designs Arts, Zelias Photography, Art Creations Store by ZDA, and ZDesign Us,

I stand stronger—not because of hate, but because I refused to let it define me.


To anyone who has faced discrimination:

You are not what happened to you. You are what you build after it.


And I am building louder, clearer, and more intentionally than ever before.

©Zelias Designs Arts/ Art Creations Store by ZDA/Zelias Photography/ZDesignUs/Zelia Correia. All Rights Reserved.