What is The Way Onward?

The Way Onward is a first-of-its-kind training curriculum for behavioral health professionals. Grounded in The Leadership Challenge, an evidence-based leadership framework, The Way Onward equips recovery-oriented professionals with the certified methodology behind The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership, enabling them to guide individuals in navigating their journeys to recovery with confidence, resilience, and purpose.

Why is The Way Onward needed?

The statistics are staggering:

According to SAMHSA, more than 383 people in the U.S. lose their lives every single day from excessive alcohol consumption.
Despite 29 million Americans engaging in excessive alcohol use, only 10% seek treatment, leaving millions without support.
More than 75% of individuals who attempt recovery relapse within the first year.

These numbers highlight an urgent need for more inclusive, innovative recovery pathways — ones that meet people where they are and empower them to move forward.

What makes The Way Onward different?

Recovery isn’t just about releasing unhealthy habits; it’s about learning how to lead oneself toward a healthy, fulfilling life. The Way Onward emphasizes liberation — guiding individuals to cultivate self-awareness, build empowered decision-making skills, and achieve sustainable personal growth.

The Way Onward was founded and created by Angie Chaplin, a peer recovery coach, mindfulness educator, and Certified Master & Coach for The Leadership Challenge, based on her leadership expertise and personal lived experiences overcoming near-fatal alcohol use disorder in 2020. Seeking a self-empowered approach to sustainable sobriety, Angie leaned into The Way Onward's framework to lead herself to freedom from alcohol. Now, it's time to make The Way Onward accessible to individuals seeking a different path on their quest to a healthy, purpose-driven life.

What does my donation support?

Scholarships: Your donation helps make The Way Onward’s Certified Navigator Training accessible to nonprofit mental health and recovery organizations. By contributing, you advance Brave Leadership’s mission to strengthen leadership capacity in the nonprofit sector, with a special focus on recovery community organizations serving underserved individuals.

Together, we can equip Navigators with the tools to build resilience, foster empowerment, and create lasting change in the lives of those they support.

Sponsorships: Sponsorship opportunities are available from $5,000 to $50,000 for businesses committed to advancing The Way Onward. Each tier includes meaningful recognition, with higher levels offering exclusive benefits such as acknowledgement in marketing and publications, the opportunity to submit case studies for inclusion, and potential speaking engagements at Brave Leadership and The Way Onward events.

To learn more about how your organization can partner with us, email info@braveleadership.org.

Partner with Brave Leadership through The Way Onward Scholarship Fund to champion innovation, empowerment, and sustainable recovery solutions that transform lives and strengthen communities.

The Way Onward is lovingly dedicated to Cody Glasgo, whose life was cut short by health complications from alcohol use disorder. His story, like so many others, reminds us of the urgent need for compassion, connection, and courage in the face of this public health crisis. Inspired by the Starfish Story, this work honors Cody and the countless starfishes we could not save. Because their lives mattered—and still matter—we commit to returning more starfishes to the sea, one at a time, knowing that each life touched is a life transformed.

Brave Leadership is a 501(c)(3) public charity committed to unlocking leadership potential within behavioral health and human services through evidence-based programs to optimize outcomes for individuals, organizations, and communities. Contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law; please consult with your certified accounting professional or tax advisor.

The Way Onward Scholarship Fund

Recovery is the journey. Leadership is the path.