Chelsea is Penobscot County’s deputy district attorney. For the last four years, she has been a loyal member of the DA office’s 15+ person event team.

“I don’t consider myself a runner, but I do run,” Chelsea says, laughing. “I find registering for and participating in events keeps me accountable. It also keeps me involved in my community, and that is especially important to me.”

The ongoing tradition of the team, which includes prosecutors, administrative staff, and witness advocates, participating in every segment of the event began after Prosecutor Joanne Lewis asked the staff to consider getting together and getting involved. 

“Chris Almy is my boss as well as a serious and accomplished runner. He initially inspired me to commit to my community and register for the 10K portion of this event, and I’m happy to say the tradition lives on!” says Chelsea. 

Chelsea is second in command at the DA’s office. In her role, she oversees a significant caseload of adult domestic violence and child sexual assault cases. 

“SAFE [sexual assault forensic examiner] nurses play a critical role in domestic violence and sexual assault cases. I have seen one case where multiple doctors evaluated a survivor and did not detect abuse. When a SAFE nurse examined the survivor, during an emergency room visit, abuse was identified. Our community needs these types of highly skilled clinicians, and the expertise of St. Joe’s nurses is unmatched,” she says.

In addition to Chelsea’s participation, her seven-year-old daughter, Ryan, takes part in the Commit to Community Kids’ Obstacle Course. 

“At her age, she understands that Commit to Community is one of the charitable events we support to raise money for people who help kids. In addition to that, Ryan is competitive and enjoys having a fun day out with her mom,” says Chelsea.

This year’s Commit to Community continues to encourage wellness while bringing others hope. It will be held on Sunday, September 28, at Broadway Park in Bangor, beginning at 8:30 a.m. This year’s goals include: 

• Funding the majority of the SAFE program’s budget by raising $250,000 for care, resources, and more.
• Increasing participation and sending a clear and positive message that the community cares for victims of violence.
• Continuing to encourage daily fitness activities and overall wellness for everyone.