Building Resilient Communities: Lessons from Pioneering Trauma-Informed Network Leaders

During a community practice session on organizing Transformation Resilience Coordinating Networks (TRCNs), three leaders shared their experiences implementing trauma-informed, community-led resilience initiatives.

J'vanete Skiba from New Hanover County Resiliency Task Force in North Carolina emphasized their three-pillar approach of connection, education, and action, which has trained nearly 7,000 county residents in body-based resilience skills. Skiba described how they've created a "common language of resilience" and helped participants advocate upward to decision-makers, stressing the importance of building resilience during "blue sky time" before disasters strike. She highlighted their philosophy of treating the "organism" (individual wellness) before trying to treat the "organization" (community systems) and fostering shared ownership by positioning community members as innovators.

Approach and Impact:

• Emphasized both personal resilience and community resilience during "blue sky time" (before disasters)

• Leveraged Hurricane Florence as a pivotal community experience to foster engagement

• Prioritized treating the "organism" (individual wellness) before trying to treat the "organization" (community systems)

• Created shared ownership by positioning community members as innovators rather than just implementers

Robin Saenger, founding director of Peace4Tarpon in Florida, described establishing one of the first trauma-informed communities in the U.S. by building deep community roots from the beginning and engaging residents as equal partners. Peace4Tarpon provides trainings like Mental Health First Aid and recently partnered with a for-profit organization to offer resilience-building skills to community groups. Saenger emphasized small group work in safe settings and the importance of creating spaces for simply "being together" after traumatic events like hurricanes. She maintained that community initiatives should remain independent from governmental funding to ensure sustainability through political changes, describing their work as a "living organism" that evolves naturally rather than a rigid program.

Approach and Impact:

• Emphasized small group work in intimate settings where people feel safe

• Focused on connection as the foundation for everything else

• Created spaces for simply "being together" after traumatic events like hurricanes

• Maintained community independence from governmental funding to ensure sustainability through political changes

• Positioned the initiative as a "living organism" that evolves naturally rather than a rigid program

Becky Turner from the Community Resilience Initiative in Walla Walla, Washington shared how they frame resilience-building as "self-care" and addressing climate issues as "community care." Operating in a politically conservative area, Turner navigates climate denial by focusing on specific shared local experiences like heat domes and wildfire smoke that affect everyone regardless of political beliefs. She maintains a hyper-local focus and works with "ambassadors" who connect with specific community groups, including non-traditional partners like high school students and seniors. Turner uses metaphors like "giving people a bigger plate" rather than taking things off their already full plate, consistently emphasizing safety and connection as foundational principles. Across all three initiatives, common themes emerged: the essential nature of community ownership, prioritizing connection as the foundation for resilience, focusing on local experiences, creating environments of safety and belonging, meeting people where they are, maintaining long-term commitment, and developing practical skills that build capacity at both individual and community levels.

Approach and Impact:

• Created metaphors like "giving people a bigger plate" rather than taking things off their full plate

• Navigated climate denial in a conservative area by focusing on specific shared experiences (heat domes, wildfire smoke)

• Emphasized safety and connection as foundational principles, especially important in politically divisive times

• Built bridges across political divides by focusing on shared local weather experiences that affect everyone regardless of beliefs

Learn more about Transformation Resilience Coordinating Networks (TRCNs) today!