“We spend our lives traveling through trauma. Our community, our home, needs to be a place that makes us feel whole.” – Rev. Dr. Aleese Moore-Orbih
Trauma is a common human experience. Our experiences of trauma help to shape who we are. Both individually and collectively, over our own lifespans and those of our ancestors. These experiences challenge us with pain and hardship, but also offer opportunities for growth. These experiences impact the way in which we see the world, and inform our choices going forward. Most recently, we have seen how living through the COVID-19 pandemic has changed us. Yes, there has been fear, loss, and grief. But this collective trauma has revealed new strengths, and new opportunities to refocus, reprioritize and reset.
Together, we are learning the importance of community care in building the future we want to live into. We see that we must shift to a more expansive healing-centered approach for responding to trauma and oppression. This holistic framework draws upon cultural, spirituality, civic engagement, and collective healing. We see the importance of community connectedness in fostering wellbeing and resilience. We embrace the call for collective liberation – acknowledging that nobody will be free until all of us are. Getting there requires dismantling anti-Blackness. It means actively centering, celebrating, and following the leadership of Black women.
“If Black women were free, it would mean that everyone else would have to be free since our freedom would necessitate the destruction of all the systems of oppression.” – Combahee River Collective
Community care that centers Black women advances equitable and resilient communities for all. Resilient communities are those in which everyone is both connected and invested. This includes individuals, families, groups, organizations, and institutions. They gain a sense of belonging, purpose, and mattering from both deriving value from and adding value to their community. This reciprocal relationship creates communities that allow us to thrive. Contributors bring everything that they are, including hurt and pain, strength and beauty.
“Thriving, healing and hurting can all happen simultaneously.” – Arlene Vassell
This Technical Assistance (TA) Bundle includes TA and training resources from NRCDV to support those who wish to invest in healing-centered community care. This approach nurtures resilient and equitable communities where those most marginalized can thrive. It fosters collective healing and liberation.
