Spring 2018 - Approaches to Healing and Trauma
Milwaukee, wi
May 21, 2018–May 25, 2018
In Spring 2018, two cohorts of around 30 basebuilding organizers were convened for a Learning Circle in Milwaukee, WI to build organizational capacity for power mapping/analysis in areas of need and discuss approaches to healing and trauma.
Trainings and capacity building
At this convening, participants were offered the choice between trainings focused on budgeting and proposal submission as well as power analysis.
Introduction to The Power Analysis Tool was led by Strategic Concepts in Organizing and Policy Education (SCOPE) where they shared a visual and interactive tool used to map and understand power relationships in the communities with participants. The training worked to develop organizational strategies and tactics for winning campaigns and building long-term grassroots power.
Introduction to Budgeting and Proposal Development was led by The Praxis Project and focused on moving beyond relationship-building with grant makers to submit effective proposals with accurate budgets. This training covered the key elements of proposal submission, how to generate a standard project budget, realistic cost estimations, and other documents needed to submit proposals.
Approaches to Healing and Trauma
In addition to capacity building, participants also worked in modified focus groups to reflect on experiences and understandings of trauma and healing & connect it to their work for health justice. These discussions worked to develop a common language and understanding of trauma, healing, resistance and transformation, and facilitated the exchange of strategies, practices, and tools for healing and transformation.
Related Materials
Centering Community in Public Health Brief
This brief showcases the importance of addressing community trauma through identifying and making space for healing-centered practices that communities have evolved over time, acknowledging and understanding the roots of trauma, and addressing the persistent, structural causes of trauma. We describe how trauma shows up in our communities and institutions, how it can be addressed through community- centered healing, and the role that trusted partners can take in supporting community healing.
Centering Community in Public Health Webinar
On August 26, 2020 Praxis was joined by Oyatunde Amakisi at Detroit Women of Color, Inc., and Judith Le Blanc at Native Organizers Alliance to disucuss healing-centered practices and how to support community healing in your own work. Learn more about the webinar.
Video
Organizers from the Spring 2018 Learning Circle in Milwaukee, WI share their reflections and takeaways from the experience. Watch the video.