Community Partnership

My community partner organization is Together for Resilient Youth (T.R.Y.), serving communities from Durham to Kenya. The mission of T.R.Y. is “To use the public health model to address the underlying issues that result in behavioral health challenges such as substance use, chronic disease, violence among youth by reducing community risk factors through collective impact.” The organization promotes “Health, Wellness and Safety for All” and is committed to empowering underserved populations. Their work is centered around informed prevention work and evidence-based models.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, families have experienced significant burdens that have affected their relationships within and beyond their family units. COVID-19 has exacerbated the existing need for mental health support on a global scale. The culturally-adapted Coping Together intervention is peer-led and directly aligns with the mission of T.R.Y.. Stakeholders worked together to incorporate local feedback and train facilitators to carry out the intervention. As a Brodhead Fellow, I had the opportunity to organize participant data and compensation, lead qualitative data analysis, and speak directly with participating families about their experiences in order to further improve the program. My independent project provided me with the platform to understand the extensive work and dedication needed to make a community impact – it truly takes a village.