Western North Carolina is home to countless leaders who strengthen the wellbeing of our communities, especially in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Among them is Licensed Clinical Social Worker Ann DuPre Rogers, whose career sits at the intersection of mental health advocacy, community education, and trauma‑informed care.

As the Executive Director of Resources For Resilience, Rogers is not your typical nonprofit leader. Her staff describe her as supportive, loving, and grounded — and also someone who doesn’t take herself too seriously, as evidenced by the growing collection of photos of her in playful costumes.

“Ann DuPre is so fun and easy to be around that it’s easy to forget what a big deal she is! She’s unfailingly kind and generous but has the steely determination required to actually get things done. This organization reflects her beautiful values and commitment,” one team member shares.

A Lifelong Commitment to Community Wellbeing

For nearly three decades, Rogers has served Western North Carolina in roles spanning school social work, child and family therapy, clinical supervision, program administration, provider relations, and community outreach. Each chapter deepened her understanding of the challenges families face and the systems meant to support them.

Her path began long before she stepped into leadership. After earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Davidson College and a master’s in social work from the University of Georgia, she spent years in community mental health beginning in the mid‑1990s. Those early experiences, she says, revealed how profoundly people can grow when they feel safe, supported, and connected.

Rogers’ impact extends far beyond administrative leadership. As a former yoga instructor, outdoor education facilitator, and Mental Health First Aid trainer, she brings a unique mind–body lens to her work. For years, she has taught the science of stress, trauma, and resilience to audiences across WNC — helping providers, educators, first responders, and community leaders navigate stress and restore balance.

Her approach ensures that more people across the region can access high‑quality behavioral health support grounded in both research and compassion.

A Collective of Women Leading Change in WNC

In 2017, Rogers joined a collective of women working in public health:

• Mary Lynn Barrett, LCSW
• Susanne Walker Wilson, LCSW
• Stephanie Citron, PhD
• Ginger Clough, MPH
• Katie Roberts, LCSW
• Rev. Beth Turner, CPE

Inspired by leaders such as Elaine Miller‑Karas, Deb Dana, Babette Rothschild, Brené Brown, Judith Herman, and Pat Ogden, they united around a shared mission: help people not just survive adversity, but thrive through it.

They understood the research on adverse childhood experiences and somatic experiencing — how trauma lives in the body — and saw the need for accessible tools that could support healing across generations.

The Evolution of RFR, from Global Humanitarian Work to Local Resilience Building

The group initially focused on global humanitarian efforts, supporting communities affected by natural disasters, genocide, and crisis. But they soon recognized that these same tools were urgently needed at home, especially among people facing intergenerational trauma and systemic oppression.

Inspired by the Trauma Resource Institute’s Community Resiliency Model (CRM), they began developing their own core curriculum. Over time, their single community presentation, ‘Reconnect for Resilience’™, evolved into a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering practical, research‑based tools across North Carolina.

In the early days, Resources For Resilience operated with only a few part‑time staff and a dedicated board working to meet the growing demand for public health education.

Today, the organization’s all‑female team has tripled in size and is led by one of its original founders — the remarkable Ann DuPre Rogers. RFR now offers more than ten different trainings, workshops, and sessions, each tailored to specific audiences and needs.

The organization delivers hundreds of events each year, prioritizing underserved communities, first responders, and groups most impacted by stress and trauma. RFR’s tools are used in schools, government agencies, healthcare settings, and even internationally.

Supporting WNC Through Hurricane Helene

In 2024 and 2025, RFR played a pivotal role in the region’s recovery from Hurricane Helene, providing hundreds of hours of acute crisis response and trauma‑informed programming for communities impacted by extreme weather.

Rogers notes that the effects of Helene are still deeply felt:

“For many in Western North Carolina, new storms and emergency weather alerts still stir anxiety or fear, even 18 months later. That’s because our nervous system remembers.”

She emphasizes that recovery has no universal timeline. “Every individual and family has unique circumstances that determine how long it takes them to feel settled again. Simple practices like grounding, gentle movement, recalling moments of safety, connecting with others, and reaching out for support can help the body and brain find balance again.”

In June 2026, Resources for Resilience wrapped up a major multi-million dollar project partnership with The NC Department of Health & Human Services, Vaya Health, and the Governor’s Recovery Office of Western North Carolina. This powerful regional collaboration has allowed RFR to serve thousands of WNC residents with free, trauma‑informed programming to help build inner steadiness while strengthening community connection.

Building a More Resilient Western North Carolina

What keeps Rogers inspired is simple: witnessing transformation. She describes nervous system regulation skills as “immediately, powerfully, and universally helpful,” and she uses them herself every day. Whether guiding a roomful of professionals or supporting an individual, she sees firsthand how useful the tools can be.

In a region facing both longstanding and emerging challenges — from rural healthcare access to the lingering impacts of Helene — Rogers’ work offers something essential: practical tools, shared with compassion, that help people feel more capable, more connected, and more whole.

“#WNCStrong is not just a catchy phrase,” she says. “It really is the foundation of who we are.”