Rooted in Resilience: A Look Back At Our Founding Story & The Women Who Shaped Us

May 26, 2026 | Resources for Resilience

WHERE WE STARTED

In honor of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, we wanted to give a shout out to the group of women who are part of our own history.

The “WNC Resiliency Collaborative” began in 2017 when a group of women, all professionals in the public health space,  in Western North Carolina set out to help people not just survive adversity, but thrive through it.

📚Mary Lynn Barrett, LCSW
📚Susanne Walker Wilson, LCSW
📚Stephanie Citron, PhD
📚Ginger Clough, MPH
📚Katie Roberts, LCSW
📚Ann DuPre Rogers, LCSW
📚Rev Beth Turner, CPE

📚Alice Elio, RN

Their inspiration? Other women leading the mental health field:
📚Elaine Miller-Karas, LCSW
📚Deb Dana, LCSW
📚Brené Brown, PhD
📚Judith Herman, MD
📚Pat Ogden, PhD
📚Babette Rothschild, LCSW

 

At the time, our founding members were learning about the pivotal research regarding adverse childhood experiences, as well as somatic experiencing (how trauma is stored in the body).

The group began with disaster response abroad, supporting areas affected by natural disasters, genocide, and other crises and soon saw how relevant these tools were for anyone facing intergenerational trauma and systemic oppression.

Inspired by the Community Resiliency Model (CRM), they began developing core curriculum regarding the science of stress. Over the course of a few years, RFR’s singular community presentation, Reconnect for Resilience™, evolved into an official registered 501(c)3 nonprofit offering practical, research‑based tools to help people regulate stress and restore balance to individuals, families, teams, and communities across North Carolina.

In the early days, there were only a few part-time staff members and a dedicated board of directors working together to meet the collective need of more widespread public health education. 

These photos are from those early days. Talk about a blast from the past!🚀

Community Resiliency Model (CRM)

The Community Resiliency Model (CRM) was foundational to RFR’s development. This evidence-based approach that helps people understand how stress and trauma affect the nervous system and provides practical skills for restoring balance and well-being. .

A key concept in CRM is the “Resilience Zone,” where people can think clearly, manage emotions, and respond effectively to challenges. When stress pushes people outside this zone, CRM skills help them regain a sense of stability and regulation.

Rather than viewing trauma responses as weakness, RFR recognizes them as normal biological reactions and teaches individuals how to notice and build on sensations associated with health and wellbeing.

WHERE WE ARE

Today, RFR’s all-female team has multiplied three-fold and led by one of the original organizational founders, the amazing Ann DuPre Rogers as Executive Director.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Ann DuPre (or ‘A.D’) has spent nearly 30 years strengthening behavioral health across Western North Carolina.

With advanced degrees from Davidson College and the University of Georgia, Rogers has served as a therapist, school social worker, clinical supervisor, provider relations manager, and outreach director. She’s also a registered yoga instructor and Mental Health First Aid trainer, known for blending practical tools with a calm, grounded presence.

Rogers’ work is rooted in one mission: helping people across WNC reconnect with their own resilience. Under her leadership, Resources For Resilience has been able to

  • Expand our trauma-informed programming and curriculum to over 10 different trainings, workshops and sessions- each with a unique focus and distinct audience.
  • Deliver hundreds of events each year, prioritizing underserved communities, first responders, and other groups most impacted by stress and trauma.
  • Be a leading organization in state-sponsored Helene response and recovery, providing acute/immediate crisis response and trauma-informed programming specific to victims of extreme weather.
  • Expand our staff and volunteer base to better meet local needs.
  • Be recognized nationally by outlets such as The Weather Channel, FEMA, CNN, NPR, and others. 

    Today, RFR’s signature tools are taught and used in schools, government agencies, and healthcare settings across the state of North Carolina, and even internationally. And this is only the beginning!

    In 2025 Resources for Resilience reached nearly 6,000 individuals through over 300 free workshops and events across 25 Helene-impacted counties in Western North Carolina.

      WHERE WE’RE GOING


      Thank you to the strong and talented women who continue to lead us into the next chapter!

      Our key areas of impact where we will focus our work in the years ahead:

      1️⃣DISASTER RESPONSE & RECOVERY
      2️⃣WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
      3️⃣YOUTH & FAMILY SUPPORT

      We remain committed to the belief that resilience is transformative AND teachable, and that together we can build healthier, safer communities where everyone has the chance to LEARN, GROW, and THRIVE.

      Resources For Resilience curriculum is designed for people of all ages and backgrounds and emphasizes the power of connection and community support. By reducing stigma around trauma and equipping individuals with simple, accessible tools, we help strengthen both personal resilience and collective well-being.

      “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.”

      Michelle Obama

      Last Call! WNC Residents Urged To Take Advantage of FREE Trauma-Informed Programming For Helene Recovery

      May 18, 2026 | Projects & Partnerships, Resources for Resilience

      With their large funding stream scheduled to end at the end of June, Resources For Resilience is urging residents to register for this free programming now, while space remains available.

      Asheville-based nonprofit, Resources For Resilience, is calling on community members across Western North Carolina to take advantage of their final weeks of FREE resiliency workshops, trainings, and community events.

      Supported by over $2 million in state and regional funding, these offerings have already reached more than 8,500 residents across the 25 counties most impacted by Hurricane Helene. Since the storm, RFR has delivered hundreds of these no‑cost trainings designed to help individuals, families, and frontline professionals regulate stress, strengthen connection, and build long‑term emotional resilience.

      Thanks to support from the NC Department of Health and Human Services, Vaya Health, and the WNC Recovery Office, Resources For Resilience has been able to provide these programs at no cost since June 2025. When this funding ends at the end of June 2026, RFR will return to a model supported by smaller grants, private contracts, and individual payments.

      Resources for Resilience is a nonprofit founded in 2017 to help individuals, teams,  families, and communities build practical skills for emotional regulation, stress management, and burnout prevention. We believe resilience grows through shared connection and learning science-backed, accessible tools that anyone can use in moments of stress.

      Why This Matters Now

      For many across Western North Carolina, the emotional and physical impacts of Hurricane Helene continue long after the storm. Resources For Resilience provides simple, evidence‑based practices that help people calm their bodies, recognize overwhelm, and respond in healthier ways — without the need for therapy, specialized training, or complex programs.

      These programs are especially beneficial for first responders, educators, healthcare workers, caregivers, and essential service providers — groups most vulnerable to burnout and chronic stress. These tools can be used in any setting, including workplaces, homes, classrooms, crisis response, and everyday life.

      Current offerings are designed to address the significant stress residents continue to experience, providing practical, research‑supported strategies that help individuals regain steadiness, strengthen regulation skills, and support collective recovery across the region.

      This work underscores the importance of consistent attention to mental well‑being, enabling people to build skills they can rely on in any environment. Recovery is strengthened through small, sustained moments of care, connection, and appropriate support, particularly during periods of heightened stress.

      From our Executive Director

      Resources for Resilience has one simple goal: to help people feel steadier, safer, and more connected in their everyday lives. 

      Our organization was founded back in 2017, years before Helene came along. And over the years, we’ve noticed how interest and demand in our programming seems to skyrocket after these big traumatic events, like the pandemic, and then the storm. We just surpassed the 30,000 mark of individuals served, and nearly 20% of that occured just in the last 18 months since Helene. We observe real growth during the most challenging times, which tells us that we’re meeting a real need for the communities we serve.

      Our programming provides very simple, practical nervous‑system regulation tools — things you can actually use in real moments of stress. We share them in an accessible way that feels judgement-free and welcoming to all, which is especially helpful for audiences who do not have any formal mental health training or background.

      These practices aren’t clinical or complicated; they’re simply skills that help people breathe easier, think more clearly, and reconnect with themselves and each other when it matters most.

      These programs have been really helpful for the individuals and groups we serve because they create spaces where people feel seen, supported, and not alone in what they’re carrying. Teachers tell us they’re calmer in the classroom. First responders say they can reset after tough calls. Parents share that they finally have tools to help their kids (and themselves) through overwhelming moments. It’s this kind of ripple effect that has the ability to strengthen whole communities.

      Since Helene, the progress has been real and visible. We’re teaching people how to find their footing again after months of uncertainty. People are starting to believe, and see first-hand, that healing is possible — not because everything is magically fixed (as we know, it’s not) but because they now have tools that help them move through hard moments instead of getting stuck in them.

      We’re incredibly honored to have had such a big year of growth through the GROW-NC project and our partnership with NC DHHS and Vaya Health. This collaboration has allowed us to bring free, trauma‑informed programming to communities across Western North Carolina at a scale we’ve never reached before.

      As this regional initiative wraps up after June, we’re holding onto hope that this is not the last time we’ll be able to offer no-cost programming. With future funding and strategic partnerships , we believe that we’ll be able to offer these opportunities again and continue making resilience tools available to everyone who needs them.

      Ann DuPre Rogers

      Resources For Resilience, Executive Director

      Last Call For These No‑Cost Events!

      Resources For Resilience is offering programming both in person at select locations across the high-country, and in convenient virtual formats so anyone can tune in from their home or office.

      Name Dates Description Location
      Community Listening Circle

      May 20

      May 27

      June 3

      June 10

      June 17

      		 1-hour session to connect and practice regulation tools in real-time Virtual
      Reconnecting Through Hard Times*

      May 21

      May 28

      June 4

      June 11

      June 18

      		 1-hour training to learn tools to help others de-stress Virtual
      Reconnect for Resilience

       

      May 21 & 22

      June 16 & 17

      		 2-day in-depth training to learn how stress affects the brain & body, and simple tools to regulate Virtual
      Reconnect for Better Days June 5 1-hour webinar to learn tools to help yourself de-stress Virtual
      Leading Through Hard Times

      June 4

      June 11

      		 1-day professional development workshop for leaders

      Blowing Rock, NC -Watauga County

      Canton, NC – Haywood County
      Recharging Resilience June 10 1-day professional development workshop for service workers & providers Spindale, NC -Rutherford County
      Resilient Family Adventure June 13 3-hour family-friendly event with hands-on activities

      Marshall, NC –

      Madison County

      Interested participants can learn more and register for these programs at the links below:

      *Continuing Education Units (CEUs) available for select events through Area L AHEC.

      Stay Connected

      As we round out the final weeks of our GROW NC Project, we want to thank all of our partners, volunteers, and participants who have made this work possible this past year.  While our services will transition back to an affordable paid model after June, we look forward to the next chapter ahead.

      Our mission, our values, our vision, and our dedication to building resilience remain as strong as ever. If you’re seeking tools for steadiness, connection, and well‑being, we’re here for you! Please follow us on social media and subscribe to our newsletter to stay in the loop on what’s to come!

       

      “Now is the moment to take advantage of these offerings,” Rogers emphasized. “While this level of fully-free access will be ending for the forseeable future, we’ve been doing this work since 2017, and we’re not going anywhere.”

      Simple Tools, Powerful Results: Accessible & Inclusive Stress-Management Strategies for those with Mobility Limitations

      May 17, 2026 | Mental Health Matters, Resources for Resilience, RFR Signature Tools

       Most nervous system regulation advice starts with movement: take a walk, tap side to side, push against a wall, or try other somatic “Rapid Resets.”

      While movement can be incredibly helpful, it’s not always possible or accessible. Sometimes you’re in a meeting. Sometimes you’re recovering from illness or injury. Sometimes you’re navigating chronic illness, a disability, or simply a level of stress that makes even small tasks feel difficult.

      The good news is that supporting your nervous system doesn’t always require significant movement. Many effective regulation tools use only your attention, awareness, voice, or minimal physical effort.

      At Resources for Resilience, we view these practices as part of a larger toolkit. Resilience is rarely built through a single strategy. It grows through a combination of supportive relationships, healthy environments, practical skills, quality healthcare, and access to the resources people need to thrive.

      A Note About Chronic Health 

      For people living with chronic health conditions (diabetes, arthritis, migraine, perimenopause, autoimmune conditions,  physical disability and more) stress can be especially complicated.

      Symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, brain fog, dizziness, sleep disruption, hot flashes, sensory sensitivity, and mobility issues or may be related to health conditions, stress, or both.

      It’s important to remember during these moments, nervous system regulation isn’t about “fixing” a symptom or making it disappear. It’s about helping your body feel a little more supported, connected, and resourced while you move through what you’re experiencing.

      These tools are not meant to replace medical care or treatment plans. They are simple nervous system support strategies that can be used alongside healthcare, therapy, medications, and other forms of support.

        When Is A Tool Needed?

        A regulation tool can be helpful anytime you notice your brain or body moving outside your Resilient Zone.

        Common signs include:

        • Racing or pounding heartbeat
        • Shallow or difficult breathing
        • Tension in the chest, shoulders, stomach, or throat
        • Clenched jaw
        • Racing thoughts
        • Feeling frozen, numb, or disconnected
        • Increased sensitivity to sound or touch

        If you’ve already visited a healthcare provider and done all you can do (reducing sensory input, decreasing demands) to aleviate your pain or discomfort, there are still several simple strategies to help you get through the day- many without even lifting a finger.

        Reminder: You don’t need to use every tool. Even one or two small practices can help create a shift during a stressful moment.

        Cognitive Tools

        Sense In

        Before trying to change anything, pause and notice what is happening inside your body.

        Take a slow breath and scan from your feet to your head. Notice your breathing, heart rate, muscle tension, and any physical sensations- whether they’re positive, negative, or neutral.

        This simple check-in builds awareness and helps reconnect you with the present moment.

        Name What You’re Experiencing

        Stress often feels overwhelming because it remains vague. Try putting words to what you’re noticing:

        • “I’m anxious, overwhelmed, and frusterated”
        • “My body feels tense.”
        • “I’m uncertain about what comes next.”

        Naming an experience creates a little space between you and the stress response. Instead of being consumed by the feeling, you begin observing it.

        Follow with self-compassion and kindness. What would you  to a friend experiencing this?

         

        Orient to Safety

        Stress narrows our attention toward potential threats. Orientation helps remind the nervous system that the present moment may be safer than it feels.

        Pause and slowly look around your environment. Gently turn your head and notice what you can see, hear, smell or touch.

        Choose a color or shape and see how many of that quality you can find around you. Perhaps you will notice a “glimmer”, a small moment that signals safety, hope, connection, or joy and reminds your brain and body that this time is different.

        Examples of “safe” sensory information include:

        • Sunshine through a window
        • A favorite song
        • The smell of coffee
        • A kind interaction
        • The heat of your heating pad
        • The coolness of a damp washcloth
        • The texture of a favorite blanket
        • A funny text from a friend
        Stressors naturally grab our attention. Glimmers often require us to slow down and notice them.

        Highlight What’s Helping

        Our brains naturally focus on problems. Highlighting helps broaden attention to include sources of support.

        Ask yourself:

        • What is helping me get through today?
        • Who has supported me recently?
        • What strength and skills am I already using?
        • What is going better than expected right now?

         

        Use Your Imagination

        The brain often responds to remembered safety in ways similar to present safety. Even spending a few moments with a positive memory can create a sense of steadiness.

        Try intentionally bringing your attention to a memory or resource that evokes comfort, connection, joy, peace or strength. Try visualizing:

        It could be:

        • A supportive person
        • A beloved pet
        • A favorite place
        • A meaningful accomplishment
        • A location in nature

        You don’t need perfect imagery. Simply bringing your attention to something calming or hopeful can create a shift. You can even think about a future moment when the current challenge has passed

        Your nervous system responds not only to what is happening now, but also to what it anticipates and imagines.

        Redirect Your Attention

        Many people with chronic conditions spend a lot of time noticing symptoms. It’s normal for our brains to “lock in” on discomfort when we’re uncomfortable or in pain.

        A balancing approach can be: “What feels okay right now?” or  “Where in my body feels neutral right now?”

        Maybe your knees hurt, but your shoulders feel comfortable. Maybe you’re having a migraine, but your feet feel supported. Maybe you’re exhausted, but you’re breathing comfortably.

        Finding one neutral sensation reminds the nervous system that discomfort is only part of the story. Scan your whole body to redirect your attention:

        • The tip of your nose
        • Your earlobes
        • Your fingertips
        • Your forearms
        • Your toes

        This isn’t toxic positivity. It’s helping the brain hold a fuller picture of your experience.

        Stress management doesn’t always require big actions. Sometimes resilience is built through tiny moments of awareness, regulation, and connection during stressful times.

        Physical Tools

        Simple physical practices completed in place can help interrupt that stress cycle by sending the brain new information about safety.  This can help reduce the nervous system’s focus on danger and support a return to a more regulated state.

        Even small sensory experiences can remind the nervous system that, in this moment, you are supported, present, and capable of responding rather than simply reacting.

        Ground

        Allow your body to be supported wherever it is, whether that is a chair or on the bed. Hold or touch something with a comforting texture, such as a blanket, smooth stone, or pet. Notice the points of contact between your body and the surfaces supporting you.

        Remind yourself: “I don’t have to hold myself up right now.”

        Take a Sip

        This simple practice creates a natural pause. Slowly take a sip of water, tea, or another beverage. Notice the temperature, the texture, the flavor, the sensation of swallowing.

        Simple Vocalizations

        When you create vibrations throughout the throat, face, and chest, there are physical sensations that accompany the sounds. Try

        • Humming
        • Singing along with a favorite song
        • Whistling

        You don’t need to sound good. The goal isn’t performance, it’s regulation.

        Connect With Someone

        One of the most effective nervous system regulation tools is safe human connection. A text message, conversation, shared laugh, or long hug to someone trustworthy and supportive can remind your nervous system that you don’t have to navigate stress alone.

        You can even do this with a care provider by making small talk or sharing your experience.

        Regulation tools can’t resolve underlying medical symptoms, but than can make the day feel smoother.

        Small Tools Matter

        While regulation tools cannot cure an illness or eliminate physical pain and discomfort, they can help reduce the added burden that stress places on the body and mind.

        Think of these practices as supportive skills rather than treatments. They can help create moments of calm, increase awareness of your body’s needs, improve your ability to respond to challenges, and make it easier to access the internal and external resources available to you.

         

        Stress management doesn’t always require major lifestyle changes or intensive interventions. More often, resilience is built through small, repeatable moments of awareness, regulation, and connection.

        These small moments help shift the body from a state of survival toward a state where learning, problem-solving, connection, and resilience become more accessible.

        At Resources For Resilience, we believe people shouldn’t have to wait until they’re in crisis to learn these skills. Understanding stress and practicing simple regulation tools can help us navigate challenges with greater confidence, clarity, and compassion, regardless of where we are or what our bodies are capable of in the moment.

        Next Steps

         

         

        Mental Health Matters: What the Data Reveals

        May 12, 2026 | Mental Health Matters, Resources for Resilience

        Mental Health: a dynamic state of psychological, emotional, and social wellbeing that enables people to cope with stress, cultivate relationships, realize potential, and contribute meaningfully to the world around them.

        May is Mental Health Awareness month, a time to reflect on our wellbeing as individuals and as a collective.

        Mental health is complex as it is not only shaped by our genetics, but also the world around us: our access to basic resources, safety and support, our sense of purpose, as well as our relationships with others. All of these factors inevitably influence how we think, feel, connect, work, and cope with life, whether we’re at home, at work, or in our communities.

        But awareness alone is not enough. Small actions matter when it comes to cultivating mental health in ourselves and others.

        Nearly 1 in 2 people globally now see mental health as their country’s biggest health problem. In 2018, it was 1 in 4.

        Mental Health By the Numbers

        According to the 2025 Ipsos Health Service Report, which collected responses from 23,274 adults across 34 countries, mental health has become a central concern for adults – even above physical health concerns like disease, substance abuse, and more.

        • 45% of people worldwide identify mental health as top concern.
        • 44% of Americans aged 18–34 say they feel stress or anxiety on most days.
        According to a global survey, mental health has overtaken cancer as the world’s most cited health concern, rising from 27% in 2017 to 45% in 2024.

          Barriers to Access

          According to the CDC, from 2019 to 2023, the percentage of adults who had received any mental health treatment in a year span had increased from 19% to 24%. This shows that growing awareness, reduced stigma, and increased willingness to prioritize mental wellbeing.

          Unfortunately many people still face obstacles when trying to get professional mental health care. The data shows that while people are more willing to talk about mental health, structural challenges continue to limit access.

          • 49% of Americans say cost is the biggest barrier to mental health care, while 28% cite limited availability.
          • 36% of global respondents report that mental health services are either too expensive or too scarce.
          The data makes it clear: mental health has become a societal priority. Awareness is strong, but the next step is ensuring that professional care is actually accessible, affordable, and tailored to people’s needs.  

          The Good News

          One of the most promising trends is the growing comfort people feel discussing mental health. This is a huge step forward in continuing to reduce stigma.

          People are also learning to become their own health advocates by seeking help in more flexible, self-directed ways including wellness tech, apps, online therapy, and other digital platforms.

          • 57% of US respondents say they can talk about mental health with friends or family. Worldwide, that number is 52% (up from 46% in 2023.)
          The keys to strengthening mental wellbeing: moving the body more, staying connected to others, improving communications and support systems at home and work, and asking for help.

          Looking Forward

          Mental wellbeing isn’t just about coping as an individual— it’s about connection, empathy, understanding, and shared progress. It’s about COMMUNITY.

          When we talk, listen, and support each other, we don’t just reduce stigma — we build a healthier, more understanding world for all.

          As the data shows, awareness alone isn’t enough. People need practical tools, supportive relationships, and accessible ways to regulate their nervous systems in the face of stress, uncertainty, and change.

          That’s where Resources For Resilience steps in.  We are helping to address the global mental health crisis by providing practical, accessible tools that people can use anytime, anywhere to stay grounded and recover from stress.

          Our evidence‑informed practices, and trauma‑aware education programs help strengthens people’s capacity to support themselves, and one another, thereby reducing the burden on chronically overwhelmed mental‑health systems.

          By teaching skills that make regulation possible even in the most challenging moments, we’re working to ensure that resilience isn’t just an idea, but a lived experience. Want to get involved?

          Thank you for being a part of the solution to reduce the stigma around mental health. Together we’re strengthening our resilience, one connection and one community at a time.

          Resources for Resilience is helping to mitigate the global mental health crisis by facilitating conversation and practices that reduce stigma, and empower people of all ages to be their own health advocates. We are helping communities build resilience from the ground up.

           

          OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES:

          Resources For Resilience Named 2026 Recipient of ‘Good Health Good Business’ Award

          May 4, 2026 | Resources for Resilience

          Resources For Resilience is proud to announce that we are the recipients of the 2026 Good Health Good Business’ Award from the Asheville Chamber of Commerce.

           

          This award recognizes Chamber-member organizations that demonstrate service and exceptional leadership which have resulted in improving the health, well-being, and quality of life of the Asheville area through strategic partnerships, employee wellness initiatives, and other valuable community programming.

          “At Resources For Resilience, we believe that everyone has the ability to deepen their resilience and experience better days. That is why we offer a variety of evidence-informed and resiliency-focused training programs to help individuals, organizations stay healthy and connected during tough times.” says Ann Dupre Rogers, our Executive Director and one of the organization’s key founders.

          “These practical tools and strategies help to support people to regulate stress in real time, to build emotional resilience and stay grounded during high‑pressure moments,” Dupre noted. “Participants often share these tools with their families, coworkers and community groups, creating a ripple effect of calm, resilience and healthier interactions throughout Asheville.”

          Below is a transcript of the small, informal award presentation that occured on May 1st at the ‘Asheville Chamber Challenge’ event:

          Kit Cramer, President & CEO of Asheville Chamber of Commerce: This award is for a business or organization who goes above and beyond in promoting wellness, both for their employees and for the community at large. This year, Mission Health, our ‘Good Health Good Business’ award sponsor, along with Eaton and Givens communities, reviewed the nominations we received and selected our award winner. I’d like to call on Annie Carpenter, Annie Carpenter, Assistant Vice President of Community Engagement at Mission Health to present the award. Please join me in welcoming her.

          Annie Carpenter, AVP of Community Engagement at Mission Health:  Thanks, everybody. My name is Annie. I’m so happy to be here today on this beautiful day, as we’re kicking off the month together. Today is May Day. It’s also Stroke Awareness month in May. And at Mission Health, we know that the best way to prevent stroke is by prevention through lifestyle and all of those (healthy habits) that the Chamber is inspiring today by getting us out here on a beautiful day to move together. So congratulations for taking care of yourself, and your future self, today. Did you know it’s also Mental Health Awareness Month? That is another wonderful cause that I am proud to support through this ‘Good Health Good Business’ award, because this year, it is going to someone that happened to provide me personally with some resilience skills that I use to this day.

          The organization I am presenting this award to today is very meaningful to me because I learned about terms like ‘flipping my lid’ and the ‘reptilian brain’ and how to help get my children, or myself, back ‘online’ when I am feeling very stressed. And I’m not kidding, I think it changed my life. I’m pretty serious about that. So what I get to do today is tell you a little bit about the organization who is winning this award, and  share a little bit about some of the wonderful things that they have done this past year, and continue to do.

          Within their organization staff can spend one hour each day engaging in physical activity of their choice. They begin every staff meeting with a brief rapid reset or moment of connection. After every five years of employment, staff can take a one month sabbatical.  As you can see, it’s pretty clear that they value the wellness and well being of their employees.

          For the community, they offer FREE workshops, trainings and other community events offering emotional care and practical tools. Their signature workshops help individuals build personalized resilience plans that support both self care and overall well being. They also offer Resilient Family Adventures, an interactive, hands on experience where families learn practical resilience skills together in fun, memorable and easy to apply ways.

          Within days of Hurricane Helene’s landfall in WNC, the Resources for Resilience team had boots on the ground for in-person crisis response, supplying dozens of hours of support at emergency centers, community hubs, and distribution sites. Since then, they’ve continued to provide resilience-focused support for healing and recovery, with a special focus on supporting those most at risk for burnout: first responders, educators, healthcare workers, behavioral health providers and volunteers. So on behalf of Mission Health, your hospital partner, I’m very proud to present the ‘Good Health Good Business’ award to Resources for Resilience!

          Ashley Putnam, Director of Programs & Partnership: Thank you, I’m crying.  It’s so sweet to know that over so many years, you remember the tools. That’s what we want.  We truly, I feel like do walk the walk. We can’t get out and teach the stress management skills and talk about being in your resilient zone and supporting your own wellness, if we’re not doing that internally with our team. And so every part of our conversation, daily, weekly, is really rooted in connection and wellness of our staff. We are committed to wellness, to resilience, internally as well as externally, with our communities. So I would love for everybody to check out our website, join a training, join a family event. We all deserve better days. We all have resilience. We just gotta sometimes tap into it a little more. Thank you for this award. We’re so, so honored.

           

           

          Thank you to all of our funders, partners, staff, and volunteers who make this work possible. We are grateful for the recognition that our small organization is making a BIG impact in the community, and we look forward to continuing for years to come.