ABOUT US
Resources for Resilience is a North Carolina-based 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to share practical, science-based tools designed to build up and support resilience-building for individuals, teams, and communities. Founded in 2017, our trauma-informed community education and professional development programs teach people of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life how to keep themselves, their loved ones, and the people they serve safe, healthy, and resilient in times of stress.
MISSION
We strengthen people and communities by making the science of stress understandable, practical, and actionable.
VISION
We envision a future where people can navigate stress, support one another, and build stronger, more resilient communities.
VALUES
- CONNECTION: We strengthen connection to ourselves and one another because strong relationships help people and communities thrive.
- COMPASSION: We cultivate understanding, empathy, and respect for ourselves and others, without judgment.
- ACCESS: We make knowledge and tools understandable, practical, and available to the people who can benefit from them.
- QUALITY: We hold our work to a high standard—grounded in science, strengthened by experience, and continually improved through learning.
OUR STORY
WHERE WE STARTED
In 2017, a group of visionary women from Buncombe County, North Carolina, came together with a shared purpose: to help individuals and communities not just survive adversity, but thrive through it.
Using the pioneering ACES Study and the groundbreaking work of several mental health pioneers as their foundation, the group began offering trainings around simple tools designed to help people self-regulate and connect with others more effectively. From this powerful intention, Resources For Resilience, a 501(c)3 nonprofit was born.
Resources For Resilience began offering its signature Reconnect for Resilience™ training—a two-day workshop designed to equip people with practical, research-based tools for managing stress and fostering emotional well-being. Over the years, RFR has expanded its offerings to include a diverse menu of trainings and events tailored to meet the needs of various audiences.
What started as a local initiative quickly grew into a statewide movement, reaching educators, first responders, healthcare professionals, and community-service workers across North Carolina. RFR’s nonprofit status allowed us to expand our reach and solicit scholarship funds for those who might not otherwise be able to afford our trainings.
WHERE WE ARE
We receive requests for more trainings every day, and overwhelming proof of the benefits of resiliency programs has deepened our dedication to offering them as a public health service. As a result, we have built a large capacity of dedicated educators and trainers who are making a positive difference in the lives of countless individuals, families, organizations, and communities helping people apply our resiliency-building tools at home and at work.
Our program participants walk away with key tools and principles to promote neuroplasticity and help prevent future adversity while supporting each person’s potential for well-being. We strive to bring our trainings to underserved and underrepresented communities, as well as those who have experienced the trauma of adverse childhood experiences.
Over the years, we have conducted hundreds of trainings for schools, mental health agencies, faith communities, and healthcare institutions, in addition to educating first responders, domestic violence and homeless shelter staff, and community organizers. Our team has even reached people as far away as London, England, and Bhopal, India.
LEARN. PRACTICE. THRIVE – TOGETHER.
FOUNDING MEMBERS
- Mary Lynn Barrett, LCSW
- Stephanie Citron, PhD
- Ginger Clough, MPH
- Katie Roberts, LCSW
- Ann DuPre Rogers, LCSW
- Beth Turner, CPE
- Susanne Walker Wilson, LCSW
OUR INSPIRATION
Judith Herman, MD – Psychiatrist and pioneer in trauma recovery whose work established the importance of safety, empowerment, and reconnection in healing.
Peter Levine, PhD – Founder of Somatic Experiencing®, a body-based approach to healing trauma that emphasizes the role of the nervous system.
Elaine Miller-Karas, LCSW – Founder of the Community Resiliency Model (CRM®) and leader in community-based resilience and disaster recovery education.
Pat Ogden, PhD – Founder of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and a pioneer in integrating body awareness into trauma treatment.
Deb Dana, LCSW – Leading translator of Polyvagal Theory into practical tools that help people understand and regulate their nervous systems.
Stephen Porges, PhD – Neuroscientist and creator of Polyvagal Theory, which explains how safety, connection, and relationships affect the nervous system.
Babette Rothschild, MSW, LCSW – Trauma therapist and author known for bringing neuroscience and body-based trauma healing into practical clinical application.
Brené Brown, PhD, LMSW – Researcher known for her work on vulnerability, courage, belonging, shame, and connection. Her work highlights the importance of relationships and community in resilience.
According to the CDC, nearly two-thirds of adults report at least one adverse childhood experience (ACEs), underscoring the need for accessible tools that help people manage stress and heal from trauma.
Resources For Resilience strives to address a variety of public health crises and instill the hope that adversity is not destiny.
To date, we have hosted trainings in over 75% of North Carolina’s counties. We deliver over 200 events annually, supporting a variety of institutions, including mental health agencies, faith communities, healthcare facilities, crisis centers, and other vital community organizations.
In the years ahead we are commited to helping people from all walks of life experience better days by deepening their learning, expanding their capacity, and connect in community.
WHERE WE’RE GOING
Resources For Resilience continues to grow, guided by its founding values and the unwavering belief that resilience is not just a trait—it’s a teachable, transformative tool. Through its work, RFR is helping build safer, healthier communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
In the next era of our growth, we are focusing our efforts in three areas where we see significant need, opportunity, and potential for impact.
DISASTER RESPONSE & PREPAREDNESS
Helping people and communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from crisis and disruption.
WORKPLACE WELL-BEING
Helping organizations equip their team members with practical tools to manage stress, prevent burnout, and function well at work.
YOUTH & FAMILIES
Helping young people, parents, and caregivers understand stress, use practical tools, and support one another.
OUR APPROACH
Trauma-Informed. Research-Backed. Community-Focused
THE SCIENCE
Neuroscience has taught us that trauma and stress is a biological event that affects the body and brain in various ways.
When our nervous system is overwhelmed, we are thrown into altered, disrupted states of being which can have negative effects on our mental and physical health if left unaddressed over time.
Our brains are designed to keep us safe from harm, but unfortunately stressful events can affect us long after these events, influencing our learning, creativity, relationships, and more.
THE TOOLS
Thankfully there are ways to form new pathways in the brain that can make us more resilient, healthy, and connected in tough times.
Our resiliency educators teach about trauma, the brain, and the human nervous system in a way that people of all ages, education levels, and professional backgrounds can understand.
These are simple tools that can be used on the job, in your car, or even at the grocery store. They are a no-nonsense approach to feeling better that anyone can do anywhere, at any time.
THE RESULTS
When our Resiliency Tools are practiced regularly, they can provide stress relief, strengthen relationships, and build resilience. The tools can also be shared easily with others.
Our practical strategies help participants, their loved ones, and the people they serve manage the stress of daily life and the overwhelm of trauma.
When we consistently bring the nervous system back into balance and help people return to their personal Resilient Zone, we deepen their potential to thrive.