Smart Start Conference Spotlight: Exploring Resilience Through an Introduction to Resilient Communities

Eat, breathe, sleep resilience-Tamra Jo Church, Resilient North Carolina Collaborative Coalition (RNCCC) and CCSAP Resilience Collaborative

Smart Start conference attendees joined together to explore the importance of building resilient communities, organizations, and systems to help young children grow up healthy, strong, and prepared for success in a conference session titled “Exploring Resilience through an Introduction to Resilient Communities”.

This panel included Tamra Jo Church, from the Resilient North Carolina Collaborative Coalition (RNCCC) and CCSAP Resilience Collaborative; Selena Rowell, executive director of Columbus Partnership for Children and Resilient Columbus member; Dr. Jane Morrow, executive director of Smart Start of New Hanover and New Hanover Resiliency Task Force member; and Sonia Gironda, executive director of Partnership for Children and Raising Resilience WNC member.

Each panelist was a member of a multi-sector coalition to build resilience and relational health, as well as mitigate adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adverse community environments. Mebane Boyd, Resilient Communities Officer from the North Carolina Partnership for Children, the nonprofit overseeing the Smart Start Network, moderated the panel. As part of Mebane’s work, she works with collaboratives across the state to identify next steps in creating more resilient communities.

Goals and Formation

Each panelist spoke on their coalition’s goals; formation; especially in regarding to funding, their backbone agencies, challenges in convening, and early successes; and coverage within the state. Three coalitions were based in Eastern North Carolina. This is aligned with data from the 2021 Building Healthy & Resilient Communities Across North Carolina report that shows that Eastern North Carolina often experiences increased barriers to achieving health, well-being, and resilience.

Additionally, each panelist was able to speak on their biggest accomplishments from creating a Resilience Symposium in New Bern NC to acquiring additional grants to complete expand work locally.

Panelists also had the opportunity to discuss how they bring voices to the table and consider equity. In Jones County, CCSAP Resilience Collaborative has brought law enforcement to the table, through trauma-informed police trainings. Others, like Resilient Columbus, are providing teacher trainings to local schools. These community relationships are critical to ensuring a more resilient communities.

Smart Start local partnerships and other local and state leaders in resilience are working with partners across the state to move the needle forward on resilience. The North Carolina Partnership for Children is in touch with over forty collaboratives across the state to increase resilience. You can learn more about NC Healthy & Resilient Communities here.

Additional resources about resiliency and the coalitions are below:

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