In 2020, a philanthropic family I had come to know started a Youth Board for their extended and chosen family to come together and give. And, I had the luck to be a part of supporting its development. These young people ages 8-18 have a heart for social justice, specifically for environmental, gender, and criminal justice as their work has grown over the years. But what they have taught me most about is mental health and caring for one another in a trauma-informed, loving way.   

To read this full Grantmakers for Effective Organizations Perspectives blog post, please visit:

https://www.geofunders.org/mental-health-giving-a-lifelong-journey-of-care-and-becoming/

Over a decade ago, I had the opportunity to meet some of the family members from the Tremaine Foundation. They were the first family foundation I had met supporting learning differences and integrating supports into their internal practices as well.

As they put it, “It’s personal.” Many in their family have learning and attention issues and have utilized their learning strengths to succeed. They are why we began using more visual prompts for our events and gave us a partner for thinking through other support needs.

It has become personal for me as well. Over the past three years, I have learned as much as possible about neuro-diversity and neurodiversity affirming practices. Neuro-diversity affirming care to me is: a strengths and rights-based approach to developmental difference that aims to provide support and adaptations that affirm the neurodivergent identity. This is rather than thinking anything need be fixed or cured.

These are the articles and videos I find myself sharing most when talking about stolen water rights on Maui and what is happening since the fires and Lāhainā’s vision for the future.

Let Lāhaina Lead: A Visualization Tool made by Lāhainā leaders: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DA1gWXvtioU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Documentary made my Lāhaina residents: Lahaina: Rising from the Ashes

I was first introduced to Mental Health First Aid in 2018 while working nationally with the Cooperative Extension system, many of whose states were ensuring staff were trained in this model. They also have a youth-focused training some of the community-focused youth programs I work with have implemented.

After responding to the Maui wildfires, I found myself learning more about Psychological First Aid and sharing it with others, especially young people. Psychological First Aid helps people cope with the aftermath of a traumatic event, disaster, or personal crisis—-and can be used by anyone as it doesn't require previous training or education. The actions you take will depend on the situation and the needs of the people you're helping.

Safety, calm, and meeting immediate needs are three of the goals of Psychological First Aid I find myself using and reminding others of most.

Safety. Calm. Meeting Immediate Needs. —This is how we take care of each other.

Through our work with the Conflict Transformation Fund, we were introduced to nonviolent communication and those growing its practice. One the Island of Maui, the Teran James Young Foundation is one of those organizations committed to sharing and growing the practice of nonviolent communication. They offer free weekly online facilitated practice sessions open to anyone around the world who would like to join.

Through these sessions, we were introduced to the various resources they share online.

I often find myself sharing this free feelings wheel from Mosaic Eye and the needs wheel from Nonviolent Communication for the Next Generation.

Often I will invite those I spend time with to share how they are feeling. Then, we explore what they might need based on how they are feeling. We all have feelings and needs that deserve to be acknowledged and cared for.

We have been investing in our own learning and growth in somatic abolitionism this year—taking the Foundations in Somatic Abolitionism class and Reparative Communal Consultation for White Bodies from Education for Racial Equity.

If you are looking for inspiration or resources to support learning to give, especially this school year, visit https://www.learningtogive.org

Rhia Ventures believes vibrant and equitable marketplace for sexual, reproductive, and maternal health is possible.

Many thanks to the Sylvia Rivera Law Project and Maine Trans for their community organizing and care.

Durfee’s Lark Awards support the collective care and well-being of staff at small Los Angeles-based nonprofit organizations with deep ties to the community. Each organization will receive $30,000 to spend as they see fit to meet the needs of their staff for replenishment.

This report, developed by the Dorthy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy in collaboration with 21/64 for the Greater Houston Community Foundation, offers guidance on designing effective programs to help guide the learning journeys of these essential next gen donors.

“An Unprecedented Opportunity” focuses on the interest in social justice philanthropy and alternative models to engage the next generation of donors in philanthropy.

The Conflict Transformation Fund (CTF) has helped us expect and normalize conversations about conflict, especially as we work towards racial equity.

By understanding the science of adverse childhood experiences and trauma, we can be in deeper relationship with one another and what is happening in our communities.

We work alongside young people and families open to the magic and emergence that comes from sharing the things we care about and acting on what matters most.

Grantmakers for Effective Organizations has been a community for learning and field building for us for over a decade.