Nikia Thompson is fundraising
The Branch Family Institute
Over 60 years ago, the foot soldiers of the Civil Rights Era fought against institutional racial segregation, discrimination, and disenfranchisement throughout the United States.
...Fast forward to March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Coronavirus a global pandemic. Two months later, the Black Lives Matter movement shook the world as the police killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd drew public attention and widespread outrage. Across the country, mass protests erupted as we finally began to contend with a long-overdue awakening on systemic racism. At the time, there was a rise in awareness and intentionality to fight for racial equality through genuine allyship and the process of ongoing accountability, partnership, and advocacy efforts.
Two years later, we continue to feel the effects of COVID-19. Unfortunately, Black Americans and communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by this global health emergency. From a macro perspective, systemic inequities, racial discrimination, poverty, oppression, health care disenfranchisement, and mental health risks inexplicably impact communities of color. More than ever before, it is crucial to recognize that these disparities are the result of a significant public health problem caused by structural inequities—and we must act.
From a systemic racism perspective, these COVID-19 consequences have excessively impacted Black and Brown communities due to financial, emotional, and environmental stressors. The prejudice and discrimination associated with systemic racism perpetuate ongoing stress—and result in the inability of communities of color to experience the world as a fair and safe place. It impacts equitable access to education, housing, health care, and the legal system. You have whole communities that have been traumatized for 600 years. These stressors and losses accumulate, and the subsequent damage remains invisible, invalidated, unprocessed, and unaddressed. The toll can result in fluctuations of depletion and violence. People need somewhere to land when they have reached their wit's end, and this environment causes people to need more support.
Who is the The Branch Family Institute?
The Branch Family Institute is a mental health service provider located on the south side of Chicago, which has touched the hearts and lives of individuals and families impacted by decades of disinvestment in poor and underserved communities. The mission of the Branch Family Institute is to “strengthen families and communities by providing quality, culturally-relevant services to under-served populations.” For over 20 years, the Branch Family Institute has served as an essential part of the community despite limited resources.
Branch is a unique service provider. They provide office-based and community-based program services, including individual, family, and group counseling to various clients from different age groups, ethnic backgrounds, and diagnostic categories. Their work utilizes a strength-based approach, prioritizes the cultivation of a safe space, and addresses both macro and micro-related challenges. Branch addresses violence prevention, recovery, and trauma resiliency when working with the community. Branch seeks to access the problem from different lenses, including social service agencies, teaching institutions, faith-based communities, and law enforcement. They are also a child visitation center. Their staff is clinically trained and culturally sensitive, and their lens is from a family systems perspective. Recognizing the importance of community healing, they hope to grow their practice and offer more holistic healing services, such as meditation, reiki, and recreation activities.
As we look forward, we need to continue to hold ourselves accountable in our support and allyship of this movement. Then, we can choose to continue to move in the right direction and support what started as one of the largest social justice movements in history. In 2020 and 2021, fifteen to twenty-six million people showed up in the United States. Let’s hope that wasn’t performative allyship. Please help us continue to honor the importance of supporting communities of color by connecting individuals and families to resources and services.
We want to support Branch by raising $250,000. By helping Branch, you are helping to strengthen and empower communities of color. On a macro level, Branch is trying to offset the impact of primary and secondary trauma on the community. On a micro level, Branch is attempting to overcome barriers related to service access. And your donation will help individuals and families on the south side of Chicago access mental health resources. We all need to do our part to fight systemic racism, and there has never been a more critical time than now. Please consider donating.
...Fast forward to March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Coronavirus a global pandemic. Two months later, the Black Lives Matter movement shook the world as the police killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd drew public attention and widespread outrage. Across the country, mass protests erupted as we finally began to contend with a long-overdue awakening on systemic racism. At the time, there was a rise in awareness and intentionality to fight for racial equality through genuine allyship and the process of ongoing accountability, partnership, and advocacy efforts.
Two years later, we continue to feel the effects of COVID-19. Unfortunately, Black Americans and communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by this global health emergency. From a macro perspective, systemic inequities, racial discrimination, poverty, oppression, health care disenfranchisement, and mental health risks inexplicably impact communities of color. More than ever before, it is crucial to recognize that these disparities are the result of a significant public health problem caused by structural inequities—and we must act.
From a systemic racism perspective, these COVID-19 consequences have excessively impacted Black and Brown communities due to financial, emotional, and environmental stressors. The prejudice and discrimination associated with systemic racism perpetuate ongoing stress—and result in the inability of communities of color to experience the world as a fair and safe place. It impacts equitable access to education, housing, health care, and the legal system. You have whole communities that have been traumatized for 600 years. These stressors and losses accumulate, and the subsequent damage remains invisible, invalidated, unprocessed, and unaddressed. The toll can result in fluctuations of depletion and violence. People need somewhere to land when they have reached their wit's end, and this environment causes people to need more support.
Who is the The Branch Family Institute?
The Branch Family Institute is a mental health service provider located on the south side of Chicago, which has touched the hearts and lives of individuals and families impacted by decades of disinvestment in poor and underserved communities. The mission of the Branch Family Institute is to “strengthen families and communities by providing quality, culturally-relevant services to under-served populations.” For over 20 years, the Branch Family Institute has served as an essential part of the community despite limited resources.
Branch is a unique service provider. They provide office-based and community-based program services, including individual, family, and group counseling to various clients from different age groups, ethnic backgrounds, and diagnostic categories. Their work utilizes a strength-based approach, prioritizes the cultivation of a safe space, and addresses both macro and micro-related challenges. Branch addresses violence prevention, recovery, and trauma resiliency when working with the community. Branch seeks to access the problem from different lenses, including social service agencies, teaching institutions, faith-based communities, and law enforcement. They are also a child visitation center. Their staff is clinically trained and culturally sensitive, and their lens is from a family systems perspective. Recognizing the importance of community healing, they hope to grow their practice and offer more holistic healing services, such as meditation, reiki, and recreation activities.
As we look forward, we need to continue to hold ourselves accountable in our support and allyship of this movement. Then, we can choose to continue to move in the right direction and support what started as one of the largest social justice movements in history. In 2020 and 2021, fifteen to twenty-six million people showed up in the United States. Let’s hope that wasn’t performative allyship. Please help us continue to honor the importance of supporting communities of color by connecting individuals and families to resources and services.
We want to support Branch by raising $250,000. By helping Branch, you are helping to strengthen and empower communities of color. On a macro level, Branch is trying to offset the impact of primary and secondary trauma on the community. On a micro level, Branch is attempting to overcome barriers related to service access. And your donation will help individuals and families on the south side of Chicago access mental health resources. We all need to do our part to fight systemic racism, and there has never been a more critical time than now. Please consider donating.
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47 supporters
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