Self Healing Communities
Following the tragic death of Marlon Brumfield and other youth in Lompoc in 2018, Yasmin Dawson and Cozy Blow co-founded Collective Cultures Creating Change (C4) Lompoc as a non-profit organization committed to reducing violence, improving outcomes for youth and catalyzing systemic change in Lompoc.
As an all-volunteer organization with ambitious goals, the C4 team knew they would benefit from some capacity building support, so they could get to the root cause of systemic, intergenerational violence and trauma. C4 Lompoc invited LegacyWorks Group to help implement the Self-Healing Communities (SHC) model, which is a community empowerment/engagement framework that has been utilized in communities across the country. Outcomes vary but implementation has been linked to reductions in violence, youth suicide, child-related hospitalizations, youth arrests, and other community health issues.
Grounded in the science of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), the SHC model empowers community members to learn how the experiences they had as children impact their health and community as adults. Through Community Speaks meetings in Lompoc, community members will begin to take hope-filled action that promotes change and strengthens support systems so that the community can better protect and nurture the next generation.
On October 12, 2023, the C4 team successfully launched the Self Healing Communities Kick-Off event with support from LegacyWorks Group, Resilient Santa Barbara County (RSBC), and ACE Interface. Attended by over 80 community members, this event gave participants the chance to learn more about ACEs, share their concerns, and co-create positive change in their neighborhoods. This innovative approach empowers ordinary, every-day people to take part in systemic change to reduce intergenerational trauma, increase hope, and start healing.
The SHC model also invites community members to receive leadership and advocacy training, thereby expanding the web of people in Lompoc actively engaged in improving the community, thereby increasing the chance of impact and success. The SHC Lompoc team will also host a Marketplace Event where community members will have the opportunity to present and co-design ideas for community led projects. Mini grants will be awarded for these projects in the amounts of $100-$500 for youth and $500-$1000.
LegacyWorks is proud to show up in service to this incredible project, and the C4 team, and grateful to the partners and funders who make it possible. Funders include The Fund for Santa Barbara, Joan Hartmann with Santa Barbara County, and the James S. Bower Foundation, the McCune Foundation, and the Towbes Foundation.