Dove deeper into mental health, wellbeing, and domestic violence prevention through two community of practice-based initiatives.

The Safety Through Connection initiative expanded this year and hosted its first in-person convening since the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative deepened their conversations around the intersections of racial justice, economic justice, and gender justice. The Learning Community is revitalizing and expanding its network around the belief that families and neighborhoods will be safer as communities build collective power and define priorities and pathways, and as cultures and systems align with community priorities. The Communities of Care (CoC) initiative moved into its fourth year, working with 10 Collaboratives in greater Houston as they mobilize resident leaders and youth to address community factors impacting their mental wellbeing. Communities of Care partners have advanced from assessment and pilots of early strategies to planning. This year, CoC partners engaged in peer conversations with youth and families to strengthen collaboration skills, support advocacy agendas and upstream policy strategies, and opportunities that will inform their sustainable implementation plans. As part of our real-time CoC learning to action, we received funding for and began developing the Advocates Engaged in Sustaining Our Power/Purpose (AESOP's) Leadership Network to support BIPOC coordinators, resident leaders, and young organizers who are leading the Hogg Foundation’s work at the intersection of social justice and systems change. Launching in 2023, AESOP’s Network will host healing circles and identify solutions to burn-out often associated with this work. Funders: Safety Through Connection is supported by the Blue Shield of California Foundation and Communities of Care and AESOP’s Network are supported by the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health. Photo by Marlene' Dusek.