Rahsmia Zatar

Culturally Rooted Wellness and Healing Model for CVI Workers and Leaders
This project addresses the urgent need for culturally rooted wellness infrastructure to support community violence intervention workers on Long Island, who face chronic stress and trauma exposure. Led by S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth, Inc., the initiative will pilot a healing model grounded in African-diasporic and Indigenous traditions, beginning with a three-day retreat and continuing through monthly peer and leadership healing circles. By integrating collective rituals, peer accountability, and organizational policy shifts, the project aims to improve staff well-being, retention, and effectiveness—ultimately creating a replicable model for embedding healing into CVI systems and strengthening community safety