MONDAY MEMO #13
- Resilient Georgia
- Jan 13
- 5 min read
Happy Monday, partners! Welcome to another edition of the Monday Memo. We have a lot of great resources to share, but first, here are some 2025 updates and highlights from the RG Team:
RG Highlights
End of Year Survey Feedback Highlights Thank you to everyone who shared feedback in our end-of-year survey! Based on your input, coalitions will have a designated point person for one-on-one technical support, and we’re launching exciting initiatives like the free 9-week Positivity and Relaxation Training (PART) program led by RCG’s Tara Jones starting in March, and virtual Lunch and Laughters to foster connection throughout the year (stay tuned!). We will continue coalition connections, office hours and peer-to-peer network calls and will start Help the Helper counseling and consultation sessions with Gabrielle Stewart, current MSW intern and previous coalition lead with 20+ years experience in nonprofit leadership. We are working to connect coalitions to sector-specific champions—but please don’t forget to check out our Speakers Bureau for a wonderful list of subject matter experts. We look forward to an amazing year of growth and collaboration ahead!
Point Person from the Regional Coalition Team:
Round 1, Round 4: Nikki Warner, nwarner@resilientga.org
Round 2, Round 5, Resilient and United Communities of South Georgia: Alex English, aenglish@resilientga.org
Round 3 (except RUCSG): Audrey Idaikkadar, aidaikkadar@resilientga.org
Additional Support: Upcoming Office Hours and Peer-to-Peer Network Call
We’re continuing Coalition Coaching Office Hours on the 2nd Wednesday and Thursday of each month. This session will be this Wednesday, January 15th, at 4 PM and Thursday, January 16th, at 8 AM via Zoom. This is an optional space for questions, concerns, or brainstorming. Grab your coffee or afternoon snack and join us—we look forward to connecting!
Our next Peer-to-Peer Network Call is tomorrow, January 14th at 2 PM. These optional monthly calls aim to foster engagement, collaboration, and shared learning across the state. With support from our partners at RNEGA, Resilient Communities of SWGA, and RMG, these calls offer an opportunity for mentorship and discussion on relevant topics. Tomorrow we will have a light discussion welcoming everyone back as we look ahead to 2025 topics.
ALL Monthly Coalition Round Calls will now be the last week of each month unless otherwise scheduled. Calendar invites have been sent for 2025. Email Nikki if you did not receive the invites.
2025 Conference List: If you’re looking for opportunities for professional development and networking, check out our updated list of conferences and summits in 2025!
Coalition Spotlights
Waycross Area Resilient Georgia Partnership: Magnolia House and Waycross Area Resilient Georgia Partnership are hosting a free Domestic/Sexual Violence Training for the Waycross Judicial Circuit featuring Lt. Mark Wynn, former member of the Nashville Metropolitan Police Department, on February 12 and 13th. Each day will offer two sessions: 8:30 AM–1:00 PM and 4:30 PM–9:00 PM with breakfast and dinner provided. This training is open to law enforcement and anyone working with victims of domestic/sexual violence, offering 4 P.O.S.T. hours for attendees. Register here by February 7, 2025.
Resilient Coastal Georgia: The 11th Annual Chatham County Mental Health Symposium, themed "Connection to Community and Care," will take place on May 8, 2025, at Georgia Southern University – Armstrong Campus. The Chatham County Regional Community Collaborative invites proposals for presentations and workshops that align with this theme. Proposals can be submitted here by February 28th.
Cobb Collaborative Resiliency Week 2025: Cobb Collaborative is hosting Resiliency Week February 3-7, 2025, featuring a series of events aimed at fostering a more resilient Cobb County. The week includes a Partner Appreciation Breakfast, a Basics Playground Palooza at Henry Park, a Journaling Workshop at The Book Worm Bookstore, the Resilient Cobb Summit, a Wellness Walk, a Resiliency Dinner, and concludes with a Resiliency Retreat. These activities provide opportunities for advocates and community members to share best practices and collaborate on building a trauma-informed and resilient community! Check out the full list of events and register here.
Highlight: Human Trafficking Awareness Month Events
Join the Georgia State Child Welfare Training Collaborative for a powerful session on January 30th from 10-11:30 AM, featuring staff from Tharros Place. This discussion will explore strategies to prevent human trafficking and provide trauma-informed care for survivors. Learn how you can contribute to protecting our community and supporting survivors. Register Here to be part of this impactful conversation.
THARROS PLACE is a nonprofit organization located in Savannah which serves as a residential facility for girls aged 12-17 who have survived human trafficking, and they also lead statewide prevention and education efforts. Tharros Place offers a nurturing environment where survivors can heal, rebuild their lives, and regain independence. Their holistic approach includes access to counseling, education, job training, and other essential resources to help survivors overcome trauma and achieve long-term stability. Through community partnerships and advocacy, Tharros Place strives to raise awareness about human trafficking and create a future where every survivor can thrive. Because January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, please check out their upcoming awareness and fundraising events, including the Cocktails for Courage fundraiser January 24th from 5:30-7:30. Please share widely as girls statewide are referred to Tharros Place for support.
Civil Discourse
In our current climate of heightened polarization, resources for fostering civil discourse are essential for building understanding and unity. Braver Angels offers e-courses designed to equip individuals with skills for constructive conversations across political and ideological divides. These courses focus on listening, speaking with respect, and finding common ground, helping participants navigate difficult discussions with empathy and clarity. Similarly, the Duke University "I Came Looking for Hope" initiative emphasizes storytelling and dialogue as tools to bridge divides. Through workshops and shared narratives, this program fosters meaningful connections and offers hope for collaborative solutions. Together, these resources highlight the transformative power of civil discourse in fostering resilience and unity in our communities. Please share widely!
JEDI
Join the Lotus Project Community Advisory Board (CAB) and Explore Webinar Resources! The Lotus Project is looking for passionate individuals to join its Community Advisory Board to improve resources supporting mental health professionals and community-based organizations in implementing trauma-informed care for Asian American and Asian Immigrant communities. CAB members will provide feedback during quarterly Zoom meetings and receive a $40 gift card per meeting. Sign up here!
Additionally, the Lotus Project offers an array of recorded webinars on their website. These webinars cover trauma-informed care, cultural humility, and mental health strategies tailored to the AAAI community.
Maximizing Global Talent Join The BIG Partnership on Friday, January 24, from 9:30-11:30 AM at the Latin American Association in Atlanta for the "Maximizing Global Talent" breakfast event. This two-hour gathering will feature coffee, a continental breakfast, networking opportunities, and a panel discussion on leveraging Georgia’s diverse international talent pool. Hosted by a coalition of business and civic leaders, the event focuses on strengthening Georgia's economy by harnessing the potential of New Americans and building a healthcare workforce with cultural and linguistic representation for immigrant and refugee Georgians. Organized by New American Pathways, this nonprofit supports refugees and immigrants in Georgia from arrival to citizenship.
Suicide Prevention
THE YELLOW ELEPHANT: The Yellow Elephant is a Georgia-based nonprofit focused on suicide prevention for individuals aged 9 to 24, serving communities in South GA. Through initiatives such as distributing educational resources, collaborating with local organizations, and hosting their Annual Be The Light Night (In 2024, 200 people gathered to honor those affected by suicide, featuring recovery stories, a candlelight vigil, and vital community resources). Key 2024 initiatives included funding for funerals, counseling sessions, and transportation to crisis centers. Looking ahead, the organization is planning events like Suicide Prevention Advocacy Day, the 9th Annual Be The Light Night, alongside the launch of grief support workshops and continued partnerships with HOPE Squad to bring suicide prevention programs to schools. If you would like to partner or learn more about their organization, please reach out to Alex English (aenglish@resilientga.org) for a connection.