Reflecting on a Year of Growth, Connection, and Collective Impact | | |
At Resilient Georgia, we know lasting change happens through collaboration, shared learning, and a deep commitment to building resilient communities across our state. That’s why we’re excited to share our 2024–2025 Impact Report — a reflection of what we’ve accomplished together alongside our incredible partners, coalitions, funders, and supporters.
Resilient Georgia expanded our reach to all 159 Georgia counties; collaborated with more than 900 partners across 14 sectors; launched new workforce and evaluation initiatives; published impactful tools and resources; and continued strengthening trauma-informed systems throughout Georgia.
🌟From regional coalition support and statewide trainings to research partnerships and advocacy efforts, this report captures the collective momentum driving our work forward every day.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey and helped make this progress possible. Thank you for continuing to build a more connected, resilient, and hopeful Georgia with us.
Read our 2024–2025 Impact Report.
The Resilient Georgia Team
p.s. Stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
| | This Issue: 3-Minute Read | | Thank You to Our Board Members | | Board of Directors Update | | |
What's new: We are celebrating our first two emeritus and founding board members, Ms. Rebecca Blanton (pictured R) and Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald, (pictured L) who also served as founding board chairperson since the organization’s launch in 2019.
What's next: Dr. Kathryn Martin has been named the new Board Chair, bringing deep expertise in medical education, public health, and coalition building.
| Welcome Two New Board Members | |
We are thrilled to welcome two new board members, Dr. Emily Graybill and Gilda "Gigi" Pedraza. We are honored to have their leadership and expertise on our board.
| |
Dr. Emily Graybill, Associate Professor of School Psychology at Rutgers University and a nationally certified school psychologist. Her research focuses on translating evidence-based mental health and behavioral interventions into school and community settings, with a particular emphasis on early childhood systems. She has supported Georgia school districts on the implementation and evaluation of school-based mental and behavioral health initiatives for the past 20 years.
| |
Gilda “Gigi” Pedraza, founder and Executive Director of the Latino Community Fund Georgia, a public charity that catalyzes investment and collaboration in Georgia’s Latinx community. A social entrepreneur and community leader, she works to strengthen community-based organizations through advocacy, research, leadership development, and grantmaking.
| | Announcing Two New Coalitions | |
|
What's new: We are excited to officially welcome the following coalitions to our statewide network of Regional Coalitions:
-
Resilient South Central Georgia covering Appling, Candler, Emanuel, Evans, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Tattnall, Toombs, and Wayne Counties
-
Resilient Heart of Georgia covering Ben Hill, Bleckley, Dodge, Dooly, Irwin, Laurens, Montgomery, Telfair, Tift, Treutlen, Turner, Wheeler, and Wilcox Counties
Why it matters: Resilient Georgia now has 100% statewide coverage across all 20 regional coalitions! We share our deepest gratitude for the partners whose leadership, collaboration, and care made it possible.
Go deeper: Learn more about these two new coalitions at the links below.
| | Regional Coalition & Partner News | |
-
Georgia Essentials for Childhood has launched the Family Well-Being Messaging Library, a centralized collection of tools, trainings, podcasts, webinars, educational resources, and more designed to support organizations and professionals in promoting child and family well-being. Grounded in a strengths-based, whole-family approach, the library advances shared language and messaging practices that help create the conditions for safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments where children and families can thrive.
-
YMCA of Metro Atlanta was recognized for meeting nationally recognized standards in child sexual abuse prevention and youth safety.
-
A recent study regarding Parent University, founded by Resilient Georgia board member Michael O’Neal, was recently published in the journal Family Relations.
-
The Annie E. Casey Foundation announced the 2025–2027 class of its Children and Family Fellowship, a 23-month executive leadership program supporting 16 leaders from across the country who are working to improve policies and systems impacting children, youth, and families in marginalized communities.
| |
-
Attend a Virtual Courage to Care: Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Training on June 25 from 10AM–12PM via Zoom. Developed by the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy and hosted by Resilient Heart of Georgia in partnership with TLC Children’s Services, this training will provide practical skills and actionable steps to help protect children and prevent abuse.
-
Become a Connections Matter Georgia Trainer. Register for Connections Matter Train-the-Trainer on Sept. 29 and learn the tools to train others.
-
The Georgia Department of Education’s Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT) offers customizable, on-demand trainings for schools and community partners across the state. Organizations can request a training to support professional learning and strengthen whole child supports in their communities.
-
Join Reaching Teens Connect & Reflect, hosted by Wellroot’s Reaching Teens experts, designed to support professionals in applying trauma-responsive, relationship-based practices to real-life situations. Held on the 4th Thursday of each month from noon to 1 PM.
-
Register for The REACH Institute's training on how to effectively use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques to help adults who suffer from anxiety. CME credit available.
| | What's Happening at Resilient Georgia | |
|
After a busy spring full of travel, events and big meetings, the Resilient Georgia team recently took time to slow down and reconnect with a virtual “Spring Breather” team activity led by artist Jill Bell.
Team members received simple painting kits with flower pots, paint and brushes ahead of time and joined together virtually as Jill guided us through decorating colorful floral-inspired pots. It was a fun, low-cost way for our team to spend intentional time together, recharge creatively and connect outside of our usual day-to-day work.
We’re grateful to Jill for helping us create space to pause, reflect and enjoy a little creativity together this season.
You can learn more about Jill’s work on Instagram at @jbellart and visit her shop online.
| | |
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you."
—Anne Lamott
| | | | | |
