In this episode, Donna and Sam sat down with Sheba Rogers, Liz Kennedy, Ali Lakhani  and Valerie Kelly-Bonner to discuss a series of mental health roundtable discussions Detroit Justice, Henry Ford Health’s Trauma Recovery Center, and Strategies to Overcome Obstacles and Avoid Recidivism (SOOAR) have hosted in the city.

Trauma is often thought of as an injury resulting from a motor vehicle crash or gunshot wound. However, trauma can be any event resulting in physical, emotional, or life-threatening harm that has lasting adverse effects on an individual. The Trauma Recovery Center (TRC) is working to promote resiliency and holistic recovery for survivors following a crime. Their mission is to maximize the recovery of traumatically injured patients, families and communities through support, mental health services, education and access to resources.

Since its founding in 2005, SOOAR has been committed to enhancing the lives of those in need throughout the Metro Detroit area. They measure success not just through data, but through the stories, feedback, and visible improvements in community well-being. SOOAR uses a holistic approach—offering education, support, and engagement—to promote healthier behaviors, reduce harms, and build stronger, resilient communities.

The Detroit Justice Center (DJC) is a non-profit law firm and advocacy organization working to create just cities where every life is valued and supported with dignity and care. They are a national organization rooted in Detroit—a city emblematic of both the harms of racial capitalism and the resilience of community-led solutions. They engage in legal, policy, and narrative work to inspire the work of building just cities across the nation.

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THIS WEEK IN THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE:

BENSON BRINGS GOVERNOR CAMPAIGN ACROSS MICHIGAN 

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