As Deidre Gantt sat behind Contee AME Zion Church on Saturday, the Northeast native carried a feeling of pride, nostalgia, and renewed commitment to paving the way for generations of transformation, beginning with her 8-year-old son’s participation in the Crowned In Resilience Collective (CIRC)’s Roots & Resilience Summer Camp.
“Growing up in this community, I went through…different types of traumatic experiences…and it really, to be very frank with you, separated me from the church in some ways,” said Gantt, 49, who grew up in the Ward 7 church. “But [I realized]….throughout all of the things that were happening, this was a place where I knew I had friends, I had adults that cared about me, and that’s what I want for him.”
Roots & Resilience was one of several youth-centered initiatives touted during CIRC’s 2nd Annual Community Healing Day, hosted on Aug. 2 at the very church grounds where the month-long program prospered free of charge in July, thanks to support from the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE).
Featuring kid-friendly activities and cookout-style energy, the event brought camp counselors, community leaders, and several families and campers to a sacred space striving to break generational cycles of violence, trauma, and economic hardship, particularly within D.C.’s most underserved wards.
“Data shows that young people of color in our city are nearly twice as likely to be exposed to violence compared to the national average. Exposure to this kind of trauma doesn’t just hurt in the moment–it affects mental health, their academic achievement and their future opportunities,” said CIRC co-founder Jeanine Henderson Arnett in welcoming remarks. “Our mission is to create a world where youth of color have all of the tools, support and opportunities to rewrite their stories and lead their communities towards [sustainability], healing and growth.”
The day of resurgence lit up Division Avenue NE to the tune of camaraderie, resilience and empowering youth leadership — from dance performances and poetry readings, to the young entrepreneurs selling self-made bracelets and artwork while handing out backpacks of free school supplies.
Organizations like Blueprint Development and Catholic Charities’ SHARE Food Network shed pivotal insight on eliminating food scarcity and achieving self-sufficiency; while local leaders including Contee AME’s lead pastor Mark Thomas and ONSE grants management officer Bridgette Sledge embraced the city’s next changemakers with messages of hope and rejuvenation.
Meanwhile, student leaders such as Amaya Foster, who will be joining Alabama A&M University in the fall, 16-year-old Kevin Johnson, and electrical engineer hopeful Kaleil Munford shared their CIRC experiences, adding a clear mission to continue strengthening communities with paths centered around growth and healing.
“I saw firsthand [during the summer camp] that [with] consistency, love and understanding, growth always comes. That same lesson applies to this foundation,” said Kevin in his Aug. 2 presentation. “We’re starting small, but with enough support and belief from everybody here, we can grow into something powerful.”
Walking Hand in Hand to End Violence, Economic Hardship
Founded by Arnett and Robin Lawson Atcherson in 2023, Crowned In Resilience aims to heal communities by focusing on prevention while addressing root causes of trauma, from unaddressed grief to limited economic opportunity and lack of safe spaces.
In addition to the Roots & Resilience camp, initiatives like the Youth Leadership Academy, newly launched Janitorial Maintenance Training Program, and Community Healing Garden – unveiled with a new mural co-created by youth and local artists – help develop lifelong skills and hands-on experiences, all the while building self-esteem, leadership and career pathways, and community connections.
“Everything that we do is rooted in the belief that when you equip young people with the opportunity, mentorship and purpose, you don’t just prevent violence,” said Arnett, “you plant seeds for transformation that ripple through families, neighborhoods and generations.”
Further noting how unaddressed trauma can be “the driver of cycles of violence,” Arnett reminded attendees that Saturday was about far more than highlighting the work of CIRC, but amplifying a collective charge to shape a better community and society at large.
Robin Alston, a partnering therapist of Blueprint Development, told The Informer part of the job is debunking stigmas about trauma and how it shows up. She emphasized the experience isn’t tailored to certain demographics, despite “suppressed economic situations” that often impact awareness, treatment and resource access.
“Trauma is everywhere. It’s the middle-class Caucasian in the store that’s sad, [and] it’s the child that’s under the table because their dad got shot,” Alston told The Informer. “But the biggest thing is for people to recognize that…if you have the support you need, and you have the ability to process it, you can work at optimum performance.”
Other features of Blueprint’s information booth included resources for job acquisitions for adults and mentorship and wellness tools for children, with partner representative Travis Ellis leveraging the opportunity to propel the values of relationship building, behavior modification, as well as academic and vocational exposure.
“[Troubled youth] know, ‘In order for [me] to stop stealing cars, put the guns down, or get off the block, take me to the boardroom with you,’” Ellis said, highlighting a philosophy of the multifaceted resource organization. “We present the boardroom…they can see themselves as business owners, young CEOs, [and] they have a blueprint laid out. It’s not just somebody talking – we could grab their hand and we can walk with them.”
Seconding this notion, Kevin touted the ability to foster a deeper sense of self and the value of sacred spaces through church renovations in the summer.
The student leader further lauded CIRC for helping him “become a better man” as he navigated perspective, patience and “being more outspoken” amid teaching younger campers “to feel their emotions, not embrace it as who they are.”
“There are so many opportunities to build on a low foundation,” Kevin said, “all we have to do is just start.”
Watching her 8-year-old benefit from CIRC programming, Gantt shared hopes to see more intergenerational collaboration thrive across Washington, applauding Community Healing Day as a platform for the future.
“I’m just really proud of Miss Robin, Miss Janine, of [Pastor Thomas] for letting this take root, for us to continue to be that friendly church on the Hill in far Northeast,” Gantt told The Informer. “We keep on reaching back in whatever little or big ways we can…to continue that legacy for another set of grown-ups.”