Logo with the word "HEAL" featuring a triangular design in place of the letter "A"; below, the words "Healing • Empowerment • Advocacy • Liberation."

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What is HEAL?

The HEAL program, inspired by healing justice principles, is an eight-session, two-hour peer support initiative for high school students. Run by On the Margins in partnership with the Hanna Center and funded by Elevate Youth California, HEAL fosters a collective exploration of self and community care. It provides a space for youth to practice and share healing strategies, cultivate critical consciousness, and build meaningful connections. The curriculum empowers students with essential tools for personal and collective healing, enabling them to become community leaders and contribute to a more just and equitable society.

  • It is a framework that identifies how we respond to the generational trauma that embeds in our bodies, hearts, minds, and communities. Healing Justice can be accessed through writing, oral accounts, art, and other approaches that can serve as anti-oppressive tools that facilitate critical consciousness.

    We are inspired by the Kindred Southern Healing Justice Collective’s work and their conceptualization of healing justice as a political strategy and framework for movements to address collective harm and trauma.

  • High school students in Sonoma Valley are eligible.

  • The sessions are held at Hanna Center in Sonoma.

  • The commitment is two hours per week.

    We require all participants to attend the first two sessions, where group agreements are made.

    There is also a requirement to attend at least 6 of the eight sessions.

    The program is free and a $58 per session stipend will be provided to each participating student ($464 in total, if all sessions are attended).

  • Results from a 2023 analysis of surveys between the beginning (pre) and the end (post) of the program showed that on average, participants significantly improved on four outcomes that were measured. Participants reported that their mental health symptoms were reduced by feeling less left out or depressed, or feeling more companionship. Participants mentioned the benefits of having stronger connections to peers they had already known or meeting new people in the group. They also reported improved knowledge on resources about mental health and substance use. In particular, they liked learning new topics that were usually not talked about in school. Further, better coping skills were observed when dealing with the stress that occurred in their physical and home environments. Some said they were able to overcome their social anxiety to speak up and the program helped their communication skills. Results indicate that participants’ resilience levels improved significantly with better recovery from a stressful event. Please contact us if you would like to have more access to a summary of our evaluation results: contactus@onthemargins.us

  • HEAL Spring Cohort Dates:

    Opening Retreat: Saturday January 25, 2025 9:30am-1:30pm

    Session 1: Wednesday January 29, 2025 4:00pm-6:00pm

    Session 2: Wednesday February 5, 2025 4:00pm-6:00pm

    Session 3: Wednesday February 12 2025 4:00pm-6:00pm

    Session 4: Wednesday February 19, 2025 4:00pm-6:00pm

    Session 5: Wednesday February 26, 2025 4:00pm-6:00pm

    Session 6: Wednesday March 5, 2025 4:00pm-6:00pm

    Closing Retreat: Saturday March 15, 2025 9:30am-1:30pm

  • “After Covid I wasn’t social as much and was always in my house and never seeing people. I’m not good at expressing myself and my feelings, and I think this [program] has helped me a lot.”

    SV4HJ Advocate, 2023

  • “I’ve learned that I like nature a lot. I wasn’t very involved with nature before Healing Justice but all the trips impacted me and I started going out more in nature. It also made me realize how passionate I am about helping others and being a voice for those who feel like they don’t have the resources to speak up.” SV4HJ Ambassador, 2023

    SV4HJ Ambassador, 2023

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