What's new: Resilient Georgia Communications & Special Projects Analyst Donna Talavari delves into her journey of belonging and bicultural exploration of identity. This blog post offers an insightful (and vulnerable) look into her own process of self discovery.

Read more: Check out our entire collection of blog posts from our Be Vulnerable campaign 2023.

• Congratulations to Bonnie Hardage, co-founder and Resilient Georgia Executive Board Member, and Executive Director of the Jesse Parker Williams Foundation for receiving the community service award from Phenomenal Women's Health.

• Alex English, Director of Outreach & Training at The Vashti Center, is a nominee for the annual Golden Heart Awards, sponsored by HEARTS for Families.

• Congratulations to Molly Lieberman, Executive Director of Loop It Up Savannah, who was recognized by U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff in an official Senate Commendation.

• Co-authors and researchers from UGA, Albany State and our own Executive Director, Emily Anne Vall, published a study that found race influences rates of anxiety and depression in college students, with minority , women and first generation students experiencing higher rates of depression than their peers. It has been widely shared by media including: CNN, CNBC, USA Today, and AJC.

• Susan Nebel, Community Impact Director for the Greater Valdosta United Way, talks about the formation of the Resilient & United Communities of South Georgia and work to create a positive change in the region.

• Audrey Idaikkadar, Regional Program Director at Resilient Georgia is presenting alongside Dr. Jordan Murphy from the Center for Interrelational Science and Pediatrics, LLC, at the Black Child Development Institute's 5th Annual Culturally Responsive ECE Leadership Summit and Awards Reception. Their program focuses on "Promoting a Culture of Care of Early Educators."

•  In partnership with Georgia Southern University and Handle with Care Founder, Andrea Darr, Resilient Georgia is supporting a Pre-Conference workshop about Handle with Care at the National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference on Mar. 3. Register here.

• The Resilient Cobb Summit will take place Feb. 6 from 8:30-12:00 p.m. ET. This free event will dive into the framework of HOPE (Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences) with keynote speaker, Dr. Stan Sonu.

• Join Resilient Georgia for a lunch and learn Feb. 8 on Clifton Strengths, a psychometric tool to help participants identify, understand, and maximize their strengths, thereby pointing to his or her greatest potential.

• Mental Health America is accepting in-person workshop proposals for their 2024 conference to be held September 19-21. Deadline for submissions is Feb. 12.

• Join Black Child Development Institute Atlanta Feb. 5 for the Annual Culturally Responsive ECE Leadership Summit and Awards Reception.

• Stacey Abrams will be joining the virtual 2024 Collective Impact Action Summit for the closing keynote conversation May 2. Oct. 13-15, 2023, in Charlotte, NC. (Early registration pricing available through Mar. 15.)

• SAMHSA is holding the Fentanyl Awareness Youth Challenge to get the best ideas from U.S. youth, aged 14-18, on a community strategy to increase youth awareness, education, and prevention around the dangers of fentanyl. Submissions due Feb. 26.

• Join the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association for a Community Conversation on the current state of integrated behavioral health in Georgia on Wednesday, Feb. 28 from 12-1:30 p.m. ET. (*Dr. Andrea Meyer Stinson from Resilient Georgia will lead this conversation!)

• Emily Anne is excited to create her personal continuing education plan for 2024! Conference and training suggestions welcome. 😊

• Andrea just finished recruitment for the second post-master’s degree cohort of the National Mental Health Workforce Acceleration Collaborative. She is also looking forward to attending the Primary Care Behavioral Health intensive implementation training from February until May.