MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
August 2025 |
Dear Friends,
Welcome back, and thanks for checking in! The summer is flying by as our work builds momentum. We're pushing our programs to new heights and facilitating organizational progress by holding space for our well-being.
Naomi took some intentional time off, heading to the Bahamas for much-needed rest and reflection. She soaked up the sun and unplugged, giving herself time to recharge in preparation for the work ahead. Vichi connected with friend and ROI partner, Chandra Green, to check out Rocky Mount’s new Indian restaurant, Lazeez. They're officially Vichi-approved—and what better way to care for yourself and your community than enjoying some yummy food?
In this edition, you’ll learn about the progress our Young Civic Leaders are making at their internship sites, the successes of our first Medicaid Learning Collaborative cohort, and opportunities to support mental wellness legislation.
Onward!
Vichi and Seth |
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Young Civic Leaders Internships
We've placed 16 youth interns at sites across Edgecombe, Nash, and Vance counties. They're engaging with in-person work experiences as opportunities for skill-building and career exploration. Our young leaders meet regularly with their mentors and peers to share experiences, discuss challenges, and build community. We look forward to continuing to walk alongside them in the months ahead. Shout out to our community partners including Golden Leaf Foundation, Edgecombe County Get Off the Lists, Harrison Family YMCA, Our Wilson, Town of Tarboro, Vance County, and Northeast Carolina Prep School for their support! New to YCL? Check out last year’s impact report. |
T&R 101 Trainings
This summer, we offered Trauma & Resilience (T&R) 101 training across three sessions—reaching our YCL interns along with staff and partners through Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. As a cornerstone of our organization’s programming, T&R 101 supports youth and adults with developing their capacity to foster resilience in themselves and their communities. Our trained facilitators guided participants through dynamic sessions, helping them identify how trauma-informed principles can strengthen their work as they engage their agencies, providers, and contractors. We’re grateful to all who demonstrated their curiosity and care as they engaged in these sessions. Request a T&R 101 training session for your organization below. |
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Naomi's SHRM-CP Certification
Congratulations to Naomi for earning her Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) credential! This global-standard credential is a testament to Naomi’s capacity to perform HR duties at the operational level—turning policy into practice and serving as our daily operations point of contact. She’ll use her new skills to strengthen ROI across a range of competencies including People-Centered Operations, Compliance & Risk Readiness, Manager Coaching & Performance, Equity & Inclusion in Practice, and Funder & Partner Confidence. Check out the link below to learn more. |
Community Impact Spotlight:
Medicaid Learning Collaborative Program Outcomes |
Thanks to the generous support of the Camber Foundation, we now have early data available for the first cohort of the Medicaid Learning Collaborative (MLC)—and the results are promising! Participating schools saw a 2.02x increase in Medicaid dollars billed and a 2.65x increase in the number of students served. Check out the one-pager below for more details about the program’s successes.
If you’re interested in receiving free technical assistance with navigating the Medicaid reimbursement process to access additional mental health support for your school district, it’s not too late to apply. We are accepting applications from N.C public and charter schools to join our upcoming 2025-2026 cohort until September 9, 2025. |
Support National Mental Wellness Legislation
We invite you to join us, along with 110+ organizations, in endorsing the Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act (CMWRA). This bipartisan bill was reintroduced to Congress on July 24, 2025 and aims to support mental health needs nationwide by addressing the community trauma caused by natural disasters. Bob Doppelt of the International Transformational Resilience Coalition, a key advocate for this bill and author of Preventing and Healing Climate Trauma, has uplifted ROI’s Community-Based Systems Mapping efforts as an example of the kind of community-driven approach this bill seeks to support. Learn more and consider providing your organization’s endorsement. |
Upcoming Regional Hearth Summit
Were you excited by Vichi’s experience at the global Hearth Summit in Slovenia in June? Check out the next upcoming regional Hearth Summit in Rhinebeck, NY on August 24-27, 2025. The Wellbeing Project is collaborating with Omega Institute and Harlem Wellness Center to host this impactful event. |
RSVP for September Policy Listening Session |
For anyone local to Nash, Edgecombe, and Wilson counties here in North Carolina: Join us virtually on Thursday, September 4, 2025 from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. EST to discuss important policy matters that affect our community. This session is open to all who are interested in sharing their thoughts and ideas. Let's come together to listen, learn, and collaborate on ways to make a positive impact. Don't miss this opportunity to have your voice heard! |
Rural Opportunity Institute supports youth, organizations and communities to interrupt the cycle of generational trauma and design innovative solutions for healing and resilience. |
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