MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
September 2025 |
Dear Friends,
September has arrived, and we have exciting news to share. Our hearts (and calendars) were full last month with joyful moments. We had the honor of celebrating a beautiful milestone: our co-founder, Vichi, got married! Surrounded by family, friends, and team members, it was a weekend full of love, laughter, and deep gratitude. Our team was overjoyed to be part of her special day!
We recently marked birthdays for Naomi, Eulanda Thorne, Johnathon Brunson, and Na’im Akbar—and also celebrated La’Shanda’s one-year and Naomi’s four-year anniversaries with the organization. These special moments of togetherness fuel our mission, strengthening our commitment to each other and our community.
Read on to learn about new local violence prevention insights, updates on our youth engagement programs, and be the first to know about our upcoming fall Community Meeting.
Onward!
Vichi and Seth |
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Violence Prevention Report
Shout out to our Master of Public Health practicum student, Liz Royea, for her work on a new comprehensive violence prevention report, involving interviews with over eight stakeholders working on violence prevention across N.C. Her work will inform our approach to violence prevention in Edgecombe County and beyond. Read the report to learn about the critical innovations being used across the state to address community violence. |
NCCASA Training
Our Certified Resilience Trainer, Eulanda, led a training session for the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault. She shared key strategies for navigating the trauma of recent natural disasters during her presentation on Staff Wellness and Collective Care. Many thanks to the staff members who participated and continue to provide essential services to survivors of sexual violence while navigating the personal impact of natural disasters. Interested in resilience training for your organization? Sign up today for support with facilitating healing in your community. |
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Youth Engagement
Our Young Civic Leaders completed their summer internships, and we're excited to recognize their personal and professional accomplishments at our upcoming celebration. We’ve held several On the Edgecombe (OTE) sessions this summer, working to create a trauma-informed space for local youth. As we’ve collaborated with students to identify their goals, we were moved to discover that our young people primarily aspire to be seen as kind and community-serving people. Know a young person in your community who shares these goals and wants support? Share the application link below. |
Community Impact Spotlight:
Breathing & Resilience Cards |
Each month, we’ll highlight a strategy to help you navigate stress and build resilience—featuring our Breathing and Resilience Cards.
This month’s featured card, pictured below, offers a simple yet powerful breathing practice to help you pause, reset, and bring your nervous system back into balance. ROI’s Breathing Cards are pocket-sized, full-color tools designed to reduce stress, increase focus, and build resilience—used by teachers, therapists, and families across the country. Whether you keep them on your desk, share them in a classroom, or bring them to your organization, this card is a daily reminder that calm is always just a breath away. |
Save the Date: Fall Community Meeting
Mark your calendars, our semiannual Community Meeting date is set! We’re excited to gather with you on November 5, 2025 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. in Rocky Mount, N.C. We’ll be sharing more details soon. Make sure to follow us on social media to get the latest updates on all things ROI! |
Carolina Network for School Behavioral Health
Registration is currently open for the 2025 Carolina Network for School Behavioral Health's Annual Meeting. Join educators from local school districts and higher education, behavioral health professionals, and community leaders from both Carolinas to advance school behavioral health through collaboration and shared learning. Learn more and register for the event using the link below. |
Trust2Thrive
The Trust2Thrive Community of Practice, co-created by Eric Rainey (Restorative Well Educational Training & Consulting) and Dr. Beth Rice (Wellbeing4Learning), is a growing network for educators, leaders, and practitioners who want to deepen their understanding of Restorative Practices. Trust2Thrive creates a supportive space to connect, share, and grow with others who are committed to stronger relationships, organizational wellbeing, and thriving communities. Check out their application below for more information. |
RSVP for October Policy Listening Session |
For anyone local to Nash, Edgecombe, and Wilson counties here in North Carolina: Join us virtually on Thursday, October 2, 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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