Nearly 200 mental health professionals gathered in Duluth to advance strategies for fostering emotional resilience
Togetherness and collaboration took center stage at the inaugural Becoming a Resilient Gwinnett Summit last month, where nearly 200 mental health professionals and community leaders convened at Sonesta Gwinnett Place Atlanta for a transformative day dedicated to mental health awareness and community resilience.
Attendees participated in four interactive workshops and engaged with eight leading experts on integrating mental health into overall well-being. The summit emphasized equipping individuals with knowledge and tools to build resilience within families, workplaces, and communities.
Keynote speaker Tra Battle, president of Battle Solutions and former NFL safety, inspired attendees with a powerful message on collective resilience. “It’s okay to not be okay, but it’s not okay to stay there,” Battle said, highlighting the role of supportive corrective adult responses (SCARs) in overcoming trauma.
Dr. Emily Valle, executive director of Resilient Georgia, underscored the importance of a shared language around adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and making resilience an accessible, everyday tool. She highlighted Georgia’s efforts to remove barriers and provide resources at both local and statewide levels to address childhood trauma.
Building a community
A dynamic panel discussion, “The Roadmap to Resiliency,” featured experts sharing best practices for cultivating workplace resilience and the power of partnerships in delivering high-quality, integrated care for Georgia families.
“The Resilient Gwinnett Summit marks a critical step forward in building a community that understands, values and actively supports mental well-being,” said Renee Byrd-Lewis, president and CEO of the Gwinnett Coalition. “By bringing together passionate professionals and leaders, we are laying the foundation for systemic change that will empower individuals and families across Gwinnett County.”
To further support this effort, Resilient Gwinnett introduced the Resilient Gwinnett Toolkit, an online resource designed to help schools, workplaces and youth-serving organizations implement trauma-informed practices.
The toolkit provides essential guidance on shared language and practical steps to begin the journey toward trauma-informed care.
About Resilient Gwinnett and the Gwinnett Coalition
Resilient Gwinnett is a coalition of community-driven organizations — including the Gwinnett Coalition, Resilient Georgia and other key partners — working collaboratively to cultivate community resilience, prevent trauma and drive systems change. Their shared mission is to increase public understanding of resilience and trauma while providing evidence-based services and resources.
The Gwinnett Coalition is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building an equitable, resilient and healthy community. By connecting people and resources, the coalition drives systems change and enhances community well-being through its three pillars: health equity, mental and behavioral health and nonprofit capacity building.
For more information, visit gwinnettcoalition.org.
