We began this phase with excitement, proud of all we had accomplished so far. New faces joined our core group, bringing fresh energy, but the challenges quickly mounted. Mental health struggles and the ongoing difficulty of navigating complex systems made this stage feel stagnant at times. Our focus became rooted in navigating both our own challenges and group challenges as well.
Despite these obstacles, we achieved remarkable milestones while going through life-changing experiences. Our partnership with an LCSW proved essential, as she designed classes addressing the specific struggles youth were facing, including Setting Boundaries, Healthy Relationships, and Anger Management. These sessions were transformative, not only for the youth but also for the staff, establishing a model we called “in the meantime supports.”
While our space provided safety, it became “too safe” at times. Negativity impacted the group morale creating challenges for the group and project. Collaborations were difficult with organizations that had clashing collaboration skills..However, these struggles led to the creation of a collaboration framework ensuring all parties feel valued. This framework was tested and proved effective!
While it often felt like we were spinning our wheels, this phase taught us the most important lessons of all. We faced profound hardships, including loss, substance use, suicidal ideation, depression, local traumas, and the weight of national political issues. At times, simply surviving felt like the priority.
And we survived.