We’re stronger together.

Partner with us in the work of healing.

OUR WORDS HEAL is a movement advancing trauma healing and promoting health equity and racial justice.
Our multi-city coalition is continually seeking partners to expand the campaign’s reach into new communities. Email us →
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Our Beginnings

Planning started in 2015 with Drs. John Rich and Ted Corbin—both physicians and pioneers in trauma healing for young survivors of violence. Their work focuses on reframing the national narrative around trauma in underserved Black and Brown communities by shifting from criminal justice responses to healing-centered approaches.

Based in Philadelphia when this work began, both are now part of Chicago's Rush Medical College. Dr. Rich is the director of the Rush BMO Institute for Health Equity, a MacArthur Fellow and author of Wrong Place, Wrong Time. Dr. Corbin is an award-winning physician, professor and chair of Rush's Department of Emergency Medicine.

As we’ve started expanding to other cities, Dr. Charles Moore—a professor at Emory University’s School of Medicine and director of their Urban Health Initiative—has played a key and increasing role guiding our growth and evolution, especially in Atlanta. He is also the founder of Health Education, Assessment and Leadership (HEAL), a nonprofit focused on educating the community on health issues.
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This work has involved a strategic collaboration with community members most impacted by trauma and the creative agency Mighty Engine. 
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Together, we've envisioned, created and continue to develop and expand OUR WORDS HEAL.

Strategies for Just Communities

The OUR WORDS HEAL campaign is led by Strategies for Just Communities, a collaborative created by Drs. Ted Corbin, Charles Moore, and John Rich—all nationally recognized pioneers in trauma healing. 
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Our goal is to build safer, healthier communities by addressing the root causes of trauma while improving its prevention and detection.

With our growing list of partners, we encourage conversations that help local community members, healthcare providers and policymakers better understand their roles in supporting each other’s trauma healing as well as the kind of systemic change and investments required to support it.
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The original OUR WORDS HEAL Philadelphia pilot program was launched in collaboration with Mighty Engine and the young people of Healing Hurt People program at the Drexel University Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice.

Community Partners

Healing takes many forms.
Tell us about yours.

Share your own trauma healing story, tips, resources or events to ourwordsheal@gmail.com.

Expansion Plans

With Dr. Charles Moore, a professor at the Emory University School of Medicine, we’re expanding OUR WORDS HEAL to Atlanta. Joining us are community partners Atlanta Public Schools, Compassion Center of Georgia, Gangstas to Growers, and Walk with a Doc.

We’re also exploring opportunities to bring this effort to Chicago in the coming year.

Want to bring OUR WORDS HEAL to your community? Reach out to us.

Presenting Partners

Urban Health Initiative
RUSH BMO Institute for Health Equity
Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice
Mighty Engine

Atlanta Partners

Benjamin E. Mays High School
Compassion Center of Georgia
Demetri Burke
Gangstas to Growers
LeRoy Ellis
Mothers Against Gang Violence
Notes for Notes
Radical Optimist Collective
Walk with A Doc

Philadelphia Partners

Center for Black Educator Development
Drexel University College of Medicine
EMIR Healing Center
Hunting Park Green
Philadelphia Department of Public Health
Philadelphia FIGHT

Community Partners

ALLUMA: Art & Healing LLCAtlanta Victim AssistanceArthur M. Blank FoundationBEAM: Black Emotional and Mental Health CollectiveCenter for Contemplative Science and Compassion-based EthicsChef AsataCircle of SafetyClear Concise Kontradiction PhotographyC.T. Martin Natatorium and Recreation Center
Community Council Health SystemsDrexel Wellness HUBEGRESS Consultants & ServicesFront Row YogiGirassol WellnessHEALing Community HealthJesse Parker Williams FoundationMastery Schools: Pickett CampusMastery Schools: Shoemaker CampusNVS Building Communities Program
Overwhelmed BodyThe Plant WhispererResilientGEORGIAThe Love Rekindled CommunityThe S.W.I.M. FoundationTyme to Thrive Beyond GriefUnitedHealthcareYouthBuild Charter
OUR WORDS HEAL
ourwordsheal@gmail.com
901 Market Street, Unit 3020, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107
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