Resiliency Week 2024 Recap: Growing Resilience in Cobb
As February comes to an end, we want to take a moment to highlight Cobb Collaborative’s Resiliency Week, which occurred February 5-9th . For a full week, Cobb Collaborative intentionally and thoughtfully focused on building resilience. Each event brought opportunities for local partners and community members to gather together and prioritize growing our resiliency, and what that looks like in our community as a whole moving forward.
We kicked off the week with our Partner Breakfast, which allowed partners from various organizations in Cobb to collaborate and network on the important work being done for the community. That Tuesday, we held our 3rd annual Resilient Cobb Summit, hosted by the Community Foundation and Cobb Chamber and sponsored by Resilient GA. The summit centered on Tufts Medical Research University’s HOPE, healthy outcomes from positive
experiences.
We were honored to have Dr. Stan Sonu as our keynote speaker, who delivered an impactful message on systemic empathy, leaving those who attended inspired to take steps toward a more empathetic and resilient community. Our panelists, Brandon Jones from Skrews4Life, Ana Murphy from Cobb County School District, Dr. Jyll Walsh from PCA GA, and Chloe Young from Paint Love, exchanged a thought-provoking conversation on the 4 building blocks of HOPE: relationships, social and civic engagement, social, equitable and safe
environments, and emotional growth. We thoroughly enjoyed the time of engagement and conversation on this important framework and appreciate our speakers, panelists, and attendees.
“I have become very encouraged and grateful for our Cobb County community
connecting the dots in order to better serve our community with a wholeness approach;
physical, financial, economic, spiritual and mental! Everyone has a piece of the whole and when we come together for the goodwill of the community from the least to the greatest; we
become knitted together in a way that actually works!” – Resiliency Week Attendee
By mid-week, we slowed things down and incorporated wellness into the day. We led a Wellness Walk at Cochran Shoals Trail and enjoyed nature as the group discussed various wellness skills such as grounding and resourcing. It provided a time and space to reflect and find tranquility together while giving ourselves the gift of self-care. Self-care and mental wellness skills are necessary for anyone, especially those who work in people-serving roles.
“Hope to see Resiliency Week as a reoccurring event! It was so much fun and needed as a parent and person who works in a help-serving role. It was a great reminder to be present and take care of myself — thank you!” – Resiliency Week Attendee
We wrapped up the week with our Resiliency Dinner and Resiliency Retreat. Our Resiliency Dinner, hosted by HOPE Family Resource Center and catered by Mother’s Finest, was an evening full of engaging and empowering conversations with community members. Attendees developed relationships and a renewed motivation to make Cobb a more resilient community. Lastly, the Resiliency Retreat, which brought together many community members and partners, focused on wellness activities such as yoga, journaling, and a sound bath. The day was filled with rejuvenation, education, stillness, and joy. We are thankful to the Reed House for hosting and for our wonderful partners including Julia from the Book Worm Bookstore, Jillian from Freedom Youth Yoga, and Etolya from Medella Sound Bath & Therapy.
“I wanted to say thank you to you and your team for all that did for Resiliency Week. I know how much time and effort goes into organizing these events. You all did a great job with a nice diversity of offerings.” – Alison Curtis, MS RDN LD, Chronic Disease Prevention Director/Cobb & Douglas Public Health | Cobb Collaborative Board Member
We want to especially shout out Kaitlyn Ball, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships at Cobb Collaborative, who developed the idea for a week focused on building resiliency in individual and community lives.
“The feedback we received during and after Resiliency Week encapsulated the collective need we all have for more intentional time to cultivate moments of well-being. Being able to put together a week full of activities for us to come together and slow-down, reconnect, and develop skills that can help us cope with and manage the challenges that come with life, was such an empowering thing for me. It can be really difficult to take time and reflect on ourselves in a way that can benefit our well-being, especially when it’s not something we are used to, but the power that it has on our mental health is profound. My hope is to use this week as a springboard for us as individuals and communities to prioritize our well-being with small but meaningful moments in our daily lives.” – Kaitlyn Ball, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships at Cobb Collaborative
The team at Cobb Collaborative is moved by all who participated in the events throughout Resiliency Week 2024 and are so grateful to have a community that supports and advocates for building resiliency for all. What can you do for yourself and fellow community members to increase resiliency?