Capacity-building initiatives and community education have been found to have a significant long-term and sustainable impact on neighborhood revitalization (Urban Institute, 2019). In addition, community programs can serve a dual-purpose for survivors of violence because community-improvement programs, especially horticulture and gardening, often lead to survivors gaining greater self-confidence, overall feelings of worth and value, and contribute to the greater good of community stewardship.

Nataleigh House of Hope provides outreach that connects our participants with volunteer opportunities in the community. Our beautification efforts include coordinating garbage clean-up, painting, and cleaning projects as well as playground/resource support (such as advocacy to the city). We also lead horticulture & agriculture workshops which support the model of understanding that our community members need fresh produce as well as the skills to tend to the land. Through nutritional workshops and hands-on agricultural experiences, we teach the community how to plant vegetables and fruit and care for themselves as well. We maintain a plot of land that has a community garden and we work with community members to identify and solicit help from qualified volunteer workshop facilitators.

While our counseling component focuses on processing trauma, our support groups for survivors includes workshops on topics that help individuals transition to independent living such as financial literacy, and navigating the workforce system (resumes, cover letters, applications, etc.). Through this holistic lens and approach, we seek to support our participants’ transition to healthy and independent living, building on the resilience and skills they already have.