Truth n’ Trauma Program Overview

The Truth n’ Trauma project (TNT) aims to prevent and reduce violence in neighborhoods and communities contiguous to Chicago State University through supporting young people in addressing the impact of trauma on young people and families in their neighborhoods and communities, and developing strategies for trauma and violence prevention and reduction. Three social work faculty, along with faculty from Counseling Psychology and The Department of Communications, Media, Theatre, and Arts (CMAT) were involved in partnering with local agencies to develop this effort. Forty-three youth were selected to work with Chicago State University, and received training on the root causes of violence and community trauma, participatory action research methods, advocacy and leadership skills, and media and arts training. TNT staff believe that youth, in partnership with adult allies, can be active agents in creating and implementing innovative strategies to address the issue of trauma in our community, developing innovative ways to introduce the community and other youth to radical healing . Our mission is to reduce community violence and help heal the exposure to violence through education that liberates and restores the community. TNT encourages youth led, restorative practices with violence affected youth.

The program includes four tracks: (1) trauma training, (2) participatory action research, (3) media and arts, and (4) documentary filmmaking. Development of leadership and empowerment skills is an integral component for the four training tracks. Projects developed by the students will be carried out in their communities and completed during the remainder of their project participation.

Overall, the goal of the TNT project is to reduce youth violence in the selected neighborhoods and communities through increased leadership roles by the youth in their respective communities, during and after completion of the project. Participating youth develop skills and resources designed to facilitate their effective influencing of peers and other community stakeholders. They work with Chicago State University (CSU) faculty, students, and staff, and select sponsoring community based organization partners to achieve mastery of trauma-informed practice and research methods.

Knowledge and practice perspectives	Application to the Truth N' Trauma initiative
Trauma Training	Engaged youth will receive education and training in a “train-the-trainers” model on the impact of community violence and trauma. Youth will be trained on an age-appropriate model to include psychological first-aid and other evidence-based models, to educate their peers and others concerning trauma, resources to address trauma and prevent violence, and peace-keeping circles.
Leadership Skill Development	Youth will attend interactive sessions that focus on personal and collective accountability, emotional development and positive relationship building in and outside of the community. Utilizing a variation of CSU’s evidence based 8th Round life-skills curriculum, which has been, designed to encourage youth to create a culture of respect and responsibility for themselves, others and their community, youth develop their leadership and presentation skills.
Restorative practice	Youth will be trained concerning restorative practice theory and methods, including how to conduct and facilitate circle-keeping, small group conferencing, and planning.
Community-based research training	Youth will participate in systematically observing, documenting, interpreting, and presenting information related to preventing violence and well-being within their community, including utilizing participatory research methods, photography, and documentary filmmaking. Youth will present all findings in public community forums and will use their presentations as a means of engaging the community in the program and is positive well-being promotion.
Media and arts training	Select youth will engage in creating several projects designed to engage young people (and adults) in the overall conversation concerning violence and trauma. Youth will develop a theater production designed to teach the impact of trauma and the importance of preventing violence. Some youth will be involved in a citywide “public service announcement” contest to elicit the best PSA concerning violence and trauma. Other youth will be engaged in co-creating a website that will include podcasts, PSA’s, and a video “uploading” project hosting 3-minute “trauma and resiliency” videos.