Our Words Heal

We are the creative agency behind this novel trauma-healing campaign, developed in partnership with Dr. Ted Corbin and MacArthur Foundation genius grantee Dr. John Rich (both former founders of Drexel University’s Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice), and a coalition of young survivors and witnesses of violence  and community activists. 

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From the beginning, the goal was to see how we could leverage strategic communications—from branding and digital platforms to social media and community events—to promote trauma healing and educate the public about its importance in reducing violence, retaliation and re-injury among our youth. 

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It was clear from the beginning that meant we had to transform the conversation about violence away from one that is based in personal shaming toward one that is based in healing. 

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The focus of the campaign that emerged from this process was to promote the idea that healing from trauma—including from crime and violence—is possible by voicing messages of hope and healing in the victims of trauma. Their collective healing stories encourage more healing and, in doing so, blur the lines between healer and healed, also exponentially increasing the ways one can heal from trauma.  

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We are now working with partners in Atlanta and Chicago to bring the campaign to other high-need urban areas, while keeping each community’s unique focus.

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