Logo with the word "HEAL" featuring a triangular design in place of the letter "A"; below, the words "Healing • Empowerment • Advocacy • Liberation."

LEARN MORE!

What is HEAL?

The HEAL program, inspired by healing justice principles, is an eight-session, two-hour peer support initiative for high school students. Run by On the Margins in partnership with the Hanna Center and funded by Elevate Youth California, HEAL fosters a collective exploration of self and community care. It provides a space for youth to practice and share healing strategies, cultivate critical consciousness, and build meaningful connections. The curriculum empowers students with essential tools for personal and collective healing, enabling them to become community leaders and contribute to a more just and equitable society.

  • It is a framework that identifies how we respond to the generational trauma that embeds in our bodies, hearts, minds, and communities. Healing Justice can be accessed through writing, oral accounts, art, and other approaches that can serve as anti-oppressive tools that facilitate critical consciousness.

    We are inspired by the Kindred Southern Healing Justice Collective’s work and their conceptualization of healing justice as a political strategy and framework for movements to address collective harm and trauma.

  • High school students in Sonoma Valley are eligible.

  • The sessions are held at Hanna Center in Sonoma.

  • The commitment is two hours per week.

    We require all participants to attend the first two sessions, where group agreements are made.

    There is also a requirement to attend at least 6 of the eight sessions.

    The program is free and a $58 per session stipend will be provided to each participating student ($464 in total, if all sessions are attended).

  • Results from a 2023 analysis of surveys between the beginning (pre) and the end (post) of the program showed that on average, participants significantly improved on four outcomes that were measured. Participants reported that their mental health symptoms were reduced by feeling less left out or depressed, or feeling more companionship. Participants mentioned the benefits of having stronger connections to peers they had already known or meeting new people in the group. They also reported improved knowledge on resources about mental health and substance use. In particular, they liked learning new topics that were usually not talked about in school. Further, better coping skills were observed when dealing with the stress that occurred in their physical and home environments. Some said they were able to overcome their social anxiety to speak up and the program helped their communication skills. Results indicate that participants’ resilience levels improved significantly with better recovery from a stressful event. Please contact us if you would like to have more access to a summary of our evaluation results: contactus@onthemargins.us

  • HEAL Spring Cohort Dates:

    Opening Retreat: Saturday January 25, 2025 9:30am-1:30pm

    Session 1: Wednesday January 29, 2025 4:00pm-6:00pm

    Session 2: Wednesday February 5, 2025 4:00pm-6:00pm

    Session 3: Wednesday February 12 2025 4:00pm-6:00pm

    Session 4: Wednesday February 19, 2025 4:00pm-6:00pm

    Session 5: Wednesday February 26, 2025 4:00pm-6:00pm

    Session 6: Wednesday March 5, 2025 4:00pm-6:00pm

    Closing Retreat: Saturday March 15, 2025 9:30am-1:30pm

  • “After Covid I wasn’t social as much and was always in my house and never seeing people. I’m not good at expressing myself and my feelings, and I think this [program] has helped me a lot.”

    SV4HJ Advocate, 2023

  • “I’ve learned that I like nature a lot. I wasn’t very involved with nature before Healing Justice but all the trips impacted me and I started going out more in nature. It also made me realize how passionate I am about helping others and being a voice for those who feel like they don’t have the resources to speak up.” SV4HJ Ambassador, 2023

    SV4HJ Ambassador, 2023

  • “Educational, inspiring, and interesting. That’s what healing justice is; all the things public school is afraid to teach you, but all the things that need be taught. “

    Evy Hall, August 2021, Sonoma Valley for Healing Justice participant

  • “It first helped us learn how to help ourselves and then taught us how to help others. It was amazing to learn from people with such diverse skill sets, points of view, and life experience.”

    Arati Goff, August, 2021, Sonoma Valley for Healing Justice participant

  • “This program has not only given me a voice, a family and a passion for change but the courage to put myself into accountability and help others do this as well. Throughout these eight weeks not only have I been able to create such strong bonds with my fellow peers, but meet wonderful mentors with very strong personalities and ideas!”

    -Theresa Perez Barron, August, 2021, Sonoma Valley for Healing Justice participant

  • “I am very grateful and honored to have been a part of this workshop/training. This is an experience I will never forget. I met new friends and learned things I never thought i’d learn. Everyone in the workshop was already so educated and after the 8 weeks I felt even more educated than I already was about all new amazing things. I thank all the speakers and leaders for their time and efforts with such amazing students.”

    Kate Jernigan, August, 2021, Sonoma Valley for Healing Justice participant

A young girl with braided hair, wearing a black hoodie, smiling at the camera with a blurred background.
Black and white photo of a young woman with long hair, looking down and writing at a desk.
A woman speaking in front of a projected screen, wearing a T-shirt and jeans. The screen displays text including 'She, her, ella'. Black and white photo.
Person with curly hair smiling, wearing a dark blue t-shirt, indoors with blurred background.
Smiling man wearing a baseball cap and a blue shirt.
A black and white photo of a woman smiling while talking to another person with a large bow in their hair, seated indoors.
Two people in a classroom, one wearing a mask and holding a water bottle, both appear to be engaged in conversation.
A person holding a sign that reads "I SELFCARE by... building legos and playing video games (while I listen to music)" and a Lego model. They appear to be standing in a room with a door and framed paintings on the wall.
Person drawing a cartoon character using colored pencils on a notepad, wearing a red wristwatch.
A person wearing a black mask holds a binder open, displaying a drawing of a flower on graph paper. The individual appears to be speaking or explaining something.
Person wearing a white face mask and a white shirt with text, seated indoors.
Person wearing a black cap with a golden logo, a black mask, and a white tank top holding a sheet of paper with colorful doodles, sitting in a room with other people.
Person stretching arm overhead indoors, wearing a gray long-sleeve shirt.
Three people seated in chairs in a classroom setting, with one person in the middle raising their hand. They are wearing masks and casual clothing. The setting appears to be educational.
Person sitting on a bed, smiling, holding a sign that says "I Self-Care By Doing my Nails," with a phone on a colorful blanket.
Person holding a sign that says "I self care by... sleeping" in front of a door.
Person wearing a blue mask and striped shirt, speaking with hands raised in a room with light wooden cabinets.