By Becky McDaniel
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. | More than 200 educators, healthcare providers, nonprofit leaders, and community members are expected to gather on March 26 for the second annual Resilient Gwinnett in Action Summit at Maison 6405 in Duluth.
The event is part of Resilient Gwinnett, a countywide initiative led by Gwinnett Coalition that focuses on preventing childhood trauma and strengthening support systems for families.
Adverse childhood experiences, known as ACEs, can include abuse, neglect, violence in the home, or household challenges such as substance use or mental health struggles. Research shows these experiences can affect long-term health, education, and economic outcomes.
But strong relationships, safe environments, and access to supportive resources can help children build resilience and thrive.
Dr. Shannon Hervey, director of Community Health for Gwinnett Coalition, says: “The Resilient Gwinnett in Action Summit is our commitment to going upstream. By bringing together partners from across sectors, the summit creates space for collaboration, shared learning, and collective action. Those connections strengthen our community’s efforts to prevent childhood trauma, promote positive childhood experiences, and expand trauma-informed care throughout Gwinnett.”
One major focus of the work has been training, education, and outreach. Through training, community conversations, and professional development sessions, the initiative helps anyone who is vested in a more resilient community to better understand trauma and learn strategies to support children and families.
In addition to training, Resilient Gwinnett works to elevate youth voices and gather community input to guide its efforts. With intention to elevate the voice of the population that Resilient Gwinnett strives to improve conditions for, the Resilient Gwinnett Youth Advisory Council (RG-YAC) was recently launched.
With a start date of August 2026, participants will learn resilience strategies and use their voice to guide the initiative’s future programming. Registration is open now and youth ages 13-26 can apply throughout the month of April on the Gwinnett Coalition’s website. Surveys and community engagement initiatives help leaders understand the challenges young people are facing and identify opportunities to strengthen support systems throughout the county.
This collaborative approach reflects a growing understanding that preventing childhood trauma requires more than a single program or organization.
Andre Castro, Resilient Gwinnett Steering Committee member and director of Community Engagement with GNR Public Health, says: “Prevention thrives where partners listen, share resources, and act as one, protecting the children of Gwinnett by building resilience from the inside out.”
The summit will focus on moving beyond awareness to action by equipping attendees with practical tools, strategies, and connections to support children, youth, and families. Sessions will highlight innovative programs, research on trauma and resilience, and real-world examples of how organizations are implementing trauma-informed practices in their work.
The event is designed to spark collaboration and inspire participants to take what they learn back to their workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods. Attendees will gain access to a resource fair, keynote address delivered by Dr. Stan Sonu, Medical Director for Child Advocacy at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta; breakout sessions presented by clinicians and experts; networking; an afternoon spotlight on the topic of the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Human Trafficking; and a wine reception.
Renee Byrd-Lewis, president and CEO of the Coalition, adds: “While Gwinnett Coalition has the privilege of serving as the backbone organization for this collaborative endeavor, the engagement and guidance of our community partners is essential to driving systems change. As the initiative continues to grow, we will engage more residents and partners across the county, and our collective efforts will help ensure every child in Gwinnett can grow up safe, supported, and resilient.”
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