| Name | Ternae |
|---|---|
| Last Name | Jordan, Jr. |
| Home Address | 9132 Sir Charles Ct Harrison, TN 37341 United States |
| Organization Name | Naéjor Enterprise, LLC |
| Describe Your Role In The Organization | I am the Founder and CEO of Naéjor Enterprise, LLC. |
| Organization Address | 5811 Lee Hwy Suite 401 Chattanooga, TN 37421 United States |
| Website | https://www.naejor.com |
| Best Phone Number To Reach You | 423-987-3001 |
| Alternate Phone Number | |
| Email Address | ternae@naejor.com |
| Alternate Email Address | motown07@gmail.com |
| Please Describe Your Project In Detail | Program Title: Untold Stories Project-From Trauma to Triumph Overview: Since early 2020, nearly every household in America has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The fear of being infected or dying, grief, loss of jobs and businesses, disruption in daily routines, increased social isolation, and economic insecurity, coupled with uncertainty, all took a toll on many. Furthermore, it disproportionately impacted some demographic groups and exacerbated health inequities along racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines (1). Thus, revealing underlying problems that communities of color were facing before the pandemic. One area exacerbated by the pandemic is the number of individuals who experience mental health challenges. In a recent study, 40% of American adults reported symptoms of depression and anxiety (2). It is important to note that historically, prior to COVID-19, communities of color were underserved by the mental health system. The traumatic turn of events caused by the effects of the pandemic sent many Americans in a tailspin. The traumatic experience of COVID-19 on communities of color is even more significant due to the severe impact of distress on these communities. The risk of COVID-related PTSD on African Americans is compounded by high rates of previous trauma (3) due to personal and family adversity. Other culturally related stressors also play a vital role in this increased risk. The American Rescue Plan provides the opportunity to address the negative impact of the COVID-19 public health emergency by supporting communities of color through evidence-based alternative mental health interventions. This investment in alternative mental health services can reduce mental health disparities among communities of color. Alternative methods such as storytelling (personal narrative) provide a framework for those dealing with trauma to process and reframe their experiences. The power of storytelling has been a long-held tradition in many cultures. Now, research supports this sacred tradition. Research from the field of narrative psychology shows a link between storytelling (personal narrative) and well-being (mental health). Exploring personal stories, reflecting on them, changing these narratives, and sharing them might make us vulnerable, but it also helps us heal and grow. By sharing our personal narrative, distress about the trauma goes down (4). One of the most effective treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is telling your trauma story (5). This one-year project seeks to address the negative impact of the COVID-19 public health emergency by helping communities of color make sense of the trauma and mental health challenges through storytelling. We also seek to create a platform for story sharing and giving participants and their families an outlet to connect with others. The statistic shows that when individuals are given a chance to share their story in a meaningful way, it can bring healing around the traumatic event and, in this case, the pandemic. Strategically sharing one’s story has the power to transform pain into purpose. This program teaches participants how to share their stories, compelling and transformative. According to the philosophy behind narrative therapy, storytelling is how we make meaning and find purpose in our own experience (Standish, 2013). Storytelling’s power in regulating physiological and psychological functions should not be dismissed. It’s a simple intervention in alleviating pain and discomfort and changing our emotional landscape. Program: This program is designed around the scientific-based technique called narrative therapy. This form of therapy was developed in the 1980s by Michael White and David Epston (6). Participants will complete a series of workshops designed to teach them how to process their trauma from the perspective of a victor instead of a victim. This alternative mental health approach is an innovative way to help those facing emotional discontent compounded by the pandemic. According to recent research in positive psychology, how individuals share their stories controls their mood and self-image. Storytelling (personal narrative) can uplift and change a person’s mood. This changed mood and outlook is no small matter. A reasonable amount of positive emotion and optimism allows individuals to cope better with adversity and meet the obstacles head-on. It is important to note that this program is not in place of individuals receiving therapy from a licensed clinician. This program is designed to support and provide participants with additional strategies and techniques for managing trauma and other mental health challenges. Examples of workshops: • Telling One’s Story • The Power of Storytelling • Externalizing Techniques • Getting Past the Fear of Sharing Your Story • Deconstruction Techniques • Unique Outcomes Technique • Existentialism • Telling Your Story in a compelling way-expressive arts (documentary) Program Format: Workshops will be held bi-monthly. After completion of the workshop series, participants will write their personal stories. They will then share their stories on camera. The stories will be compiled into a final documentary that can be shared as a beacon of hope. Project program cost: $100,000 References: 1. Office of the White House, National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness (Jan. 21, 2021), https://www.whitehouse.gov//www/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/National-Strategy-for-the-COVID-19-Response-and-Pandemic-Preparedness.pdf 2. Panchal, supra note 4; Mark É. Czeisler et al., Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Suicidal Ideation During COVID-19 Pandemic- United States, June 24-30 2020, Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. 69(32):1049-57 (Aug. 14, 2020), https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6932a1.htm. 3. Breslau N., Chilcoat H.D., Kessler R.C., Davis G.C. Previous exposure to trauma and PTSD effects of subsequent trauma: Results from the Detroit area survey of trauma. Am. J. Psychiatry. 1999;156:902–907. doi: 10.1176/ajp.156.6.902. 4. Gillihan, Ph.D., Seth J. The healing power of telling your trauma story: Six ways revisiting painful memories can loosen their grip. (March 6, 2021) Psychology Today 5. Powers MB, Halpern JM, Ferenschak MP, et al. A meta-analytic review of prolonged exposure for post-traumatic stress disorder. 2010. In: Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE): Quality-assessed Reviews [internet]. York (UK): Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (UK); 1995-. 6. About Narrative Therapy. (n.d.). Narrative Therapy Centre of Toronto. Retrieved from https://www.narrativetherapycentre.com/narrative.html |
| Please explain how your project meets the requirements of the American Rescue Plan | One of the American Rescue Plan objectives is to respond to the far-reaching public health and negative economic impacts of the pandemic by supporting the health of communities and helping households, small businesses, impacted industries, nonprofits, and the public sector recover from economic impacts. This project meets this objective by providing support to the public, particularly communities of color, through alternative mental health response programs for individuals negatively impacted by the pandemic, providing support and evidence-based strategies for coping with unfavorable situations in a non-traditional way. |
| Where would your project take place? | DNS Innovation and Training Center and/or virtually |
| How much will your project cost in total? | 100000 |
| Do you have any matching funding sources from other local governments, private entities, non-profits, or philanthropic entities for your project? | No |
| Please describe the source and list amounts of any other funding. | |
| What portion of the project are you asking the city to fund? | |
| If funded, when would your project start? | April 1, 2022 |
| How long would your project take to complete? | 12 months |
| What milestones would you use to measure your project’s progress? | We will use the following to measure the project's progress: We will collect baseline data on each participant prior to participating in the program. The data will include but not be limited to pre-test surveys about their lives, eligibility categories, and overall mental wellness. We will then compare the baseline data with post data to evaluate the efficacy of the program. Routinely, we will gather formal feedback from the participants to ensure they are gaining value from the program and to note if small changes are needed with the implementation of the program. |
| How would you ensure accountability and transparency throughout the project lifecycle? | We will ensure accountability and transparency throughout the project lifecycle by preparing quarterly project and expenditure reports. The reports will include the following: Expenditure Report • Financial data • Any budget changes made to date and during the reporting period • Any budget increases made to date and during the reporting period, and documentation demonstrating that the budget cut is covered as outlined by the grant guidelines. • Any budget cut made to date and during the reporting period, and documentation demonstrating that the budget cut is covered as outlined by the grant guidelines. Program Report • Names of participants in the program • Sign-in sheets or virtual documentation of those participating in each workshop • Overview or notes from each workshop |
| If successful, how would your project benefit the community? | This project will benefit the community by bringing awareness of COVID-19 related mental health challenges and encouraging communities of color to improve their mental wellness. This program offers the community the opportunity to reframe their perspective about mental wellness. Our efforts will engage trusted community leaders and health care clinics to ensure we are helping to connect communities of color with additional resources. |
| How will you attract community buy-in for your project? | We will attract community buy-in for our project by reaching out to non-profit organizations, civil groups, faith leaders, and/or other grassroots organizations that have played a meaningful role within the community, especially communities of color. We will develop a marketing plan for raising awareness about COVID related mental health and deliver the message in a culturally tailored way. |
| Is there anything else you would like us to know about your project? | Ternae Jordan, Jr. is a thought leader within the faith-based community. He is passionate about helping communities of color transform their lives. This project is near to his heart because he experienced a violent traumatic event. At the age of 15, he was shot in the head by a stray bullet. He is a living witness to the power of storytelling (personal narrative). He shares his story across the nation. |