Healing Racial Trauma Initiative (HRTI)
Launched in 2021, the Healing Racial Trauma Initiative (HRTI) is a program rooted in community, research, and racial justice. While it began in Maine, developed for and by People of Color with funding from the Maine Health Access Foundation, HRTI addresses conditions and healing strategies that are relevant across regions and adaptable to broader contexts.
HRTI seeks to illuminate and disrupt the systems of harm that emerge from white supremacy and capitalism by creating space for collective healing. Through culturally responsive, trauma-informed approaches, we center the wisdom, needs, and lived experiences of BIPOC communities to transform the impact of racial violence, both direct and indirect.
Since its founding, HRTI has led foundational work, including the creation of the Maine Racial Equity Social Determinants of Health initiative, the first-ever Maine Racial Trauma Survey, and a series of Community Conversations that have unearthed deep qualitative insights into the healing needs of communities of color. These efforts are detailed in the comprehensive HRTI 2023 Report.
As this work continues to grow, so do the ways we engage with and support our communities. We’ve begun building the Healing Racial Trauma Advisory Committee, a group of trusted mental health professionals and healers who help guide the direction of this initiative. We’re also continuing our learning series with Dr. Janeé M. Steele, providing an opportunity for mental health practitioners and community workers to deepen their understanding of culturally responsive care. Most recently, we’ve launched our Healing Circles, community-based gatherings led by facilitators and healers who are rooted in cultural traditions and collective care.
Each of these efforts is part of a larger vision: to create space for healing, connection, and transformation in the face of racial trauma.
