This is an awesome video and shows that by planting and growing a trauma informed community and State (of Michigan), we can really work together to
1. Be able to understand our fellow citizens' suffering (our children's friends, our friends who are having a hard time at work or in the community etc).
2. We can not only see the origin of the suffering, we can start to understand the origin of the suffering (and I would say the diminution of every suffering human's potential).
BUT THIRD and MOST IMPORTANTLY
3. By seeing the origin of suffering and understanding the origin of suffering, WE can be a resilience resource. It is not that hard to care about a neighbor or a neighbor's child or your own child's best friend...
I am from Michigan....
I was born in Tawas (Iosco County). I grew up in Arenac County. This county is very poor with very few if any resources.
I was helped out tremendously by church leaders and teachers who understood that We Can Make A Difference and we can help to grow a child who could potentially become a
1. Valedictorian of her undergraduate class at Lake Superior State University (happened to me).
2. Get through the Michigan Child Welfare system and succeed (happened to me).
3. Go to two very prestigious institutions to learn about biomedical research (happened to me).
4. Do Cancer Research and help with the discovery of a very new and exciting medication to help those with cancer (happened with me).
5. Grow a Medical Student (yep also happened with me).
6. Grow a medical student who understands the very real impacts of childhood adversity and how hard it is to succeed in a world where there are few resources (Yep happened to me).
7. Have that medical student and now Doctor dedicate her life to mitigating childhood adversity and abuse (yep Happened to me).
What an awesome capability we all have.
It only takes a little education, dedication, and care for our kids.
WE CAN DO THIS HERE IN MICHIGAN
I could have ended in Juvenile Justice (unlikely - I was an internalizer - see any attachment research. I would suggest Allan Schore or Bruce Perry) or Prison (happens to most from my particular circumstance).
Instead I have paid lots in taxes and have not taken a dime in my adult life.
Sounds like a Grand Challenge to me.