Triumphing Over Trauma. A conversation.

Posted September 24, 2025 by Mindi Wisman

Youth Catalytics’ Training Director Cindy Carraway-Wilson recently spoke with two young leaders on the Youth Advisory Board for the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) about their design and launch of the Triumph Over Trauma campaign. This youth-led campaign is aimed at helping participants normalize and destigmatize their experiences with trauma and adversity and explore ways to grow from them to a place of healing.
Cindy’s conversation with advisory board members Kiera and Xaimara is a perfect example of positive youth development (PYD) in action. Cindy draws on several of the 8 C’s that constitute the PYD framework by enthusiastically inquiring about Kiera and Xaimara’s experiences, acknowledging their opinions, and appreciating their commitment to this work. The 8 C’s of PYD include: Connection, Confidence, Character, Compassion/Caring, Confidence, Contribution, Control, and Coping.

Kiera and Xaimara

PYD has been shown to help young people overcome trauma and move from surviving to thriving. Another useful framework in this realm is Healing Centered Engagement. This framework helps youth create positive transformations in their communities by shifting perspectives, advocating for changes to policies and laws, and addressing the root conditions that led to their trauma. Engaging youth in creating positive community change is empowering and supports their development and well-being. When adults share the responsibility for healing with youth, instead of trying to ‘fix’ them, they are in fact helping them grow, develop skills, and self-confidence. It’s a wonderful thing to see young people take on their own healing journeys.

Listen to Cindy’s conversation with Kiera and Xaimara below and let us know what resonated with you.

Cindy Carraway-Wilson