Breaking Barriers: How Trauma-Informed Care and Community Programs Empower Women of Colour
Written by: Ifeoluwa Omaghomi
Introduction
For many women of color, particularly those from immigrant and underserved communities, the road to healing and empowerment is riddled with barriers—systemic inequities, cultural stigmas, and layers of unaddressed trauma. Among the most devastating yet overlooked challenges they face is gender-based violence (GBV), which disproportionately affects marginalized women, leaving behind wounds that go far beyond the physical.
At Shine Gathering, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Black immigrant women, we’ve seen firsthand the transformative power of trauma-informed care when paired with community-centered programming. This article explores how these approaches not only help women recover from abuse and adversity but also create pathways to healing, freedom, and lasting change.
The Unique Challenges of Women of Colour
Trauma doesn’t exist in a vacuum. For women of color, trauma is often compounded by racial discrimination, cultural expectations, and generational cycles of pain. Many face challenges such as:
Gender-Based Violence & Abuse: Studies show that women of color, especially those from immigrant backgrounds, are at a higher risk of experiencing intimate partner violence, trafficking, and workplace harassment. Many suffer in silence due to fear, stigma, or lack of culturally competent support systems.
Microaggressions and Systemic Inequities: Whether in workplaces, healthcare, or education, women of color often face discrimination that erodes their confidence and limits their opportunities.
Cultural Silence Around Trauma: In some communities, discussions around abuse, mental health, and emotional well-being are considered taboo. This forces many women to endure pain alone, without seeking help.
Legal and Financial Barriers: Women facing abuse may lack financial independence or legal status, making it even harder to leave dangerous situations or access professional help.
Intersectionality of Identity: Many women of color carry the weight of multiple roles—mothers, caregivers, immigrants, and breadwinners—while living in systems that fail to prioritize their well-being.
These intersecting issues highlight the urgent need for solutions that don’t just acknowledge trauma but actively work to dismantle the barriers that perpetuate it.
Why Trauma-Informed Care is Crucial
For most women, trauma-informed care is not optional—it is essential. Many who experience abuse develop chronic anxiety, PTSD, and emotional detachment, making it difficult to trust others or engage in traditional support services.
As a matter of fact, in some cultures, terms like "abuse" or "domestic violence" may not resonate or be widely recognized. As an organization that understands this nuance, we use terms like "unhealthy" or "dysfunctional" to describe the traits and symptoms of such relationships, ensuring accessibility, understanding and cultural sensitivity.
Key principles of trauma-informed care include:
Safety: Creating environments where women feel physically and emotionally secure. Survivors of GBV often experience hypervigilance—safe spaces help them regain a sense of stability.
Trust and Transparency: Many survivors have been betrayed by loved ones. Restoring trust through open, honest communication is critical.
Empowerment: Centering women’s voices in their healing journey, ensuring they have agency over their decisions.
Cultural Humility: Recognizing that trauma is experienced differently across cultures and integrating healing methods that resonate with each woman’s background.
At Shine Gathering, these principles are woven into every retreat, workshop, and support group. By acknowledging trauma while fostering strength, dignity, and autonomy, we help women reclaim their lives.
The Role of Community Programs in Healing
Trauma isolates, but community heals. For survivors of GBV and other hardships, community-centered programs offer a vital support network that helps them feel less alone. Here’s how these programs drive impact:
Safe Spaces for Storytelling:
Many women who have suffered abuse have never spoken about it before. At Shine Gathering, our retreats create spaces where women can share their stories without fear of judgment. One participant once described the experience as “a lifeline”, saying, “It was the first time I felt truly seen and understood.”Practical Resources and Skills:
Beyond emotional healing, survivors need tangible tools to rebuild their lives—whether that’s financial literacy, legal knowledge, or career development. Trauma-informed workshops ensure these resources are delivered with empathy and relevance to their lived experiences.Collective Empowerment:
Healing in a group setting reinforces the idea that women are not alone in their struggles. When one woman shares her breakthrough, it inspires others to see possibilities for their own lives.
Real-Life Impact: The Shine Gathering Model
At Shine Gathering, we blend trauma-informed care with community-based interventions to create lasting change. Here’s a glimpse into our work:
Monthly Retreats: Designed to help women set goals for their futures while unpacking the fears and emotional wounds that hold them back. One participant shared, “For the first time, I feel like I have a direction—and the courage to follow it.”
Workshops on Mental and Emotional Wellness: Led by trauma-informed facilitators who provide practical techniques for managing stress, setting boundaries, and rebuilding self-esteem after abuse.
Language-Inclusive Programming: Recognizing the diversity of our community, we offer bilingual resources to ensure that no woman is left behind.
The results?
100% of participants reported feeling safe and supported.
Over 80% said they gained practical tools to take actionable steps toward healing and independence.
Many shared that the sense of community helped them overcome isolation and rekindle hope.
Cultural Sensitivity: A Non-Negotiable Element
For trauma-informed care to be truly effective, it must be culturally sensitive. This means acknowledging the specific realities faced by women of color and tailoring programs to meet their needs.
At Shine Gathering, we do this by:
Engaging facilitators who understand the nuances of race, culture, and trauma.
Incorporating culturally relevant storytelling, rituals, and support structures into our healing models.
Actively listening to participant feedback and evolving our approaches accordingly.
Overcoming Challenges
This work is not without hurdles. Trauma-informed, community-centered programs often face challenges such as:
Limited Resources: Funding constraints make it difficult to scale programs or provide consistent support.
Stigma: Mental health and abuse are still taboo topics in many cultures, making participation difficult for some women.
Burnout Among Practitioners: Supporting trauma survivors requires strong self-care practices for facilitators to prevent secondary trauma.
Despite these challenges, the impact of these programs makes the effort worthwhile.
The Ripple Effect: Empowering Communities Through Women
When a survivor heals, her entire community benefits. A woman who learns to set boundaries models healthy relationships for her children. A woman who gains financial independence teaches her peers the same skills.
The ripple effect is undeniable: by empowering one woman, we strengthen the foundation of an entire community.
Call to Action: Building More Spaces for Healing and Growth
The work of Shine Gathering is just one example of how trauma-informed care and community programming can transform lives. But there is so much more to do.
As nonprofit professionals, funders, and community leaders, we must:
Advocate for trauma-informed approaches in all nonprofit spaces.
Fund programs that provide holistic healing to survivors.
Foster more safe spaces where women of color can heal, grow, and thrive.
Conclusion
Trauma-informed, community-centered care isn’t just an approach—it’s a lifeline for women of color navigating gender-based violence, trauma, and systemic barriers. At Shine Gathering, we’ve seen the incredible impact of creating safe spaces for healing and empowerment. Our hope is that more nonprofits will adopt these practices, bringing the ripple effect of transformation to communities far and wide. Because when women shine, the world shines brighter too.