Building Community Resilience Through Trauma-Informed Solutions: Lessons Learned from a Social Accelerator in Rural North Carolina

Adverse childhood experiences and intergenerational trauma are associated with a variety of negative health outcomes and are particularly prevalent among people of color and those living in rural communities. The social accelerator model offers a novel means of assisting organizations in scaling up their initiatives and increasing their impact. This study investigates the lessons learned from adapting the social accelerator model to address community-level trauma and build resilience in a rural setting. We conducted qualitative interviews with program staff and the initial cohort of participants of the Resilient Leaders Initiative: a trauma-informed social accelerator designed for public institutions in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. Participating community organizations included a local high school, church, and courthouse. In-depth interviews (n = 23) explored strengths, challenges, and perceived outcomes of the program and were thematically analyzed. The program's deep community ties generated strong relationships among the cohort and created a safe space for participants to address trauma. Those interviewed identified the virtual program's flexible structure as a key strength, but also reported experiencing confusion around roles, outcomes, and program language. A shared passion for building community resilience among participants and staff served as a key motivator throughout the program. Findings indicate that a flexible environment, strong interpersonal relationships, and deep community roots are essential to facilitating the creation of trauma-informed solutions among community organizations via the social accelerator model.