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CRESTSprogram Blog
Welcome to the CRESTSprogram Blog, which advances trauma-informed care through culturally responsive, research-based strategies. Our mission is to bridge the gap between research and practical application, empowering educators, mental health professionals, parents, and communities to support Black children and other youth of color affected by traumatic stress.
Our blog shares insights on trauma-informed interventions, culturally relevant healing practices, evidence-based research, and real-world applications in clinical, educational, familial, and community settings. We aim to foster meaningful conversations, promote equity in mental health care, and provide resources that enhance resilience and well-being.
Join us as we explore innovative strategies, highlight diverse perspectives, and advocate for inclusive, evidence-based approaches to addressing traumatic stress. Stay informed, engaged, and inspired with the CRESTSprogram Blog.
Destigmatizing Winter Depression in Black Academic Space
Winter depression in Black academic spaces is often unnamed and misunderstood. This essay explores how racialized stress, academic pressure, and seasonal fatigue intersect—and why choosing care, rest, and community is an act of survival, not weakness.
Dehjah Vaughn
Dec 233 min read
Rearing Black Children to Resist Cultural Oppression
Parenting Black children today requires intention, cultural affirmation, and care. This article explores practical ways families can nurture resilience, critical consciousness, and pride while helping children resist cultural oppression and thrive.
Cirecie West-Olatunji, Ph.D.
Dec 163 min read
Nurturing a Strong Racial/Cultural Identity in Black Schoolchildren: What Educators Can Do
Black schoolchildren deserve learning environments that affirm their history, culture, and lived experiences. When educators intentionally nurture racial and cultural identity, students gain confidence, stronger academic outcomes, and a deeper sense of belonging. This guide offers practical, research-aligned steps teachers can take to support healthy identity development every day.
Cirecie West-Olatunji, Ph.D.
Dec 23 min read
Thanksgiving Through a Black Liberation Lens
Thanksgiving carries a layered history, but within Black communities it has evolved into a powerful ritual of connection, gratitude, and liberation. This piece explores the true origins of the holiday, how Black families have reclaimed it through community, storytelling, and resilience, and why collective care—especially addressing food insecurity—remains central to how we gather and give thanks.
Dehjah Vaughn
Nov 244 min read
Black Parenting in Challenging Political Times: Nurturing Strength, Hope, and Awareness
A powerful look at Black parenting in today’s political climate—exploring identity, resilience, community support, and tools to help children thrive.
Cirecie West-Olatunji, Ph.D.
Nov 182 min read
Addressing Political Anxiety in Black Clients
Political anxiety in Black communities is often tied to lived experience and historical trauma. Learn how clinicians can respond with culturally informed, compassionate care.
Tyla Kennedy
Nov 112 min read
Bridging the College-Readiness Gap for African American Students
For many African American students, college readiness begins long before senior year. Yet unequal access to advanced coursework continues to limit opportunity. This article examines the barriers shaping the college-readiness gap—and how CRESTSprogram is building equitable pathways to success.
Cirecie West-Olatunji, Ph.D.
Nov 42 min read
Carrying the Load: Race-Based Stress in Atlanta’s Schools
In Atlanta—a city built on Black excellence and resilience—many educators and students still carry the unseen weight of race-based stress. This article sheds light on the emotional and systemic toll of bias in schools and offers action steps toward healing, equity, and restoration for those doing the heart work in education.
Dehjah Vaughn
Oct 282 min read
The Power of Parenting: Fostering Lifelong Resilience in the Face of Race-Based Stress
Discover how Black parents can build lifelong resilience in their children through cultural pride, emotional awareness, and community connection. Dr. Cirecie West-Olatunji shares practical strategies for transforming race-based stress into strength and healing.
Cirecie West-Olatunji, Ph.D.
Oct 213 min read
Barbershops & Beauty Salons: Organic Venues for Black Mental Health
Barbershops and beauty salons have always been more than places for hair — they’re spaces of healing, connection, and community. Writer Tyla Kennedy explores how these cultural hubs naturally support Black mental health through conversation, care, and belonging.
Tyla Kennedy
Oct 142 min read
Restorative Justice: A Pathway to Healing for Black Children in Low-Resourced Schools
Restorative justice offers a path of empathy and healing for Black students often punished instead of supported. By focusing on dialogue and understanding, schools can rebuild trust, restore dignity, and create spaces where every child feels seen and valued.
Cirecie West-Olatunji, Ph.D.
Oct 72 min read
Addressing Traumatic Stress in the Black Community: Pathways to Healing
Trauma in the Black community is both historical and ongoing, shaped by inequities that affect families and communities. Healing requires more than individual effort—it calls for collective action. Schools, churches, and community organizations can play a vital role by affirming culture, addressing systemic disparities, and fostering resilience. Together, these institutions can help Black communities move from survival to thriving.
Cirecie West-Olatunji, Ph.D.
Sep 302 min read
Who’s Leading the Lecture? Black Graduate Faculty Representation and Its Impact at HBCUs
Representation among Black graduate faculty at HBCUs does more than diversify academia — it transforms it. Through mentorship, culturally grounded research, and identity-affirming guidance, Black faculty at institutions like Howard, CAU, Spelman, Xavier, and VSU shape the next generation of scholars and leaders. Their presence fosters belonging, resilience, and liberation in spaces historically built for exclusion.
Dehjah Vaughn
Sep 234 min read
Making Schools More Inviting for Black Parents
Across the nation, Black parents face barriers that make schools feel unwelcoming—from deficit-based assumptions to limited opportunities for authentic engagement. To build true partnership, educators must affirm the resilience, cultural knowledge, and advocacy Black families bring. By reframing narratives, fostering representation, and practicing equity, schools can create spaces where Black parents feel valued, respected, and heard.
Cirecie West-Olatunji, Ph.D.
Sep 162 min read
Reclaiming Wellness: African Spirituality, History & the Practice of African Kemetic Yoga
During my time at Xavier University of Louisiana, I struggled to find an exercise practice that felt authentic as a young Black woman. Traditional yoga spaces often felt disconnected—until I was introduced to African Kemetic Yoga. Rooted in ancient African traditions, this practice emphasizes slow, intentional movement, deep breathing, and ancestral wisdom. More than just fitness, Kemetic Yoga affirms cultural identity, nurtures mental health, and creates community.
Tyla Kennedy
Sep 93 min read
Honoring African American Language in the Lives of Black Children
Language is never just words—it’s identity, culture, and power. In this compelling post, Dr. Cirecie West-Olatunji explores the deep-rooted legitimacy of African American Language (AAL) and the harm caused when it’s misunderstood or dismissed. From misdiagnoses in schools to emotional trauma, she breaks down the impact of linguistic bias on Black children—and what educators, counselors, and communities can do differently to affirm, not correct. Honoring AAL is honoring the ch
Cirecie West-Olatunji, Ph.D.
Sep 13 min read
The Role of Embodiment within Dance/Movement Therapy
Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) explores embodiment—the deep connection between body, mind, and lived experience. Through awareness of our senses and movements, DMT helps us reconnect with our bodies, heal from trauma, and embrace choice. In a world that often separates mind from body, this practice restores balance, resilience, and cultural wisdom.
Kimberlee Bow, Ph.D.
Aug 265 min read
Armoring Our Children for the School Year
As a new school year begins, our role as parents goes beyond homework and supplies. We must prepare our children to thrive in environments where bias and systemic oppression still exist. By listening to their experiences, affirming their identity, modeling resilience, and prioritizing our own mental health, we can equip them with the tools to stand tall, speak up, and take up the space they deserve.
Ebony B. White, Ph.D.
Aug 182 min read
The Hidden Impact of Psychotropic Medications in the Black Community
Psychotropic medications can be lifesaving, but for African Americans, the story is more complex. From stigma and limited access to research gaps and higher risks, racial disparities deeply shape mental health care. This blog examines the challenges, impacts on children and pregnancy, and why culturally responsive providers and equitable treatment options are critical for better outcomes.
Tyla Kennedy
Aug 122 min read
A Place to Rest the Mind: RISER as a Healing-Centered Model for Resilience in Higher Education
Scholars of color researching race and equity often face racial trauma, burnout, and institutional neglect. The RISER Fellowship offers a healing-centered, culturally grounded space rooted in Black and Indigenous traditions. Through mentorship, community care, and wellness practices, RISER redefines what it means to thrive in academia—where healing isn’t separate from the work, it is the work.
Dr. Melissa Speight Vaughn
Aug 54 min read
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