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Form a local committee
Bring local leaders and community connectors together. Agree on priorities, responsibilities and the people you want to reach.
On This Page
Need immediate help?
Empowering Minds is not a crisis service. Call or text 988 in the United States for immediate crisis support.
WHY COMMUNITY ACTIVATION
Rebuilding the connections that help people flourish.
We wanted fewer families to lose someone they loved. Through that work, we recognized that our response had to extend beyond the individual.
We believe the Great Disconnect lies at the heart of the crisis facing our rural communities. As relationships and local institutions weaken, too many people are left feeling unknown, unnecessary and alone. Living in a small community does not automatically mean belonging to one.
Reducing suicide remains central to our mission. Rebuilding the conditions in which people flourish is how we work toward it.
ALL THINGS BEGIN WITH WELL HUMAN BEINGS.
Known. Needed. Connected.
Well human beings build strong institutions. Strong institutions help communities thrive.
Known
Someone sees you, values you, knows your story and notices when something changes.
Needed
Your presence and contribution matter. You have purpose and people who count on you.
Connected
You belong to relationships and a community you can turn toward, participate in and help sustain.
TURNING CONNECTION INTO LOCAL ACTION
The modern barn raising.
The Community Flourishing Playbook helps local leaders strengthen Hope, Purpose, Engagement, Service and Belonging through schools, workplaces, organizations, gathering places and community activities.
A shared project gives someone a reason to show up. A volunteer role makes their contribution visible. A gathering can begin a lasting relationship. People accomplish something together while building trust, shared responsibility and belonging.
We believe the people closest to the problem are best suited to solve it. Our role is to convene, equip, coach and support them.
THE CORE PROGRAM
The Community Activation Program.
We work alongside local leaders through preparation, community engagement, an activation day and continued reinforcement. First Identifier training is a core component of this wider community effort.
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Activate the Boost Squad
Equip a committed group to share, comment and spread the word, building early participation and community support.
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Build awareness and relationships
Use six weeks of local media, social outreach and 100 Cups of Coffee conversations to engage trusted people, organizations and community groups.
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Bring the community together
Deliver a locally shaped activation day, including First Identifier training and sessions suited to the community’s audiences and priorities.
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Reinforce action for thirty days
Weekly resources, reflection, practical challenges and continued connection help people apply their learning and sustain locally led action.
FIRST IDENTIFIER TRAINING · WITHIN THE CORE PROGRAM
Equip everyday people to notice, listen and respond.
People already trusted in the community learn practical early support skills. The approach emphasizes 80% listening and 20% talking, appropriate support and personal self-care.
What to Look For
Changes that suggest someone may be struggling.
What to Listen For
Words, tone and concerns that signal a need for support.
What to Say
Respectful conversations that show care and invite someone to talk.
What to Do
Respond within your role and connect someone to appropriate support.
First Identifiers do not diagnose, provide counselling or replace professional care.
CONNECTION AND PURPOSE
“In farming communities, it’s easy to feel isolated, but connection matters. When people feel known, needed and connected it can make all the difference.”
Jamie Hubert
Our Partners
Empowering Minds Across the United States & Canada
Find current programs and grant opportunities.
Select a highlighted state or province to see where Empowering Minds is working. Gold outlines show the four U.S. states with grants available, including states with active programs.
Hover over or tap a highlighted location for program details, or use the location selector. With a keyboard, press Enter on a highlighted region. Enlarge to explore smaller locations.
U.S. grants available (4 states)Program or grant locationsNo current location shown
Empowering Minds Canada ↗ (opens in a new tab)Program and grant availability changes as partnerships are confirmed. Highlighted locations have documented Empowering Minds work or U.S. grant opportunities. Canadian locations link to the Canadian initiative for local details. Communities in other locations can still inquire about bringing Empowering Minds to their area.
Map adapted from Lokal Profil’s public domain U.S. and Canada map.
START WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
Bring Empowering Minds to your community.
Tell us about your community, local leadership and priorities. We will explore how the Community Activation Program can put your community’s strengths to work.
ADDITIONAL WORKSHOPS & ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT
Support tailored to the people you serve.
Our workshops extend this work to men, youth, older adults, educators, first responders, caring professionals, workplaces and public servants. Sessions can be offered individually or within a community activation.
The Burnout Immunity System provides a broader organizational process of assessment, leadership discovery, practical learning, reinforcement and measurement.
Empowering Minds is an educational, community-based initiative. It is not therapy, diagnosis, clinical treatment or a crisis response service.
Immediate support in the United States
If you or someone else may be in immediate danger, call 911. For mental health or suicide crisis support, call or text 988. Empowering Minds does not monitor crisis requests through this website.
