Mill City Kids (MCK) is an initiative of representatives from community, healthcare, housing, and government collaborating to increase awareness about historical trauma and structural racism as a precursor to any type of systems change or reform. We strongly believe that if we do not understand how we got here, any changes we make to systems and/or community will likely repeat history and re-traumatize people.

We foster readiness and guide systems in adopting policies and practices that are trauma-informed, anti-racist, and culturally inclusive. We assist organizations in grounding change in a deeper understanding of historical trauma, seeing and addressing current barriers to inclusion and belonging—including white dominant cultural practices,—and identifying champions and processes for change.

For more information, contact Sam Simmons, ssc@comcast.net or Olivia Mastry, Olivia@collectiveactionlab.com

MCK’s work is grounded in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE's), Historical Trauma and Structural Racism; we cannot make meaningful change until we understand the origins of inequities impacting Indigenous and African American people. The video below illustrates  the painful unfolding and impact of historical trauma and structural racism throughout history and how each still manifests today. Please review the case study video below and share it with others so that we can all better see and address harmful practices and policies.