Allington's GiveNOLA Fundraiser

This year, I began working with the non-profit Children's Bureau New Orleans, CBNO, providing grief and trauma intervention services to children and adolescents at no-cost.

CBNO has been providing mental health services to children and families across New Orleans for more than 130 years. The critical need for these services cannot be understated. Roughly 40% of high school students in Louisiana report persistent sadness and hopelessness, with higher rates reported for LGBTQ+ youth, Black girls, youth in foster care, and justice-involved youth. In New Orleans, children experience PTSD at a rate four times the national average. 

When I tell people what I do for work, a common response is something along the lines of, "Wow, that sounds really heavy! How do you do that?" So, I'd like to take this chance to remind us that life has a lot to offer, but we can only dive as deep into it's love and joy as we do it's grief and pain. 

At CBNO, we help children and families hold the weight of grief and trauma. But our work doesn't stop there. In fact, it's just beginning. We have the privilege of witnessing love, hope, and healing. We see our clients conquer their fears, grow into their true selves, and overcome mountains that once seemed too scary to even consider climbing. 

I'd like to offer you the chance to tap into some of this joy; even a little goes a long way.