The Center for Hunger-Free Communities provides trauma-informed, healing-centered training and consulting services designed to help professionals in education, public service, and nonprofit sectors create inclusive, equitable, and effective environments.

Why Healing-Centered Organizations and Workplaces Matter

The U.S. has a long history of institutional racism, systemic discrimination, and economic inequity across employment, education, criminal justice, and public assistance programs. These barriers contribute to poverty, food insecurity, and community trauma.

In today’s world, healing-centered workplaces are essential for promoting mental well-being, equity, and long-term success. Organizations that prioritize trauma-informed leadership and inclusive workplace culture see higher employee retention, engagement, and productivity—all while advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in meaningful ways. But a healing-centered approach goes beyond traditional DEI training by addressing the root causes of workplace stress, bias, and burnout. When organizations integrate trauma-informed practices, they:

• Improve Employee Well-Being – Reducing workplace stress and creating a supportive environment enhances mental health, job satisfaction, and team morale
• Strengthen Workplace Culture – Employees who feel valued, respected, and heard contribute to a more collaborative, innovative, and engaged workforce
• Promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – Healing-centered organizations actively challenge systemic biases such as racism, classism, and anti-Blackness, ensuring equitable opportunities for all
• Increase Retention and Productivity – A workplace that prioritizes psychological safety and emotional intelligence sees higher employee loyalty, efficiency, and performance
• Support Community Well-Being – When organizations operate with trauma-awareness and social responsibility, they create positive, lasting change in the communities they serve

Training and Consulting Services

Our evidence-based program, rooted in both research and our real-life organizational journey equip professionals with practical tools to:

• Build trauma-informed workplaces
• Challenge victim-blaming, anti-Blackness, racism, and classism
• Support equity-driven policy reform
• Establish inclusive, healing-centered spaces

Our healing-centered consulting and professional development programs help organizations:

• Develop trauma-informed leadership and inclusive workplace culture and policies
• Strengthen employee well-being and engagement
• Create safe, supportive, and equitable environments for staff and communities
• Improve customer service and client support through understanding the impact of trauma

Our engaging programs offer a supportive space for professionals to question traditional workplace norms and cultivate an inclusive environment that embraces individuals in their entirety – including their skills, stories, culture, and experiences of trauma. We firmly believe that embracing the whole person not only boosts productivity but also supports healing.

Transform Your Workplace and Community

By adopting a healing-centered approach, organizations can:

• Improve team collaboration and retention
• Enhance well-being, safety, and mental health
• Expand equity and shared power
• Drive long-term systemic change
• Improve customer and client experience

See our full listing of professional staff and volunteer training topics and offerings.

Audiences

The Center is prepared to offer training and support to diverse audiences, including:

• Case workers
• Social workers
• Educators and education administration (K-12, higher education, community-based)
• Financial service professionals
• Human service professionals
• Criminal justice professionals
• Non-profit organization staff and volunteers
• Public health students and oragnizations

Formats

The Center provides training and support in various formats, including

• Online
• In-person
• Hybrid
• One-time 
• Multi-session 

Partner Testimonials

"I really, really love the way going around and asking how we can help support each other sets the vibe for the rest of class. So much support, meaningful honest conversation, and resources being shared...[Including] information about consumerism and ads really help tie things together when I talk about shopping with our values in mind. Every class I feel like I am learning to do even better with taking a more holistic approach to money." - Linda Barrera, People Serving People

More Information

Interested in finding out more? Email Alie Huxta at agh38@drexel.edu to schedule a meeting to explore how your organization can become more trauma-informed and healing-centered in your work.