Appalachian Promise Alliance receives statewide recognition

BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) — Appalachian Promise Alliance received statewide recognition through the Better Workplaces Tennessee initiative on Tuesday.

Better Workplaces Tennesse is part of a collaboration between the ETSU Ballad Health Strong BRAIN Institute and the Tennessee Department of Health.

Appalachian Promise Alliance received the Silver recognition and will work towards Gold in 2025, the organization said in a news release.

The recognition honors organizations aiming to become more trauma-informed workplaces.

“Our mission is to mobilize the communities we serve to, you know, meet the needs of children, youth and families,” Appalachian Promise Alliance Executive Director Melissa Roberts said. “So we have lots of different programming that do just that. But a lot of what we do is bring people together and make connections.”

Roberts said they offer a workplace sustainability program that businesses buy into to have someone onsite.

“We have a workforce sustainability program that businesses buy into to have somebody onsite to help them become more trauma-informed,” Roberts said. “We have a diversity, equity and inclusion program. Parenting Programs Buckle up for life, car seat installation. You know, we have a poverty awareness and education Twin City reads, which is on grade level reading.”

Roberts said they’re seeing people struggling to recover from issues, particularly post-pandemic wise.

“Especially post-pandemic, we’re seeing people who are just on the struggle bus, parents and children and young folks who haven’t, you know, we’re talking about this new normal and we’re acting like everything is okay,” Roberts said. “But people still have trauma that they’ve dealt with. They still have disparities that they’ve dealt with, that they really are struggling to kind of recover from.”

“When we bring people across sectors, businesses, faith community, schools, educators, when we bring them together in a room, we start to create solutions that are long term so that in 20 years we’re not fighting these same systems issues,” Roberts said.

For more information on Appalachian Promise Alliance, click here .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.