One Week Later: And Still We Rise
The Boston- and Seattle-based organization creates healing spaces for all — and they mean ALL.
Who is the brains behind your organization?
Dr. Natasha Holmes, CEO & Founder is the brains behind And Still We Rise.
Where are you located?
ASWR is located in Boston and we are opening offices in Seattle later this year.
What’s your mission?
The ASWR mission is to create healing spaces for all. We aim to dismantle oppressive systems, liberate marginalized people and provide culturally affirming psychotherapy, consultation and life-coaching services.
Tell us your origin story.
ASWR opened its doors to clients in December 2018 with the goal of serving marginalized communities in the greater Boston area by offering psychotherapy, consultation and life-coaching services. In 2019, we refined our mission to create healing spaces for marginalized people by centering community values, critical consciousness and decolonizing mental healthcare. In 2020, we were a team of three, and now we have almost 30 dedicated team members — and growing. In 2021, ASWR conducted over 7,300 sessions and served 530 clients. The vast majority of those clients identify as women, BIPOC, queer folx or trans.
Three words to describe your team?
Dedicated, mission-driven, and social justice/liberation-focused.
Workplace/workspace/office essentials?
ASWR has three workplace essentials:
A passion for social justice and liberation work
A community-oriented approach
Thinking outside of the box
Best source of creative inspiration?
Our best source of creative inspiration is each other. ASWR holds bi-monthly All-Team meetings. In this space, we build community and make the time to discuss how we, collectively and individually, can make the mission of ASWR a reality in communities who, historically, are overlooked or marginalized — women, BIPOC. queer folx and trans folx.
What would people be surprised to know about your organization?
People would be surprised to know that in January 2021 there were three employees (Roberta, Nurissa, and me) and today there are 25 employees with three new hires starting in the next 60 days.
What are your favorite features of your WOTW site?
The favorite feature of our WOTW site is the Our Causes section.
1. Our Reparations Project. And Still We Rise hopes to purchase 100 ancestry kits; support the individual and their family in their journey of healing through processing groups conducted by one of our highly skilled BIPOC psychotherapists; and allow these folx to share their stories and journeys of liberation.
2. Becoming a “Real Renter” by paying “Real Rent” to the Duwamish Tribe through Monthly Giving. Paying monthly rent acts to uplift the Duwamish Tribe as First Peoples of Seattle in the face of the U.S. government refusing to honor the Point Elliott Treaty of 1855. Descendants of European settler families continue to benefit greatly from the resources of the land incorporating the city we know as Seattle. Those of us who are not from the tribes of these lands might benefit in different ways from being here, whether we live, work, or visit this beautiful place. As guests to this land, we can create a story of equity and action instead of being complicit in dishonoring the treaties.
3. Donate to The Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag who are the descendants of the Neponset band of the Massachusett. At the time of the English invasion of their territory early in the 17th century, they were led by the Great Sac’hem, Chickataubut. Theirs is the indigenous nation from which the present-day Commonwealth of Massachusetts took its name. They continue as the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag.
What was your favorite part of working with the WOTW team?
Our favorite part of working with the WOTW team is discovering how creative they were.
Where can people find you?
People can find ASWR on our website and on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
What are your hopes for the near future?
Our greatest hope for the near future is that we continue to have an impact in the community!
