“Resilient Southern Illinois (RSI) has been able to bring together the school community, teachers, and leaders in our region in a fruitful effort to better serve students and families as they face various issues and trauma. The positive outcomes of RSI were evident shortly after its start in 2018 with 15 schools in Southern Illinois, of which Vienna was one. However, as schools across the country have been impacted by the response to the pandemic, and the need for resilient students and teachers has been greatly demonstrated, Vienna’s involvement in the RSI initiative equipped our community to be steps ahead of what was clearly a totally unexpected global event. More specifically in Vienna’s situation we were also faced with an unprecedented automobile accident that occurred during the struggles of the pandemic that involved six students and claimed the lives of four. One of these events on its own would be enough to create lasting derailment. The network that has been built and continues to be built, professional development for school staff that is provided, research and applicable practices that have been developed and refined, and numerous other activities of RSI all better positioned our school community to have the capacity to face these tragedies and further develop resilience for our young people and adults. It is exciting that the Poshard Foundation, with its valuable history of being dedicated to children, has been able to identify the need to expand these efforts and make them accessible to more kids and families in our region.”

“The Poshard Foundation has a long history of philanthropy within communities across southern Illinois. Improving the lives of children by joining with others with a similar vision has been its laser focus. The Partnership for Resilience, by way of Resilient Southern Illinois, is extremely grateful for the opportunity to enhance its services which will impact our youth in such a meaningful way.  The generous donation from the Poshard Foundation will further our work with building trauma responsive spaces for our students and their families.”

“Together, we are working as a community to help improve students’ lives,” IEA Director of Teaching and Learning Mary Jane Morris said. “It’s so important to educate the whole child, and through this program we are making sure that’s happening across all of Southern Illinois. We are building strong students, strong schools and strong communities.”