Earlier this month, the Ceasefire team hosted a two-day retreat at the Menucha Retreat and Conference Center in Corbett, Oregon, facilitated by nationally recognized counselor and educator Dr. Keith Dempsey.
The retreat brought together our community-based partners — Nurture, POIC, Going Home II, H.E.L.P., and GUIA — who work directly with the highest-risk individuals, providing intensive case management, outreach, and mentorship. This gathering was designed to create space for providers to pause, connect, and focus on their own healing.
The theme, "Healing the Healer," centered on an important but often overlooked reality: those who work in violence prevention and intervention frequently carry not only the trauma of the people they serve, but also their own. Dr. Dempsey led powerful sessions exploring the emotional weight of frontline work, the importance of understanding one's purpose, and strategies for maintaining emotional and mental health while doing this critical work.
For many participants, the retreat was also a first-time opportunity to meet one another face-to-face. The intense demands of community violence prevention often leave little time for connection, and this retreat helped strengthen relationships and opened the door for deeper collaboration across organizations.
At Ceasefire, we are committed to reducing gun violence by preventing it before it happens — and we recognize that sustaining this mission requires investing in the well-being of those doing the work. Creating spaces for our community-based organizations to breathe, reflect, and heal is not just important — it is essential.
We extend our deepest thanks to Dr. Dempsey for his guidance and to all of our partners for their ongoing dedication, compassion, and resilience.