Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice
Title: Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health
Student Interns:
Radwa Nahla
Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health
Academic Preceptor:
Kristen Ryczak, MD
Drexel University College of Medicine
Community Preceptor:
Shanise Weatherbee, MA, LPC
Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice
Community Site:
Based at Drexel University, the Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice (CNSJ) is a trauma-informed organization dedicated to addressing violence and promoting healing through community-based, restorative approaches. CNSJ’s Community Outreach Team (COT) program engages youth aged 14 to 24 who have been impacted by violence and trauma, offering them holistic, culturally sensitive support and connections to care through credible messengers with lived experience.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern contributed to improving program documentation by updating the COT survey form to better capture client information, transferring collected data into the internal tracking system, and auditing client records to ensure accuracy and compliance. The intern also assisted in closing completed cases in the team’s database software. In addition, the intern participated in regular staff meetings that offered valuable insight into the COT program’s operations and its role in supporting youth affected by violence and trauma.
Reflections
“This experience deepened my understanding of trauma-informed care, community-based interventions, and the essential role of frontline outreach workers in advancing public health equity. Engaging with COT members, many of whom bring lived experience, taught me the importance of empathy, respect, and community trust in healing work. This placement has shaped my long-term commitment to integrating community voice into research and practice, especially in violence prevention and youth mental health.”
Radwa Nahla