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THE BLOOM COHORT
The BLOOM Cohort is the most comprehensive level of care in our BLOOM Network. In 2025, we will run TWO BLOOM Cohorts of 30 women each. This page has everything you need to know about our 2025 BLOOM Cohorts.
WHAT IS THE BLOOM COHORT?
This is a five-month wellness program for Black women, Black single moms, and/ or Black moms who need support on their journeys to shift generations, break cycles of harm, and heal their lives. Our team guides women to think about their wellness in ways and with support they haven’t had before.
Participants are led through an educational and experiential curriculum rooted in our program pillars of Self-Love, Nourishment, and Transformation. We have come to redefine each of our pillars to be unique to the experiences of Black women and the healing work that we are undertaking through the BLOOM Cohort.
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Our work through the BLOOM Cohort has been proven successful in improving the well-being of Black women.
In a study conducted by our Executive Director, Free Root Operation, and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School for Public Health’s Center for Gun Violence Solutions, it was found that participants experienced a statistically significant increase in their hope and energy levels after engaging in each programmatic event.
The data also depicted participants experienced a more positive mood after leaving programmatic events compared to the mood they reported at entry.
PROGRAM FEATURES
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Over 60 hours of in-person support
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Professional & Leadership Development Certification
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An inter-generational cohort of 30 women gaining deep support & building sisterhood through the program pillars of Self-Love, Nourishment, and Transformation
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A Care Team of licensed clinical social workers committed to speaking life over you, connecting you to additional resources, and providing professional counseling services
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20+ wellness events like...
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Self-love, Nourishment, & Transformation Workshops
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Entrepreneurship workshops
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Broadway musicals
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Skincare workshops
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Nature retreats
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Professional photo shoots
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Black Girlhood Bonfire
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Clean up Day of Service
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Worksheets and activities designed to help you BLOOM in between events
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GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Participants who complete the following requirements will be celebrated at a Graduation ceremony in 2025 and receive a certificate in Professional and Leadership Development that they can use to propel their careers and lives forward. Graduation requirements include:
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Complete a personal or professional goal to improve your quality of life with the support of our Care Team.
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Complete 10 hours of individual counseling sessions to support your healing journey.
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Complete 3 family counseling sessions with one or more family member(s). If you have concerns about this, please share them with our team upon applying so we can address them.
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Attend 75% of experiential and educational wellness events.
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Uphold our code of conduct, rules, and community agreements.
WHO ARE YOU?
A Black woman, Black single mom, and/or Black mom ages 18-65 living on Chicago's south and west sides where the threat of poverty-induced gun violence is high.
To apply for our BLOOM Cohort, you must be accepted into our service database which is the BLOOM Network. Click the button below to apply.
OUR WHY?
We serve this population because we believe the holistic wellness and economic empowerment of Black women on the south and west sides of Chicago is a necessary method of gun violence prevention. The BLOOM Cohort program features work to help expand participants’ capacity to confront, defeat, and heal from the barriers that have held them back from being active agents and changemakers for themselves, their families, and their communities.
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OUR IMPACT?
BLOOM Cohort graduates are able to reclaim dreams, heighten their imagination, restore their communities, and experience empowerment that trickles down to the youth and community stakeholders they care for.
Some Goals Completed by Past BLOOM Cohort Graduates include:
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College enrollment preparation
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Securing a new job
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Starting a business
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Facilitating a professional workshop
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Getting certified in paralegal studies
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Pursuing yoga facilitation certification
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Completing a librarian licensure practice test
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Submitting a children's book manuscript to a publisher
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Computer training certification
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Financial literacy and advancement
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BLOOM Cohort Graduates Have Gained:
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A space to focus on their holistic well-being
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Referrals to resources to improve their socioeconomic position
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Skills to support them in attaining their personal and communal goals
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A community of aligned and supportive women
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Support healing from traumatic experiences such as mass incarceration, domestic violence, and losing loved ones to gun violence
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A deeper sense of self-worth, connection to their history, and their ability to leave powerful legacies
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HOW DO I APPLY?
APPLICATIONS FOR THE WINTER 2025 COHORT OPEN IN OCTOBER 2024. The applications will be sent via email to our BLOOM Network Service Database which you can join here. Applicants will be able to send in a video or written application.
We are accepting ROLLING APPLICATIONS. This means that we will be reviewing applications as they are submitted until we reach capacity. We encourage you to apply early to ensure your application is received and reviewed before we reach capacity.
APPLICATION TIMELINE
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October 28, 2024: Winter 2025 BLOOM Cohort Application Opens
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November 4-22, 2024: Applicants are interviewed as needed to gain more information
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November 22, 2024: Winter 2025 BLOOM Cohort Application Closes
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December 20, 2024: Accepted Applicants Notified
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January 3, 2025: Applicants confirm Winter 2025 BLOOM Cohort participation
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End of January 2025: Winter 2025 BLOOM Cohort Orientation and Intake
Watch our 2023 BLOOM Cohort Documentary
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Does this program cost money?
A: No, this program is completely free.
Q: If I am not a mom and do not have children, but identify as a Black woman, can I apply?
A: YES! This program is for Black women. If you're a Black woman, you're encouraged to apply.
Q: What is the duration of the program?
A: Five Months. Participants who complete the program are celebrated at a graduation in December 2025.
Q: Where does programming occur?
A: A majority of the programming will happen at our office on the South Side of Chicago. There will be some overnight events and retreats hosted out of the state, but still within the Midwest region—transportation will be provided at those out-of-state events.
Q: Is programming in person?
A: Yes, all programming is in person.
Q: When does programming occur?
A: A majority of the programming happens on Saturdays to accommodate the work schedules of participants. There will also be select weekday events, and these are generally on evenings after work.
Q: How long are mandatory BLOOM Cohort wellness events?
A: They can range from 2 hours to weekend trips. Participants will get the calendar of events at the start of the program so they can plan accordingly.
Q: How many events are there over five months?
A: About 20 events, of which a handful are mandatory for all participants.
Q: What can I expect from individual counseling sessions?
A: You can choose to participate in talk therapy and/or gain coaching to complete your goal. You get to decide what you need. Our staff is equipped to meet your expressed needs and meet you where you are, even if this is your first time completing therapy.
Q: Do you provide child care?
A: Unfortunately, we can not provide child care for participants yet.
Q: Do you provide transportation?
A: We have limited resources to support transportation for select events for those in need. Generally, we can not provide transportation for all participants for every event.
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