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THE BLOOM COHORT

The BLOOM Cohort is the most comprehensive level of care in our BLOOM Network. 

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WHAT IS THE BLOOM COHORT?

The BLOOM Cohort is a program rooted in the healing and empowerment of Black women caregivers. We specifically support women caregivers who are directly and indirectly impacted by gun violence, as we know that they are the key to unlocking safer, healthier communities. Being impacted by gun violence can include, but is not limited to:

 

  • Living in a neighborhood where gun violence is common

  • Surviving a shooting

  • Having lost a loved one to a shooting

  • Having witnessed a shooting

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BLOOM recognizes these caregivers as community assets with the power and influence to disrupt cycles of violence across generations.

During the seven-month BLOOM Cohort, members gain the tools to confront cycles of violence and start repairing their relationship with themselves, their families, and their communities. Members are supported by a team of wellness professionals who are dedicated to fostering trust, promoting mutual respect, and encouraging accountability. This holistic wellness approach is designed to help members gain greater stability, reduce stagnancy, and make progress toward their healing journeys. 

Program Duration 

March 2026-October 2026

 

Family Participation

Participants will have ample opportunity to invite their families to participate in their process so that the healing that begins with them trickles down to the youth and community members in their community.

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Ideal Candidate & Eligibility

This program is for women who are open to healing, ready to break cycles of violence, and who have the capacity to invest deeply in themselves over seven months. This program is a good fit for women who are early in their healing journeys and need guidance to bloom into the next phase of their journeys. This program is also a good fit for women who need and want a bigger village of support. 

 

The 2026 Cohort will accept applicants from Bronzeville, Woodlawn, and Englewood.

Eligible applicants identify as:

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  1. Resident of a South Side Chicago neighborhood or near south suburbs. We're giving priority to Bronzeville, Woodlawn, and Englewood residents.
    ​Ages 18-65

  2. A woman, woman caregiver, single mom, and/or mom

  3. Ages 18-65

  4. Impacted by gun violence. This may include:

    • Living in a neighborhood where gun violenceis common

    • Surviving a shooting

    • Having lost a loved one to a shooting

    • Having witnessed a shooting

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Program Support

This is an intensive wellness program. Particpants are expected to fully engage in all parts of program support over seven months

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  • In-person Wellness Education and Empowerment Workshops support emotional well-being, collective care, and violence intervention

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  • In-Person Experiential Wellness Activities, like nature retreats, sound meditation, and skin care workshops, deepen learning and expand worldview

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  • Virtual Wellness Classes allow members explore program learnings and unpack challenges in a peer-supported space

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  • Individual and family counseling sessions with licensed clinicians help members cope with stressors, strengthen emotional regulation, and build resilience

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  • Case management sessions help address basic needs and instability

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  • Peer support groups encourage members through awareness, shared power, and collective accountability to build and sustain supportive villages in spite of community violence

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  • Members complete a SMART Goal to build faith in their ability to face life’s challenges beyond the program and make tangible moves towards their dream for themselves and their family.

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  • Recurring Prayer Calls support the spiritual and faith journeys of members

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  • A team of wellness professionals coaches each member toward success

Sample Calendar

Sample Monthly Calendar

This is an example of what one month of commitment in the BLOOM Cohort could look like.

OUR WHY?

​We serve this population because we believe the holistic wellness and empowerment of 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 cycle breakers 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.

BLOOM Cohort Outcomes:

 

  • Participants report increases in hope, energy, mood, and emotional regulation by the end of the cohort.

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  • Participants gain an increased understanding of how violence, stress, and systemic conditions impact family systems.

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  • Participants gain tools to build key relationships and increased confidence to engage in village-building.

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  • Participants demonstrate increased capacity to dream, envision, and plan beyond immediate survival.

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Some SMART Goals Completed by Past BLOOM Cohort Graduates include:

 

  • College enrollment preparation 
     

  • Securing a new job

     

  • Starting a business
     

  • Facilitating a professional workshop 
     

  • Getting certified in paralegal studies
     

  • Pursuing yoga facilitation certification 
     

  • Completing a librarian licensure practice test
     

  • 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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HOW DO I APPLY?

APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2026 COHORT are open February 4, 2026, to March 11, 2026. The applications will be sent via email to our BLOOM Network Service Database.

Not in the BLOOM Network, but want to apply? Fill out our contact form here to request the 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

  • February 4, 2025: Application opens

  • March 20, 2025: Application closes at 11:59 PM CST

  • February 11-March 20, 2025: Rolling Interviews

  • March 27, 2026: Accepted Applicants Notified 

  • April 4, 2026: Applicants confirm BLOOM Cohort participation 

Watch our 2023 BLOOM Cohort Documentary 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Can I reapply, if I have applied once and been denied?
A: YES! You are encouraged to reapply. At the moment, we can only accept 30 women at the cohort level at a time, which means we've had to deny candidates who were strong candidates due to capacity.

Q: Does this program cost money?
A: No, this program is completely free. 

Q: If I am a caregiver but do not have kids can I apply?
A: YES! 

Q: What is the duration of the program?
A: Seven Months. Participants who complete the program are celebrated at a graduation in November 2026.

Q: Where does programming occur?
A: A majority of the programming will happen at our Bronzeville office on the South Side of Chicago. There will be some all-day retreats hosted out of the state, but still within the Midwest region.

Q: Is programming in person?
A: Yes, our core program requirements are in-person, which include wellness workshops and activities. However, counseling, case managment, and wellness classes are offered virtually.

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 BLOOM Cohort wellness workshops?
A: They can range from 2-4 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 every month?
A: Please see the sample monthly calendar above.

Q: What can I expect from individual counseling sessions?
A: You can expect to work short-term with licensed clinicians who can help you cope with stressors, strengthen emotional regulation, and build resilience to navigate the program and life after BLOOM. Our staff is equipped to meet your expressed needs and meet you where you are, even if this is your first time completing counseling.
 
Q: Do you provide child care?
A: We will provide occasional child care for in-person wellness workshops and experiential activities. We will communicate what we are able to provide to accepted applicants.
 
Q: Is food served at in-person wellness workshops and experiential activities?
A: Food will be served at these events, and the food type may vary.
 
Q: Do you provide transportation?
A: We have transportation resources via bus cards while supplies last, and select transportation resources for experiential events.

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