End Of Year Letter

I have been reflecting on Muscle Inspires New Empowerment’s ( M.I.N.E) journey. This past year there are several emotions that come up: pride, gratitude, determination and joy.

I would like to acknowledge and thank the 23 graduates of our Strength Embodied program to date, our trauma informed personal trainers, donors, volunteers, and friends.

Our survivor clients trusted our organization to help facilitate their continued journey to heal from the effects of trauma in their bodies.

The trust that you all have placed in us is the most precious responsibility we have. We take what we do and how we execute our program seriously. Hearing from the survivor community, creating leadership rolls within our organization, and opportunities for pier to pier support continue to forefront in our minds and how we grow as an organization.

For example our previous graduates have given the following feedback that we have implemented in our Strength Embodied program this year:

• Included a weekly virtual meet up group: this is lead by one of our survivor volunteer to help facilitate a sense of community and allow participants to support each other , ( average attendance 4 people )

•  Introduced Virtual Client Orientation: This was instrumental in setting expectations and answering questions

• Readiness questionnaire: This was designed and lead by Jessica Muñoz, LMHC-D all applicants to our program filled out this questionnaire to see if applicant is in a place to begin our program or if they need further resources before they begin.

 So far our 2024 graduates have offered the following suggestions: 

• Include virtual introductions: this will be between the assigned trainer and their survivor client.

• Visual Gym preparedness: Submitting via video or photos of the gym that you will be working with your assigned trainer. It is important that we eliminate as many surprises before they survivor client begins. This will help increase their knowledge of what they are about to begin and place more information in their hands

M.I.N.E started this year recognizing that if we were going to support our signature Strength Embodied program we need to make sure the infrastructure which supports it is in place. So we set our 2024 goals to reflect creating this structure. I am proud to share with you we have exceeded our own expectations!

2024 achievements:

• 30% of former graduates still using the tools they learned in Strength Embodied program filled out. This is on point with industry standard.

• Enroll class of 10 individuals for Strength Embodied program:  graduated 9

• Trauma Informed Fundamentals pilot: 4 hour live workshop for personal trainers to prepare them to work with the survivor community.

• Increase our professional network: attended several demonstrations such as Bride March, Storm the Steps, Day one’s Fundraiser and attended New York - Presbyterian’s Capacity Building Conference

• Received our first grant from The Annabelle Foundation

• Added 2 new board members

• Increased our social media following from 100 to 209

• Implemented a monthly newsletter

• Implemented successful fundraiser

• Implemented virtual program update support: Trauma informed Personal training volunteer sets up 30 min sessions to answer graduates questions about their program or on health /wellness generalities.

• Enrolled 6 graduates in accountability buddy program: These survivors will help each other on task with their program once they graduate from our program

Thanks to your support we have grown and we are ready to take the next steps. 

2025 goals:

• Enroll class of 20 graduate 18

• Establish end product of Trauma Informed Fundamentals course and set for  continuing education credits: This will eventually be a revenue generating program for us.           

• Hire part time employee

• Implement quarterly fundraiser

• Create Annual report and display on website

• Upload 2022,2023, and 2024 taxes on website

• Collaborate with other non profit organizations

• Community Advisory committee ( paid position)

• Form Trauma Informed Mental Health advisory committee: to over see the final developments of the Trauma Informed Fundamentals course( paid potion )

• Enroll 5 mentors from 2024 SE graduates from 2025 cohort.

• Increase use of virtual program update support 

• Offer 2 different weekly virtual meet up for current Strength Embodied cohort

• 3 live workshops for graduates

We are standing at the verge of being able to court corporate sponsorship, and larger grant opportunities. Each of you reading this has made our success possible. Each of you has a direct personal contact to our organization. Which makes our goals and how we conduct our program very personal. I thank each of you for the role you have played and wish a happy holiday season and here’s to all all of us in 2025!

Yours In Strength,

Dianna Scotece