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CCSD social worker sees 40K+ worldwide join social media community
We often hear about divisiveness and bullying on social media, but one Cherry Creek School District social worker has proven that social media can heal as well as harm.
On March 12, mental health coordinator and social worker Lauren Ross received the same notice as thousands of other employees in the district that announced an extended spring break after the COVID-19 pandemic had arrived in Colorado.
“It was the day the world shut down,” Ross said. “I was so worried about my family and other families and I knew I had to do something.”
Ross went home and started Project Quarantine 2020 (now renamed Project Village) on Facebook and invited some of her family members and friends. Overnight, 65 additional people had joined. In an unexpected ripple effect, Ross found that her network had shared the group so widely that within days, she had a thousand members. That number grew to 10,000 just a week later.
“I was awestruck at how quickly it grew,” Ross said. “We had people from all over the world like Australia and from the Middle East. People needed to connect and feel like they’re not in this alone. The sense of togetherness was incredible.”
Project Village began with an active user base and an accompanying website, with as many as 300 posts a day. Ross, who had not previously experienced moderating such a large social media group, had to learn very quickly. The most common topics were how to keep kids busy during the quarantine, online learning tips, physical activities, birthday celebrations and mental health topics. Her overall goal was to keep it kind, respectful and supportive, which Ross acknowledged was very hard on social media.
“The overarching principle from day one was this was a space to focus on resources and support rather than sharing news,” Ross said. “I’m very protective of my brain and coping skills, which is why I manage how much news consumption I do because it does take a toll on your mental health.”
Ross has been inspired by the diverse yet compassionate perspectives she has seen in her group members. She credits the number of mental health professionals who have joined with Project Village’s continued success and is glad to be part of reducing the stigma around mental health. Ross was especially grateful to the several friends who volunteered to be co-moderators early in the process.
“You really can’t do any of this on your own,” Ross said. “This pandemic is out of the normal for all of us. This has allowed people to increase their coping skills and give them a chance to connect and support people in a safe space. That’s why we’re here in education in the first place.”
Posted 10/23/20.