News and Events

An article titled “River of Hope: A Haven of Help in a Storm Devastated Ninth Ward” appeared in the Fall 2009 Trauma Psychology Journal of the American Psychological Association. The article was co-authored by Dr. Priscilla Dass-Brailsford, of Georgetown University and Rebecca Thomley, of Orion Associates. The article discussed the initiation of the “River of Hope” project in the fall of 2005, after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, as well as the ongoing work of the organization’s Walk-in Mental Health Center in the Upper Ninth Ward of the city.

Orion Associates was featured in the July 2009 issue of Twin Cities Business magazine, in recognition of our organization’s having received the Psychologically Healthy Workplace award from the Minnesota Psychological Association. Orion Associates was one of three Minnesota companies recognized for “paying attention to employees’ mental health.” Specifically, Orion was noted for its volunteer efforts and for its human resources policies and practices.

Orion Associates received a Best Practices Honor from the American Psychological Association (APA) at the annual Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards ceremony held on March 1, 2009, in Washington, D.C.  Orion was recognized for its work encouraging and supporting volunteerism among its employees and its mission to serve communities in need.

Headwaters Relief Organization was recognized in an article in Forbes Magazine, on January 12, 2009. The article described the organization’s founding, by Dr. Rebecca Thomley, with the River of Hope project, as a response to the devastation to New Orleans and the surrounding areas caused by Hurricane Katrina. The article goes on to describe Headwaters’ development from being a response to this disaster to becoming an organization that responds to disasters and to need wherever it may occur. The article cites Headwaters’ response to disasters in Iowa, Minnesota, and in response to the I-35W bridge collapse.

On September 21st, Dr. Rebecca Thomley visits "Sunday Journal" to talk about her return to New Orleans. Listen to a podcast of her visit via the archives at Wyld FM.

To download the podcast, right-click "Listen" and select "Save As" from the menu.

Headwaters Relief Organization hosted the “Resilience in the Aftermath of Disaster” event at the organization’s offices, on July 31, 2008, to mark the first anniversary of the I-35W bridge collapse.  

The primary focus of the event was to assist those who have struggled in the aftermath of the I-35W bridge collapse and other weather-related events, such as the Hugo tornado and flooding in southeastern Minnesota.  The event was designed to help and support, not only those who were directly involved in a traumatic event, but those who were indirectly involved, including those who helped others or had a loved one who was involved in an event.