Welcome to The Inner Ember

A Message from Tracy Perry, LMSW — Founder of The Ember Collective

Who I Am

I’m Tracy Perry—licensed master social worker, mental health advocate,

therapist, mother, sister, TiTi, and founder of The Ember Collective. But beyond

the credentials, I am a woman shaped by love, loss, and the belief that healing is

both personal and communal.

I’ve spent over two decades walking alongside youth and families navigating

trauma, grief, and life’s most difficult transitions. I’ve seen firsthand how pain

can isolate—but I’ve also witnessed how connection, compassion, and culturally-

informed care can bring people back to life.

Why The Ember Collective Exists

The Ember Collective was born out of a simple but urgent truth: Our youth are

carrying more than they should, and they deserve more than they’ve been given.

From grief to poverty, violence to abandonment, many of our young people are

navigating deep emotional wounds—often silently. Families are struggling to

keep up. Schools are overwhelmed. Communities are fractured. But we believe

healing is possible—together.

Our mission is to provide safe, inclusive spaces for youth and families to process

pain, build resilience, and experience the power of real support. We’re bridging

the gap in mental health care through education, peer support, school

partnerships, and trauma-informed programming rooted in relationship and

restoration.

Why ACEs Matter

At the heart of our work is the research behind the Adverse Childhood

Experiences (ACEs) study—a landmark exploration of how early trauma impacts

long-term health, behavior, and life outcomes.

The study revealed something powerful:

• The more adversity a child experiences without support, the more likely they are

to struggle with physical illness, emotional distress, and risky behavior later in

life.

But it also revealed something hopeful:

• Protective factors—like safe relationships, emotional support, and access to

mental health care—can buffer those risks and help children thrive despite the

pain.

That’s why we center our work on healing relationships, not just diagnoses. We

understand that trauma doesn’t just happen in isolation—it’s often generational.

And so is resilience.

What Is The Inner Ember?

The Inner Ember is the storytelling heartbeat of our work. It’s a blog. A journal. A

sacred space.

Here, we’ll explore grief, resilience, mental health, faith, identity, and

generational healing—through personal reflections, therapeutic insights, and

lived experience.

This is where I get real about what it means to heal—especially when you’re the

strong one, the caregiver, the advocate, or the child who had to grow up too fast.

The Inner Ember is for anyone navigating the tension between brokenness and

becoming. It’s for families. For youth. For providers. For leaders. And for anyone

who’s ever needed a reminder that their fire is not gone—just waiting to be

tended.

What’s Next

We are building something powerful:

• School-based support programs

• Grief and mental wellness groups

• Trauma-informed youth mentorship

• Community workshops rooted in identity, attachment, and hope

• Culturally competent care that honors where people come from—and where

they’re going

And we want you to be part of it.

Let’s Tend the Fire—Together

This isn’t just a launch. It’s a calling. A reclaiming. A rising.

Because we believe in the ember—the one in you, the one in every child, the one

in every family just trying to get through another day.

And we’re here to help you fan that flame until it lights the way.

Welcome to The Ember Collective.

And welcome home to The Inner Ember.

—Tracy Perry, LMSW

Founder & Executive Director, The Ember Collective