Symposium 2026 :
501(c)(3) Nonprofit (EVENT)
Healing Relational Trauma
The Connection Lab is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and communities impacted by relational trauma. Relational trauma occurs when harm, betrayal, neglect, or chronic dysfunction takes place within close relationships—such as families, marriages, friendships, faith communities, or caregiving systems—where safety, trust, and connection should exist. These wounds often affect emotional regulation, self-worth, attachment, mental health, and the ability to form healthy relationships later in life. The Connection Lab exists to provide education, resources, and safe spaces for healing, growth, and restored connection.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, The Connection Lab is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt charitable entity. This designation means that the organization operates exclusively for charitable, educational, and community-benefit purposes rather than for private profit. Donations made to a 501(c)(3) organization are tax-deductible for donors, allowing individuals, foundations, and businesses to support the mission while receiving tax benefits. More importantly, this status ensures transparency, accountability, and a commitment to serving the public good—especially underserved and marginalized populations.
The Connection Lab was created to address a growing and often overlooked need: relational trauma affects people across all ethnicities, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, ages, and socioeconomic backgrounds, yet access to culturally sensitive and trauma-informed support is limited. Trauma does not discriminate, but systems of care often do. Our organization is committed to closing that gap.
We approach healing through an inclusive, culturally responsive, and intersectional lens. We recognize that relational trauma may look different depending on cultural norms, generational experiences, faith traditions, gender roles, and social expectations. For some, trauma may stem from intimate partner betrayal or divorce; for others, from childhood neglect, community violence, spiritual abuse, systemic oppression, or intergenerational trauma. The Connection Lab honors these differences without hierarchy, judgment, or exclusion.
Our programs focus on education, prevention, and restoration. Through workshops, support groups, psychoeducational resources, community conversations, and partnerships with mental health and faith-based professionals, we equip individuals with tools to understand trauma, rebuild trust, establish healthy boundaries, and cultivate emotional resilience. We emphasize that healing is not about “fixing” people, but about restoring dignity, agency, and connection.
The Connection Lab is intentionally designed as a safe and affirming space for all genders, including women, men, and gender-diverse individuals who may feel unseen or unsupported in traditional trauma services. We also prioritize racial and cultural equity by centering voices from diverse communities and adapting our resources to reflect lived experiences rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.
In addition to individual healing, The Connection Lab believes that healthy relationships strengthen families, communities, and society as a whole. Relational trauma left unaddressed can perpetuate cycles of harm across generations. By intervening with compassion, education, and connection, we help break those cycles and promote long-term emotional and relational wellness.
Ultimately, The Connection Lab exists to remind people that they are not broken, they are not alone, and healing is possible. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we stand as a trusted, mission-driven organization committed to serving all people—regardless of background—with integrity, inclusivity, and hope.