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Reverend Dr. Zena Barnes says she turned grief into the RISE framework and founded a charity to address trauma and gun violence
Summary
Rev. Dr. Zena Barnes described how her nephew's 2017 murder inspired the RISE framework and the Melquon Gittell Anderson Foundation; she discussed community healing programs, advocacy in Albany on "gun sense" measures and her own health struggles that inform her work.
On BronxNet's Open, host Dr. Bob Lee spoke with Reverend Dr. Zena Barnes about her work in trauma‑informed leadership and community healing.
Barnes said her nephew's 2017 murder propelled her to "turn all that pain into purpose." She described the RISE framework she developed from lived experience and evidence-based practices to help people recognize trauma and access healing tools. "It shifted me in the trajectory of I wanted to do something that allowed my sister to want to stay in this world," Barnes said, describing counseling and family‑level interventions she used before formalizing the framework.
Barnes discussed the Melquon Gittell Anderson Foundation, which she said provides scholarships, groceries to seniors and community-healing engagement. She said she coauthored a measure she called "Mel's Law" to help families obtain posthumous degrees for children lost to gun violence. Barnes also described advocacy work in Albany on so‑called gun‑sense laws.
She spoke candidly about her own health: diagnosed in 2021 with pulmonary fibrosis, Barnes said she is now oxygen-dependent and has "34% functionality between both of my lungs," making her a candidate for a double-lung transplant. She described repeatedly being dismissed by clinicians before receiving a correct diagnosis, and said the experience deepened her work to help people with non‑apparent illnesses advocate for themselves.
Barnes recommended practical steps for listeners living with trauma, described components of the RISE framework and invited those affected to seek counseling and community support. She noted resources on her website (rdbspeaks.com) and closed with a prayer for listeners.
Why it matters: Barnes connects personal experience with programmatic tools and advocacy; her foundation and framework aim to support victims of violence and others living with non‑apparent health conditions, and she highlighted a mixture of direct services and policy advocacy.
Next steps: Barnes encouraged listeners to connect via her website and social channels to learn about foundation programs and community‑healing workshops.
