Working Together to Build Healthy Communities
Welcome to the Rooted Research family, where community well-being is our top priority!
Launched by Butterfly Dreamz, Inc. in 2024, our mission is to advance health equity in Lake County, IN, and Essex County, NJ. We work closely with local schools, community centers, and faith-based organizations to conduct community-engaged research and provide culturally affirming mental and behavioral support to students and families from high-poverty neighborhoods.
Teen Voices on Mental Health & Social Connection
Eighteen youth researchers reveal what truly supports—or undermines—adolescent mental health in Gary and Newark, offering data-driven insights and recommendations for stronger peer networks, safer communities, and economic opportunity.
Join our team!
Join our yearlong Community Health Fellowship to gain hands-on experience facilitating health equity programs and conducting public health research. You’ll work with our expert community and academic partners to develop your professional skills and broaden your network.
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Lead community- and school-based wellness programs for 7th through 12th graders attending under-resourced schools in Lake County, Indiana and Essex County, New Jersey. Activities include group mentoring, individualized wellness coaching, and family engagement events.
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Collaborate on community-based participatory research (CBPR) to assess and address systemic barriers to mental and behavioral health interventions in high-poverty U.S. school districts. Our CBPR projects are conducted with our community stakeholders in Lake County, IN and Essex County, NJ and led by Joy Lindsay, Founder of Butterfly Dreamz Inc. and PhD Student at the Yale School of Public Health.
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Engage in our community health training and career exploration opportunities to grow your professional skills, expand your social capital, and build impactful professional and personal networks.
