What We Do
Mission ROOT™ is a nonprofit organization delivering a Pre-Crisis Prevention Model for youth, families, and communities impacted by trauma and systemic inequity.
We intervene early—before trauma escalates into crisis, displacement, violence, or system involvement.
We do not wait for emergencies to respond.
We build connection before consequences.
This isn’t crisis response.
This isn’t a template.
This is prevention—rooted in lived experience.
WHAT WE MEAN BY PRE-CRISIS PREVENTION
Trauma already exists.
Crisis is what happens when trauma is ignored, unmanaged, or punished.
Pre-Crisis Prevention operates in the space between trauma and crisis.
It is not:
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emergency response
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evaluation or diagnosis
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treatment or case management
It is:
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early engagement
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relationship-centered support
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culturally responsive intervention
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community-embedded action
We address root causes before trauma hardens into harm.
“Mission ROOT is prevention intervention that understands the people.” – Dr. Muhammad
About Mission Root™
ROOT stands for Rebuilding Our Own Tomorrow. It is more than a name—it is a prevention strategy.
Mission ROOT™ was founded by Dr. Maryam Muhammad, a Philadelphia-raised Epidemiologist and Prevention Scientist whose life experience mirrors the communities she serves..............
Our Mission
“Give families the tools to build upon a stable foundation. Their toolboxes are
empty.” – Dr. Muhammad
To interrupt cycles of harm through Pre-Crisis Prevention that strengthens youth, families, and communities before crisis occurs.
We do this by:
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engaging youth as leaders, not liabilities
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supporting families before breakdown
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embedding prevention inside communities—not outside them
We do not fix people.
We remove the conditions that harm them.
OUR PRE-CRISIS PREVENTION MODEL
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CONNECTION-BASED PREVENTION
Connection is protection.
Our model centers human connection as the earliest and most effective form of prevention.
We show up:
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before systems intervene
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before families are displaced
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before youth are criminalized
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before trauma escalates
Pre-crisis prevention works because trust comes before compliance.
REPRESENTATION MATTERS
Our teams reflect the communities we serve.
Mission ROOT™ programs are delivered by:
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prevention and social scientists
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community interventionists
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peer leaders
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family coaches
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lived-experience practitioners
This matters because prevention fails when people are misunderstood.
Why Mission Root™
Because we know what happens when systems fail — and we prevent harm before it starts.
Because youth and families deserve conditions to thrive, not just survive.
Because “help” without power is management — prevention demands agency.
Yes, we meet people where they are — but meeting them is not enough. We embrace where they are, seeing the full picture: risks, strengths, systemic barriers — and then we remove what breaks them.
Youth + Family = Community. The math must math.
We are:
• Unapologetic — soft words don’t stop hard outcomes
• Disruptive — the status quo is failing our youth
• Strategic — prevention as infrastructure, not inspiration
“Too many families are sent home from crisis centers on a waitlist, or a discharge
summary wrapped in jargon. That’s not prevention — that’s a set-up for
readmission.” – Dr. Muhammad
For Donors & Funders
Your support helps prevent:
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Family displacement
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Separation of children from caregivers
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Long-term trauma and generational cycles of instability
Mission ROOT™ currently assists 1–3 families per month. Your contribution allows us to reach more families before crisis strikes.
TAKE ACTION!
Root Systems™
Prevention in Motion
“You can’t say you’re for the community if you’re not for the people.” – Dr.
Muhammad
ROOT SYSTEMS™ is Mission ROOT™’s integrated framework for Pre-Crisis Prevention across youth, family, and community spaces.
CORE PRINCIPLES:
• Root-Cause Focus: Address underlying drivers—not surface behavior
• Early Engagement: Act before crisis thresholds
• Integrated Teams: Science + lived experience
• Community-Embedded: Prevention happens where life happens
• Protective Outcomes: Reduced harm, stronger relationships, healthier futures
Disclaimer / Referral Information:
Mission ROOT™ especially partners with nonprofits, hospitals, after-school programs, schools, and juvenile detention centers, and also accepts direct referrals from families.
Schedule a consultation to learn more about implementing ROOT SYSTEMS™ in your space or workflow.
Programs
1
LEGACY LINE MENTORSHIP™
We Don’t Build Role Models — We Build Bloodlines of Power
Intergenerational mentorship grounded in identity, leadership, and life skills.
Includes:
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Mentor squads
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Leadership development
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Financial and civic literacy
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Cultural storytelling
Outcomes: confidence, belonging, school engagement, reduced risk behaviors
2
MIRRORWORK SESSIONS™
Face It. Name It. Reclaim It.
One-on-one sessions facilitated by Dr. Muhammad for adults navigating trauma and transition.
Program Features:
• Emotional clarity & mindset reset
• Guidance rooted in lived experience
• Personalized action plans
• Outcomes: clarity, confidence, path to growth
Outcomes: clarity, agency, forward momentum
3
ROOTED IN TRUTH™ — Youth Circles
Break the Silence. Break the Pattern.
Peer-centered circles creating space for honesty, accountability, and growth.
Focus Areas:
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Identity and pressure
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Grief and loss
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Violence prevention
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Mental health and coping
Outcomes: resilience, leadership, emotional regulation
4
ReRoot™ Family Pods
We Don’t Fix Families — We Free Them
Pre-crisis family support centered on communication, restoration, and strength.
Includes:
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Caregiver empowerment
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Trauma-aware family circles
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Culturally rooted restoration practices
Outcomes: healthier family dynamics, reduced escalation, stability
“Families of underserved communities are displaced and separated every day due to implicit bias in healthcare. Children are removed based on assumptions and end up harmed by the system. Trauma the system won’t address.” – Dr. Muhammad
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PULSEPOINT™ Street Interventions
Our Streets. Our Stories. Our Safety Plan.
PulsePoint™ is a Pre-Crisis, Connection-Based Intervention Model delivered by integrated teams of:
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Prevention and social scientists
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Peer leaders
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Family coaches
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Community interventionists
What it looks like in action:
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Presence in neighborhoods, schools, and homes
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Real-time engagement rooted in trust
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Healing installations and relationship-based de-escalation
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Intervention delivered in space with purpose—where we are needed, at the right place, at the right time
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Support without judgment
This is not crisis response.
This is prevention before harm escalates.
Impact & Outcomes
Did you know?
When youth, families, schools, and community programs collaborate through early prevention models:
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Youth system involvement decreases
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Family stability improves
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Emergency response costs decline
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Trust between communities and institutions strengthens
Pre-crisis prevention works because it changes the trajectory—not just the moment.
How To Get Started
Community Activities & Calendar:
Free and open to all youth and families. Snacks provided. Check our calendar for events and workshops.
All Others — Follow These Steps:
1. Explore Programs — mentorship, family pods, youth circles, Mirrorwork™, street
interventions, and more
2. Schedule a Consultation — get guidance on program fit and next steps
3. Get Started — join the movement, register for a program, or partner to create real
impact
For Schools & Educational Programs:
Embed SEL, ACEs-informed programs, mentorship, and family strengthening. Consultation required.
For Juvenile Justice Systems & Courts:
Programs designed for prevention, empowerment, and breaking cycles of harm. Consultation required.