During a two-year period in Santa Maria, California -a city of 103,000- there were 23 murders within 17 months. This epidemic had many contributing factors, including gun violence. As the community reeled and came together, one factor that arose was the need for accessible mental health services. Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley (FBSMV) was asked during this time to develop a violence reduction program in the schools. The mission created by FBSMV was to partner with all members of the community to achieve resilience against substance use, reductions in violence, and promote a healthy and safe environment for youth and families.  They were tasked with conducting conflict resolution using a restorative approach. Edwin Weaver, the Executive Director of FBSMV, will discuss how students who have conflict go through the restorative mediation with a Fighting Back Program Specialist. This approach has reduced school suspension and reduced recidivism to zero. The students who go through this process do not get into fights with each other and can instead focus on learning. But what the staff realized quickly is that you cannot participate in the restorative process if you have not felt a sense of safety. Edwin Weaver trained as a Community Resiliency Model Teacher and began workshops throughout Santa Barbara County. Edwin will further elaborate upon how community wellness can be expanded by integrating programs like the Community Resiliency Model.