Keep Your Head Up

The Keep Your Head Up Foundation was founded by two young women who live with the effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Felicia and Allie have both grappled with persistent symptoms since sustaining sports-related concussions in high school. They faced uphill battles to find the right support, struggling to adapt to the changes brought about by their injuries. In 2020, Allie and Felicia combined their personal experiences navigating their recoveries with their public health backgrounds, to provide education, empowerment, and social connection for individuals impacted by TBI.

With a grant from the Sifton Family Foundation, the Keep Your Head Up Foundation was able to grow the Community Education and Mindful Moments programs within the Waterloo region. The Community Education program focuses on educating not only youth, but also teachers, coaches, and parents about the impact of concussion on mental and physical health, while the Mindful Moments program aims to equip participants with coping strategies to navigate TBI recovery through a wide variety of initiatives such as Gentle Yoga, Therapeutic Art and Breathing/Meditation practices. These group programs allow youth with TBI to connect with one another, leading to improvements in mental and social health through access to social connection and community.  Both the programs are 100% free to attend.