EPISODE: Why the COPE PROJECT Was Formed with Shannon Rogers Simpson

Ten Minutes of Truth with Shawn A. Barksdale

EPISODE 8: Why the COPE PROJECT Was Formed

Featuring: Shannon Rogers Simpson, Halifax County VT Cooperative Extension Project Coordinator

1. What exactly is COPE, and why did VT choose their Cooperative Extension arm to run it?

Shannon Rogers Simpson (Halifax Co. VT CE):

“COPE” stands for Community Outreach and Prevention Education. It was created to support community well‑being through resilience-building, mental health awareness, and educational support. Shannon explains that VT chose the trusted Extension framework because it already has an established presence within local communities—like Halifax County—where residents know and rely on Extension agents for credible, non‑clinical guidance on health, safety, agriculture, youth services, and more. Leveraging that existing trust helps COPE reach deeper and faster.

2. What is the mission of COPE?

Shannon outlines the mission:

• Strengthen community resilience through education, awareness, and proactive prevention.
• Support mental health and well-being in rural areas where services may be limited.
• Build local capacity by training volunteers and partnering with schools, faith groups, and county agencies.
• Facilitate equitable access to resources, ensuring everyone has the support they need to thrive.

3. What programs does COPE offer?

Shannon highlighted several key initiatives underway in Halifax County and beyond:

• Peer Support Training: Equipping local volunteers, teachers, and community members with active listening skills and techniques for crisis de-escalation.
• Youth Resilience Workshops: School-based sessions covering stress management, healthy habits, and self-care.
• Community Resilience Events: Pop-up clinics and “COPE Fairs” that bring together mental health professionals, community organizations, and educational outreach in one space.
• Resource Hubs & Toolkits: Online directories curated by VT Extension offering toolkits, videos, and materials on topics like substance misuse, suicide prevention, stress relief, and parenting.
• Local Support Circles: Drop-in sessions hosted monthly—whether at the library, community center, or Extension office—designed to foster connection and reduce isolation.

Shawn’s Perspective:

“As a community leader and advocate, I’m seeing COPE rapidly build a culture of openness around mental health—breaking stigmas by integrating prevention work into everyday spaces

Shawn credits Shannon Rogers Simpson for personally guiding him through the COPE Project’s wide range of resources. Her one-on-one training in evidence-based models like Botvin LifeSkills, ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) education, and parenting interventions has equipped him to be extremely effective in community and institutional settings.

Because of that training, Shawn is now successfully implementing COPE-based programs inside correctional institutions, building trusted relationships, and collecting evidence-based data that is helping reshape how we support returning citizens. This effort is not only changing the narrative around incarceration and reentry—it’s expanding the COPE Project’s reach in powerful, measurable ways. Call to Action:

Want to support COPE in Halifax County? Reach out to Shannon at [email protected] or 434-476-2147. Whether you’re looking to host a resilience workshop, join peer support training, or volunteer at pop-up events—COPE welcomes youLet me know if you’d like this adapted into a Canva layout, flyer, or short video script!