Miss Hoover on a Mission

Mary-Coker Green, Miss Hoover 2023, help others heal from trauma

And You Can Help

BY MARY-COKER GREEN

We will all experience a moment when everything changes. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, divorce, illness, or an accident, the reality is that almost everyone will experience trauma. It can debilitate us and emotionally drain us. But trauma also has the power to connect us.

With May designated National Trauma Survivors Month, I want to share my personal story and my mission to help others recover from trauma.

The Moment That Changed Everything

My moment happened on October 25, 2020, during my senior year of high school. While driving home from a church event, I topped a hill and was met with the headlights of an oncoming car in my lane. At 17, I was in a traumatic head-on collision with a man I’d never met.

For the next several hours, the evening was an unfolding of sirens and lights, police officers and paramedics. Before I was taken to the ER to be checked for physical injury, I learned the man who hit me had died. This moment dropped a GPS pin in the

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A Mission Is Born

Thrown into a world of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, I experienced anxiety, depression, survivor’s guilt and many other challenging emotions. I spent time in therapy with a licensed counselor, and over time, my heart filled with a desire to serve those going through similar situations. So I created an organization called Flip the Switch: A Mental Wellness Campaign.

Flip the Switch challenges the stigma surrounding mental health and emotional well-being, educates individuals on healthy mental and emotional habits, engages others in the conversation around mental wellness and cultivates community. In chasing this mission, I published a children’s book, raised $26,500, invested 6,500+ hours, and reached over 10 million people. But I don’t want it to stop there, and here’s where you can.

How The Community Can Help

Throughout May, I am partnering with Hoover businesses for benefit nights. You will see me about town with the Hoover Fire Department, growing awareness and support for those dealing with the after-effects of trauma. Be sure to scan the QR code for my calendar of events. Stop by to learn how you can provide resource kits to local trauma survivors.

The path to a mentally and emotionally healthy is a journey with ups and downs. We can walk alongside others on their journey to help heal the small portion of hurting we can.

Hoover is home to hundreds of events every week! Each month our team selects some of the best to share with you here. Enjoy!

MAY

May 6, 8:00 a.m: Lee Branch Farmer’s Market; Held weekly on Saturdays until noon

May 6, 8:00 a.m: Brock’s Gap Farmers Market; Held weekly on Saturdays until 1:00 p.m. at Brock’s Gap Brewing Company

May 6, 8:30 a.m: Nordic Walking Class at Aldridge Gardens (aldridgegardens.com)

May 10-14: Regions Tradition PGA Golf Tournament at Greystone Country Club (regionstradition.com)

May 12, 4:00 p.m: Ross Bridge Farmer’s; Held weekly on Fridays until 8 - 00 p.m.

May 12, 7:00 p.m: Bob Dylan Tribute Show at Wild Roast Café (wildroastcafe.com)

May 14, 2:00 p.m: Mother’s Day Tribute to Frankie Beverly Featuring Dee Bradley at Perfect Note (perfectnotelive.com)

May 15: Splash Pad Opens at the Hoover Met Complex Explore Playground (hoovermetcomplex.com)

May 16, 1:00 p.m: Native Americans of Jefferson County Presented by the Hoover Historical Society and the Alabama Indian Affairs Commission at the Hoover Public Library (hooverhistoricalsociety. org)

May 20, 8:30 a.m: Hydrangea Propagation Workshop at Aldridge Gardens (aldridgegardens.com)

May 20, 10:00 am - Big and Little Chef Cooking Class featuring Ball Park Treats at Publix Aprons Cooking School at Tattersall Park (apronscookingschool.publix.com)

May 20, 7:00 p.m: Marth Groves Perry at Wild Roast Café (wildroastcafe.com)

May 22-28 - SEC Baseball Tournament at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium (hoovermetcomplex.com)

May 26, 1:00–4:00 p.m: Summer Reading Kickoff at Hoover Public Library (hooverlibrary.org)

JUNE

June 2, 4:00 p.m: Ross Bridge Farmer’s; Held weekly on Fridays until 8 - 00 p.m.

June 3, 8:00 a.m: Lee Branch Farmer’s Market; Held weekly on Saturdays until noon

June 3, 8:00 a.m: Brock’s Gap Farmers Market; Held weekly on Saturdays until 1 - 00 p.m. at Brock’s Gap Brewing Company

June 6-8, Multiple Times - Lucky Diaz presents awardwinning indie pop-rock for families at the Hoover Public Library (hooverlibrary.org)

June 11, 2:00 p.m. - Nordica Walking Practice at Aldridge Gardens (aldridgegardens.com)

June 17, 2:00 p.m: Magic City Book Ball at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham – The Wynfrey Hotel (magiccitybookball.wixsite.com)

June 17, 6:30 p.m: Father’s Day Grilling Dinner Demonstration at Publix Aprons Cooking School at Tattersall Park (apronscookingschool.publix.com)

June 21, 7:30 p.m: Alabama Veteran Presents Bobby Henline at the Stardome Comedy Club (stardome.com)

Do you have an upcoming event? Share it with us via email at matthew@ jbmcmedia.com!