The Problem:

Our current system focuses on treating symptoms rather than the root cause of problems. The largest problem is toxic stress which begins a perpetual cycle of alienation (COA) that reinforces racism and oppressive structures. The COA begins with early chaotic years that lead to unequal outcomes in health, education, and offending behavior resulting in disproportionate consequences in employment, poverty, and incarceration. 

TILO was founded to reduce and prevent the effects of toxic stress. Research shows toxic stress impacts poor educational success and perpetuates the achievement gap. To end the intergenerational effects of the COA it requires a comprehensive community approach and movement. 

At Tilo, we don’t believe we are operating in a broken system. The system is operating exactly as it was intended - to systematically oppress. We need to create a new system that values every individual as a human being. We hope to liberate through knowledge and education and create a new “normal” where everyone is respected and valued. We believe in a future that disrupts the status quo. 

Our current system focuses on treating symptoms rather than the root cause of problems. We believe the largest problem is toxic stress which reinforces a perpetual cycle of alienation, racism and oppressive structures. The cycle of alienation begins with early chaotic years that lead to unequal outcomes in health, education, and offending behavior resulting in disproportionate consequences in employment, poverty, and incarceration.

That being said, TILO was founded to reduce and prevent the effects of toxic stress, ideally focusing on childhood toxic stress, in an effort to end the intergenerational effects of the cycle of alienation. 

Childhood toxic stress specifically manifests in the education system as schools are where children spend the majority of their time. Research shows toxic stress impacts poor educational success and perpetuates the achievement gap. According to the CDC and Kaiser Permanente’s  Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) study, toxic stress is a source of symptoms such as poor graduation rates, maladaptive behavior and bullying. In addition, the symptoms of toxic stress go beyond the educational system and impact overall health outcomes in our society. The ACE’s study notes that seven of the ten United States’ leading causes of death and six out of the ten international leading causes of death are traced back to toxic stress, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, COPD, diabetes, Alzheimers, and suicide. Social determinants of health are our generation's infectious disease. 

Our country was founded on the disenfranchisement and marginalization of an entire group. As a community, we have been desensitized to the negative impacts of the cycle of alienation. While it is our current normal, we can no longer accept it as healthy. Research concludes ACEs do not discriminate against race, gender, or socio-economic status suggesting this is an issue that affects everyone. However, while this is true the data is clear, disproportionate gaps across race and class have been well studied. The largest nationally represented study on ACEs, published in JAMA Pediatrics, highlights people with low-income and educational attainment, people of color and people who identify as LGBTQIA+ as having significantly higher chances of experiencing ACEs. 

Addressing the cycle of alienation and its toxic effects requires a full comprehensive community approach and movement.