Support for kids and teens who have lost a parent

BRAVE

Building Resilience After Very Difficult Experiences

A compassionate community created for young people navigating the loss of a parent. BRAVE offers connection, understanding, and a place to feel supported through grief and healing.

Upcoming Community Event

Park & Paint

A peer community event for middle and high school students who have lost a parent. Connect, create, and remember alongside others who understand.

Saturday, June 13
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Allen Pond Park
Bowie, Maryland

In partnership with the GW Art Therapy Program, Columbian College of Arts & Sciences. Free event. All materials provided.

Join Our Community 💙 Connect With Us Learn More

You do not have to go through this alone.

BRAVE exists to create space for support, healing, and meaningful connection.

Support for kids and teens

Connection through shared experience

Hope for healing and growth

What BRAVE Is

BRAVE is a supportive community for kids and teens navigating the loss of a parent. We create a safe place where grief can be acknowledged, connection can grow, and healing can begin.

Safe Space

A welcoming environment where young people can feel seen, supported, and understood.

Peer Connection

Opportunities to connect with others who understand the experience of parent loss.

Encouragement

Gentle support that helps kids and teens move forward with courage, community, and hope.

Our Story

What started with loss became a space for connection.

After losing their father to a drunk driver in 2019, siblings Raina and Cole McCarter experienced firsthand how isolating grief can feel as young people. At just 9 and 7 years old, they quickly realized there were few spaces where kids and teens could connect with others who truly understood the loss of a parent.

As Raina grew older, she began recognizing how many young people were quietly navigating grief without support, connection, or a sense of community, especially during milestones, holidays, and everyday moments that can feel especially difficult after loss.

In November 2025, she brought together a small group of teens who had also lost a parent. What began as a simple gathering quickly revealed the power of shared understanding and peer connection.

From that moment, BRAVE (Building Resilience After Very Difficult Experiences) was created. Founded by siblings Raina and Cole McCarter, B.R.A.V.E. is a peer community centered around kids and teens who have lost a parent, creating spaces rooted in connection, understanding, resilience, and healing.

While many members are middle and high school students, B.R.A.V.E. welcomes anyone seeking connection and community through shared experiences with grief.

Why BRAVE Exists

Grief can feel isolating, especially for young people. BRAVE was created to ensure that no child or teen has to carry the loss of a parent alone.

Through connection, compassion, and shared experiences, we create space for healing, resilience, and belonging.

Our Mission

To provide a compassionate and supportive community where kids and teens who have lost a parent can connect, feel understood, and begin to heal.

Build community after loss
Create safe opportunities for connection
Support healing through shared understanding

Who It's For

BRAVE is designed for kids and teens who have experienced the loss of a parent and need a place to feel supported.

Children

Age-appropriate support and encouragement for younger children navigating loss.

Teens

A space for teens to connect, process, and feel less alone in what they are carrying.

Families

A caring community that helps families find support, connection, and next steps.

Get Connected

If you or someone you know could benefit from BRAVE, reach out and connect with us. We’re building something meaningful, and we’d love to hear from you.

Email BRAVE