About Eugene Z. Bertand
Learn about Eugene:
About Eugene:
Eugene Z. Bertrand is a 2026 graduate of Columbia University School of Social Work. He specialized in Advanced Clinical Practice, and his area of practice was Health, Mental Health, and Disabilities. He is the author of Resilience: Breaking the Chains, a bestselling novel centered on themes of Black male survivorship. He was a 2025 Stony Brook University LEND Fellow, 2025 Yale University Environmental Fellow, and is an incoming 2026 100 Men of Color honoree, which honors 100 men of color in the New England area for their contributions to education and service. He is also a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated. Eugene’s work is rooted in trauma-informed care and expanding access to mental health services for underserved communities. He has contributed to research, advocacy, and community based initiatives focused on domestic violence awareness and addressing systemic inequities. Through these experiences, he has developed a growing understanding of how trauma, environment, and systems intersect in shaping individual and community outcomes. Eugene has dedicated his life to learning and contributing to society in ways that support individuals and communities on their paths toward healing, while promoting empathy, equity, and meaningful change.
Message From the Author
Resilience: Breaking the Chains is more than a novel. It is a lifeline for those who have been silenced, dismissed, or forgotten. As a survivor of domestic violence and someone who grew up navigating learning challenges, I understand the weight of carrying pain in silence. I know what it feels like to be overlooked, doubted, or made to feel like your voice does not matter.
If you are here, I want you to know this: you are not your pain. You are not a victim of your circumstances. Your story is not too small, your pain is not imagined, and healing is not out of reach. For too long, people’s experiences with trauma have been hidden beneath secrecy and shame. My mission is to help break that silence through advocacy, storytelling, and my work as a social worker.
As you turn each page, I hope you see yourself not only in the wounds, but also in the resilience that follows. This book is for every person who was taught that being strong meant hiding their emotions. Real strength is not silence. Real strength is having the courage to feel deeply, speak honestly, and choose healing no matter how heavy the scars may be.
