Tracy Pella is a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner, school psychologist, speaker, and the founder of Rooted Life Empowerment and Connected Forever. Before any of that, she is a mom and wife who knows how to live through the unthinkable.

In 2011, Tracy gave birth to twin boys at just 23 weeks and 4 days. Her son, Cohen, passed away and Cooper spent 134 days in the hospital. In her next pregnancies, which were also filled with complications, she gave birth to a full-term daughter and later experienced prematurity again with the birth of her 34-week daughter. That season of heartbreak, hope, and healing became the foundation for Rooted. She saw how families in crisis need more than medical care. They need to be heard. They need space to grieve, to hope, and to be human. And the professionals supporting them need care too.

Through the founding of her non-profit, Connected Forever, Tracy began walking alongside NICU and bereaved families, offering peer support, resources, and hope in the most vulnerable seasons. As her work expanded, so did her vision. Rooted was created to support the people and systems who care for families, equipping them with the tools to lead with compassion and connection.

With more than a decade of experience in education, trauma-informed care, and mental health, Tracy brings both clinical insight and lived experience to every conversation. She speaks and consults nationwide, helping others stay grounded in purpose while building systems that center empathy and trust.

Through speaking, consulting, and training, Tracy helps others stay grounded in purpose, even when the work is hard. Her message is clear: when we create spaces that honor the human experience, we don’t just care for people - we change lives.

Tracy lives in Nebraska with her husband and children. Everything she shares comes from her story and experiences with her own family and others, and her deep belief that healing begins when people feel seen. She’s learned that connection has the power to change everything.