CONFERENCE AGENDA

Christian Moore, LCSW -  Resilience Can Be Taught:   4 Keys to Unleashing Resilience

2:30 – 3:45

4:30 - 6:30

Samuel Simmons, Jr. LADC - Acknowledging and Addressing the Invisible Wounds of African American Men and Boys

FOLLOWING THE CONFERENCE PLEASE JOIN US FOR AN EVENING OF SELF-CARE AND FUN FOR PASSPORT TO PAMPERING.  TRANSPORTATION DOWNTOWN AVAILABLE.  FOR MORE DETAILS GO TO : www.traumainformedcareproject.org/ticConference.php

 ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
*For additional information about speakers visit our website at www.traumainformedcareproject.org*

Christian Moore, LCSW is a renowned author, speaker, and licensed clinical social worker who consults with thousands of school districts on lowering drop out rates, improving school climate, preventing bullying, and closing the achievement gap by teaching social and emotional education.  He grew up on the streets near Washington D.C. and struggled with learning disabilities.  Despite being told college was not an option, Christian obtained a masters degree and became a social worker in education, youth corrections, and a homeless program.  He  created the WhyTry organization to address the need for a new approach. 

The breakthrough idea for Christian's presentation is that resilience can be taught.  In fact, it's something we are all born with - from the homeless person on the street to the brightest Harvard professor.  Most of us - including many of our schools' most struggling students - just haven't learned how to access what's already inside.  Participants will learn about the vital skills of resilience found in WhyTry Founder Christian Moore's book, "The Resilience Breakthrough:  27 Tools for Turning Adversity into Action."

Samuel Simmons, Jr. LADC has over 27-years experience as a behavioral consultant specializing in practical culturally sensitive trauma informed work with African American males and their families with a focus on addressing chemical dependency, interpersonal violence and historical trauma.  He is an Adverse Childhood Experience Interface Trainer in the state of Minnesota.  He was awarded the 2009 Governor's Council on Faith and Community Service Initiatives Best Practices Award for his work with MN Department of Veterans Outreach Services, prison reentry and in the African American community.  Sam received the 2016 Healing the Hidden Wounds of Racial Trauma Award and the Black Tear Drop Award for his vision and leadership in culturally sensitive trauma informed work in the community  and around the country.  In 2017 Sam received the Champions for Children Award for his work in making the world a better place for children from the Minnesota Communities Caring for Children.  He is co-host of "Voices" radio show on KMOJ FM that addresses issues of the urban community.  Sam is co-creator of the Community Empowerment Through Black Men Healing conference called "Groundbreaking and Visionary".

His presentation will address the link between historical and/or intergenerational trauma and the challenges to effective sustainable change and community engagement particularly in underserved and minority communities.  You will also learn about culturally sensitive practices being used to engage and work with African American males that create an environment of "compassionate accountability" and healing.

Georgeanne Wisen-Vincent, LMFT, RPT-s is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor.  She is the founder of the PlayLA Los Angeles Center for Play Therapy, a training organization for parents and professionals.  Georgie is a lecturer and supervisor of graduate level play therapists at the Loma Linda University Play Therapy Cerfificate program.  She also maintains a private practice at The Center of Connection in Pasadena, California, headed by Tina Payne Bryson, co-author with Daniel Siegel of the successful parenting series "The Whole Brain Child," "No Drama Discipline," and "The Yes Brain".  Georgie earned her MA MFT from Chapman University and Masters in Child-Centered Play Therapy from the University of Roehampton London.  She is a member of the British Association of Play Therapists and the American Association for Play Therapy.

Georgie's presentations will offer a process for developing attunement and reflection of the child's growing insights and problem solving that is happening in the collaborative story-telling process.  Participants will learn to improve their basic ability to play, identify and recognize traumatic play versus recovery play and how to implement the Play Strong strategies that  will create space for brain integration, problem-solving, and hopeful solution formation toward the child's development of a coherent life narrative and improved social and emotional functioning.  You'll also discover how Play Strong strategies can move us toward better emotional regulation ourselves, extending into our professional, helping, teaching and caregiving roles.  Using play as preventative medicine, we can support children in developing the brain power to counteract many types of typical childhood stressors and the challenging behaviors that sometimes arise out of these stressful moments.

Tierica Berry is the founder of A Woman's Standard program focused on helping young women create and achieve higher standards that improve the quality of their life overall.  Passionate about emotional intelligence and women's empowerment, Tierica dedicates her time delivering staff development training and youth presentations.  Focused on "emotional success" she has managed to motive and redirect troubled youth with her engaging and relevant programs.  Her organization services various types of youth institutions from public school districts to youth detention centers.  Ms. Berry has received national recognition for her creative writing program, The Anthology Project,  and her latest initiative Unpacking the Emotional Suitcase.  As a published author of multiple empowerment books, Tierica is determined to make a tremendous impact and leave a lasting legacy.

When young women do not have a healthy way of processing emotions, suppression tends to be a common solution.  Each emotionally, physically, or mentally traumatic experience is packed away in her "Emotinal Suitcase" and carried around wherever she goes.  Over time the suitcase fills up with a plethora of negative experiences and becomes too heavy to carry, too messy to go through, and hopeless to unload.  In this interactive workshop Tierica provides practical steps to help reach students and guide them through the process of unpacking their Emotional Suitcases.