As we head into the fall, it’s abundantly clear that whether we like it or not, we have entered a paradigm shift. There’s no way to deny that the devastating fallout from racism, the denial of human rights, and social injustice issues is at an all time high. If we could wish away economic uncertainty, fires and extreme weather caused by global warming, and an all-but-promised pandemic surge, we probably would. These reminders are at an all-too-real pique this time of year, especially for educators, schools, and parents.
Here’s what we can do about it: educate ourselves and mobilize as a community, which is exactly what we've been doing together in the Creating Resilient Communities Accelerator certification program.
As we stand with our growing CRC community, we're feeling proud, inspired, and grateful. Since the launch of our Creating Resilient Communities (CRC) Accelerator certification program last year, we’ve focused on trauma informed awareness and prevention through the education of positive and adverse childhood experiences (PACEs). As we begin a new month, we want to thank our members who have been instrumental in helping us further develop our interactive entry-level program which has become a vehicle for transformative change across sectors. The shared language we need in order to bridge gaps in social, economic, political, criminal, and environmental justice is more important than ever.
Program Summary
The PACEs 16-hour Creating Resilient Communities (CRC) accelerator certification program is focused on supporting and developing individual advocates and organizational agents of change in transforming their communities and organizations using PACEs science, trauma-informed awareness and resilience frameworks.
The CRC accelerator will cover fundamental topics such as understanding PACEs science, community organizing, multi-sector collaboration, and strategic planning; as well as several timely topics. Participants who complete the *CRC* Accelerator certification program will be provided with additional information about the application and enrollment process for the CRC Fellowship this fall.
What’s new in September
We’re thrilled to be joined by guest CRC facilitators who are back in action this fall who will give us the latest in education, social justice, the arts, and organizing resilient communities.
Nikole Barnes Tejada, co-founder of The Ryder | Talbutt Group, will join as a guest facilitator for CRC: PACEs Science and Social Justice. Nikole is a cis, Black, queer woman—she, her—licensed independent clinical social worker and DEIB consultant with over 16 years experience specializing and working with LGBTQIA+, young adults, BIPOC communities as a trauma therapist. Nikole believes in working to decolonize therapy and social justice work as an ongoing process that requires continuous self-reflection, education, and commitment to dismantling oppressive structures. Learn more about Nikole here.
Genesis Fisher, Esq., founder and principal attorney of Fisher Law Practice, P.C., will join us as a guest facilitator of CRC: Organizing for Resilient Communities. Prior to starting the firm, Genesis spent eight years fighting for the rights of indigent clients as a public defender with the Legal Aid Society. She began her legal career at the Southern Poverty Law Center, where she worked on national civil rights issues and Alabama jail and women’s prison reform. She became interested in public interest law when she was the coordinator of Volunteers at the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless in D.C. Learn more about Genesis here.
With shootings and violence at an all time high in schools, we’re thrilled bilingual/bicultural school psychologist, educational consultant, and professional development facilitator Lourdes Alvarez-Ortiz, PhD, will facilitate Introduction to PACEs in Education. Lourdes, co-author of Teaching to Strengths: Supporting Students Living with Trauma, Violence, and Chronic Stress, supports school districts in creating equity-oriented, trauma-sensitive learning environments that are anchored in strengths-based frameworks rather than what is “missing” in the lives of children who have experienced adversity.
This Introduction to PACEs in Education session will support educators and advocates in having a better understanding of the impact of trauma in students and throughout the education system. (This module is a helpful way for educators and non-educators to understand the basics of the impact of trauma in students and throughout the education system in advance of PACEs Connection: Addressing the Epidemic of School Shootings Series.) Learn more about Lourdes here.
Erika Sage Kelley, CEO and principal consultant at Sage Horizons, advances organizational trauma-responsive and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) best practices using an arts-based approach and healing-centered poetry framework. Ekphrastic poetry is poetry that comments on a work of art. During this workshop, participants will learn how poetry promotes healing from racial trauma by discovering the connections between poetry and the brain and the links between writing and emotional processing. Learn more about Erika Sage Kelley here.
3 FAQs we’ve recently added:
➤ Should I take the CRC in a certain order?
➤ Where can I find updated CRC events?
➤ I can’t stay at my full CRC event, what happens now?
Quick CRC forum recap: Login to the PACEs Connection website, head to the CRC community, and click “Ask the Community Forum” button for quick access. You can also look for the widget in the side margin to review and add FAQs or discussion topics.
New to the CRC? Become a member and register for Introduction to PACEs Connection To Get Started
As a friendly reminder, attending Introduction to PACEs Connection is a required prerequisite of the CRC. There are several event dates available and you only need to attend ONE time. If you already attended, you will receive links for the remaining events via email. Registration links to the remaining introductory events are listed below. Click the registration link to choose from multiple options:
➤ Introduction to PACEs Connection
Pick Up the CRC Accelerator Certification Program Where You Left Off, This September
➤ Review a brief description of each event and this certification overview.
➤ Look out for the dedicated CRC newsletter with a list of event registration links.
➤ If you haven’t seen the list of events, you may want to check your bulk folder. Email communitymanager@pacesconnection.com if you haven’t received the list of events.
What 2023 CRC Participants Have to Say About the Accelerator
“I am continuing my journey of recognizing racial disparity and learning how to have conversations about equity, marginalization, and representation. It's powerful to talk about the ways in which our science/research is biased and may be excluding the voices and experiences of certain peoples or communities.” —CRC participant
“The presentation set the stage on the importance of building resilient communities and understanding the impact of PACEs. I encourage everyone to learn about this science and how we need to work together to create healthier and more positive outcomes for ourselves and future generations. Quality material, enthusiastic, engaging and informative presentation!.” —CRC Participant
“I deeply appreciated the very brief connectivity demonstration Matthew gave us — that is, a few sentences about how and why he came to this work and why it means so much to him. He’s clearly had a lot of practice honing his message into little arrows. Such a resource-packed presentation! I couldn’t stop taking notes. I got lots of links and reading material that I’m excited to follow. Matthew was a warm, well-spoken presenter with a whole lot to share. Loved this content!.” —Heather Hanslin, ADR-DC
As a Part of the PACEs Movement, It’s Raining Gratitude!
PACEs Connection is grateful that you’re as passionate about trauma-informed awareness and heart-centered resilience building through a PACEs lens as we are. Our science is for everyone who wants to create, grow, and sustain resilient communities. We also know access matters. Thanks to the generosity of grants, Genentech sponsorship, and partners, the *CRC* Accelerator certification program is FREE. Pay it forward through this Click-to-Tweet link we created to make it easier to promote the CRC or share the CRC with your communities and workplaces.
Email Kahshanna Evans, Director of the CRC kevans@pacesconnection.com with any questions, at any time. The consultant staff at PACEs Connection look forward to seeing you soon!
About the author: Kahshanna Evans brings her passion for uniting people through stories and trauma-informed awareness to her role as the Director of Creating Resilient Communities at PACEs Connection. Kahshanna has been a leading strategic thinker in various industries, including communications, tech, professional services, and wellness.
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