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Kassie Benjamin-Ficken, a teacher in Minneapolis, discovered her love of math in elementary school. One of her earliest memories is begging her mother to come to school so her teachers could share how she excelled in math class. While earning average scores in reading, she was consistently above average for math—which instilled her with a sense of accomplishment. That continued into middle school, where she recalls asking her math teachers to move her into a higher grade for more advanced...

It’s been almost a year since the story of Brock Turner, the former Stanford University student who sexually assaulted an unconscious woman behind a dumpster following a fraternity party, was splashed across news headlines. And it’s been almost a year since he only got a slap on the wrist . [For more of this story, written by Jeff Back, go to https://psmag.com/the-responsibility-of-men-in-conversations-about-campus-sexual-assault-e1c6192ebbe3]

In Martin Luther King Jr.’s last book published before his assassination, he reflected on the civil rights movement and asked, “Where do we go from here? Chaos or community?” That same question resonates today, said Howard Pinderhughes , PhD, during the 2017 UCSF Last Lecture , in which he highlighted the importance of community and social justice in tackling health care challenges. Now in its sixth year, the UCSF Last Lecture has become an annual tradition in which a UCSF faculty member is...

Violence was a mainstay in George Galvis’ life from as far back as he can remember: His earliest memory, from age 3, is of witnessing his father savagely attacking his mother. So it’s no surprise that he brought what he learned at home to the streets. That ended at age 17, when he was incarcerated for multiple felonies, including attempted murder for his involvement in a drive-by shooting. Once he left prison, Galvis began a healing journey that led him to embrace his American Indian roots...

A report released today by Georgetown Law’s Center on Poverty and Inequality calls for specialized yoga programs to be offered widely to girls in the juvenile justice system amidst growing evidence that they can help them overcome the harmful effects of pervasive childhood trauma. The first of-its kind report – which draws on original pilot studies in Pennsylvania and Connecticut, an extensive literature review, and interviews with experts and girls around the country – finds that tailored...

Join award winning film Director, James Redford at the London premiere of the KPJR Films documentary RESILIENCE. HERE TO BUY TICKETS

The RMO for Returning Citizens, a prisoner reentry coalition in Lancaster County, PA, is leading an effort to build the foundation for a trauma-informed criminal justice system there. Our efforts to train all corrections officers and parole officers about trauma are highlighted in this article: http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/trauma-informed-training-for-lancaster-county-corrections-and-parole-officers/article_dfc9a524-292f-11e7-b008-8f12e2682c1f.html

Information is the most powerful and effective tool we have because it has the power to touch hearts, change lives and transform communities. Teri Barila has been reaching out with impact in the community of Walla Walla and the transformation is real. I attended the last few minutes of a monthly CRI meeting today where our community gathers together to share stories about the monumental strides that are being made in Walla Walla. The feelings of those in the room overtook me as I stood...

Join Echo on May 22, 2017 for a one-day training on childhood trauma for those professionals working with children and families who want a solid grounding in this cutting-edge subject. Did you know that your grandparents’ experiences can affect the way you respond to trauma today? That toxic stress makes us more sensitive to things like sound? Or that it affects learning and memory? Register to attend this fascinating review of all that current science is telling us about the number one...

The loss of a sibling can take an emotional toll on a child left behind. Now, new research shows these surviving children may even face a higher risk of early death themselves. The study of more than 5 million children found the greatest risk in the year after a brother or sister's death, and among kids who lost a same-sex sibling or one who was close in age. "Health care professionals should be aware of children's vulnerability after experiencing sibling death... Social support may help to...

A traveler approaching a village came upon an elderly man sitting at the base of a tree. The traveler asked, “Old man, can you tell me what kind of people live in this village?” The old man replied with a question, “What kind of people have you encountered in your travels, sir?” Confused by the question, the traveler said with a frustrated tone, “Listen old man, I have traveled many places far and near and I have encountered people who cheat, steal, lie and kill.” [For more of this story,...

Here are a few snippets and a link to an excellent article written by Emma Perry. People with lived experience of mental distress have traditionally been excluded from the process of knowledge production that guides thinking, policy and practice in relation to mental health . Research in this field continues to be dominated by clinical frameworks and positivist methodologies that position service users and survivors as the objects of study. However, Russo & Beresford have argued that the...