Authored by Keesha Corbin, Partnering for Excellence Project Coordinator
Walking through the doors of the Renaissance Hotel in Asheville, North Carolina, there was a bustle of excitement. Everyone came to life during the first presentation by Mary Lynn Barrett as we sung together as an audience. Next came the presentation that everyone had been waiting for, Dr. Felitti, the researcher that gave a new meaning to the work of so many in the audience. Looking around the audience, I saw many fiercely scribbling notes to take back to their individual agencies. This was refreshing to see, as Partnering for Excellence (PFE) works diligently to spread the findings of Dr. Felitti’s research throughout the counties we work in to create trauma-informed, trauma-aware, and trauma-responsive communities.
Breakout sessions included presentations from various Buncombe County providers, including schools, hospitals and police departments. The entire Buncombe County community seemed to come together to celebrate their successes in becoming a trauma informed community. This was truly a time for celebration of all that had been accomplished over the recent years. Talk of self-care and ACEs had infiltrated the community and become part of the day to day for many providers.
One of the most impactful speakers was Honorable Judge Lynn Tepper, who spoke about the trauma informed changes she had made in her own chambers. Judge Tepper’s mission is to create a trauma informed experience for those that walk into her court room. The witness stand is decorated with stuffed animals and sometimes incorporates the presence of a therapy dog. The walls are decorated with murals and local artwork. Judge Tepper mentioned doing a walk through, with the mindset of a client, of her own agency at the start of this mission. This was inspiring for me to hear as trauma informed courtrooms are something we work for in PFE. Although, we have seen an increase in trauma informed oversight and recommendations within the court room, it was great to see the potential for our work to impact many lives in an even greater way. I encourage administration to do this in their very own agencies. What do you see when walking in the shoes of a client visiting your agency? Taking a second to step out of your role and into the life of another is the origin of a trauma informed community.
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