ACEs Connection envisions a resilient world where ALL people thrive. 

We are an anti-racist organization committed to the pursuit of social justice.

In our work to promote resilience and prevent and mitigate ACEs, we intentionally embrace and uplift people who have historically not had a seat at the table. 

ACEs Connection celebrates the voices and tells the stories of people who have been barred from decision-making and who have shouldered the burden of systemic and economic oppression as the result of genocide, slavery, family separation, forced relocation, mass incarceration, red lining and all other practices, policies and institutions that have traumatized marginalized groups. These groups include people of color, people living with mental health and substance use challenges, people living with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQI community. 

In the spirit of our Equity Statement, I would like to introduce our newest interest-based community, ACEs & African Americans. Descendants of slaves across the African diaspora are a unique and vulnerable, yet incredibly resilient, population. This community focuses on the descendants of Africans dispersed throughout the Americas during the Transatlantic Slave Trades. Topics will include adverse childhood experiences, historical trauma, inter-generational transmission of trauma, African American parenting practices, health disparities, the effects of racism, microaggressions and implicit bias, as well as resilience and post-traumatic growth.

My expertise lies in African American psychology, historical trauma and inter-generational trauma. It was my graduate studies focused on African American parenting styles at Vanderbilt University's Peabody College that led me to the CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences Study in 2010. 

I am excited to be the community manager here, along with Maria Hamilton Abegunde, and I invite you to join us and to contribute your voice to our community.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at icockhren@acesconnection.com. Happy Black History Month!