Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day arrives with a change of season each year. We tip our hat to Ingrid Cockhren, Chief Visionary Officer and Jane Stevens, founder of PACEs Connection and ACEs Too High in recognition of the powerful collaborations that have impacted thousands of advocates. Thanks to these visionaries, and thanks to the generosity of Genentech, the granter of the CRC Accelerator certification program, we can honestly say the CRC has had an incredible two years.

As excited as we are about the change of season, it is with gratitude and bittersweet sorrow that we announce that March marks the final month of the granting period for the CRC Accelerator certification program. As a small nonprofit, we join several organizations that have struggled with funding for the last few years for a myriad of reasons. According to Giving USA 2023: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2022, there’s been a major decline following two years of record generosity.

While we hope this will be a temporary pause, we can’t be sure. As our program heads into a period of recess, the CRC is committed to leading with transparency as our value. We invite our participants to embrace the PACEs pivot by joining the remaining CRC events in March to complete the certification and utilize PACEs tools, resources, and best practices to support the transition. We continue to dedicate time to deeply reflect on the insight and feedback you’ve shared throughout the program and discuss scalability strategies to streamline the experience of participants. Our goal is to continue what we’ve learned about ways we can expand the important work, if and when we secure funding again for this vital program.

Throughout the program, we’ve also learned the power of the PACEs movement continues to unite our efforts in creating a world where all people thrive, no matter the challenges. Given the timing of the announcement, it seems fitting to put some time on the calendar to talk about it together. Program participants are invited to join our “Ask Me Anything” LIVE CRC discussion.

REGISTER FOR OUR CRC “ASK ME ANYTHING” LIVE CRC DISCUSSION

NEXT STEPS FOR PARTICIPANTS OF THE CRC ACCELERATOR WHO COMPLETE ALL EVENTS BY MARCH 30, 2024

1. Upon completion of your final CRC event, email this completed checklist or confirmation you have completed all CRC events to kevans@pacesconnection.com—include any/all emails you utilized when registering for various CRC events
2. You will receive a certification and be invited to join the CRC Fellowship program (which is currently only available for those who have completed the CRC Accelerator certification program)
3. You will be updated on your CRC Fellowship status by March 30, 2024.
4. We invite you to join our AMA (ask me anything) for the CRC on Thursday, March 7 @ 3:00 pm (ET).

NEXT STEPS FOR PARTICIPANTS OF THE CRC ACCELERATOR WHO HAVE NOT COMPLETED ALL EVENTS BY MARCH 30, 2024

1. For CRC participants who are unable to complete the program, a certificate of participation and toolkit will be provided in the CRC community.
2. We recommend downloading the certificate of participation and the toolkit provided in the CRC community.
3. We invite you to join our AMA (ask me anything) LIVE CRC discussion at the end of this month on Thursday, January 29 @ 1:30 pm (ET).

REGISTER HERE TO ATTEND THE “AMA” LIVE CRC DISCUSSION

THE ROAD AHEAD: STAY INSPIRED IN MARCH AND BEYOND

In an effort to empower our members during this time of transition, we’d like to lead with transparency about the road ahead. Here’s what you need to know:

➤ Use the PACEs Connection Milestone Tracker starting point to assess your organization and particularly your community’s progress in integrating policies and practices based on PACEs science.

➤ Download your Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Tool to make sure nobody’s left out.

➤ This month is also an ideal time for members to visit Children and Families Displaced by War & Violence in the PACEs Connection resource center, an evergreen well researched resource that is free and available to the general public.

➤ Additional evidence-based research is found in the PACEs Connection Resource Center.

➤ To continue building the digital skills you need, we invite you to participate in the 2024 Grow with Google Career Scholarship program—As a reminder, while PACEs Connection manages the CRC program, Google partners will manage participants who sign up for additional training through 2024.

➤ The CRC Fellowship will continue. Additional details about how the CRC Fellowship is impacted and the way forward will be discussed directly with Fellows.

➤ There’s still time to fund the CRC by pledging to sustain resilient communities through fee-based training and services at PACEs Connection. Email Ingrid Cockhren, M.Ed., at icockhren@pacesconnection.com for more information.

➤ For thought provoking inspiration, tune into the History. Culture. Trauma. Podcast.

What CRC Grads Have to Say About the Accelerator

To kickstart March with inspiration, here are a few inspiring takeaways from our CRC participants and grads that remind us when perfection fails, progress prevails:

“I found the information about resilience building new to me, and encouraging. I really enjoyed the PACEs science discussions. It was helpful to have the stats broken down into greater detail, particularly regarding the adult impact of ACEs. I learned a great deal specifically about the cultural and climate aspects of this material; that was information to which I had not been exposed before. In addition to the a-ha moments I discussed above: more than once, via more than one course and the discourse between participants in them, I was put into a deep kind of touch with understanding an aspect of trauma I hadn't given due recognition as even having been traumatic: food insecurity. I was very grateful for, and positively catalyzed by, the opportunity to hear others discuss the traumatic impact of food, food experiences, and/or the absence of food as a traumatic wound. It's not something I have come across often outside discussions of eating disorders. Since I don't specifically have one, it just really hadn't crossed my bow. Now that I've opened that exploration within myself, I'll have another empathy point when encountering others with food issues in their past.” —Heather Hanslin

“I learned about the widespread application of its lessons across fields, and grew more familiar with the extensive communities being built across the country and across sectors integrating trauma-informed approaches.” —Acadia Jacob

“I have heard and seen the AHA moments my nursing students have had through their study of ACEs and then interactions with humans during clinical experiences once they have had the ACE's Training. I witnessed the tears following discovery, the deep breaths of acceptance, then the look of resolve and determination to apply this newfound awareness in their practice as caregivers in the future.” —Heidi McCaulley

“My company is now enroute to collaborating, extending and providing Trauma Informed Support services to the displaced/refugee community; founders, teachers, activists, students, men, women and children. I plan to work alongside local clinics who provide basic medical services to the displaced/refugees. Meanwhile, I plan to extend TI services, training to other areas of the commercial industry, where possible. Eg. Private International Schools, Kindergartens, Occupational Safety and Health, Universities and colleges, in Malaysia.” —Michelle Soo-Yen Choong

“I loved the CRC Accelerator Program because through a step by step process it provided a road map on the key pieces of how to build resilient communities.  The information and resources that were made available are great tools that break down the science and the art of building a robust and resilient community.” —Robert B. Franklin

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.