PACEs science is for everyone. If we’ve learned anything since Jane Stevens founded our organization, we’ve learned that our purpose-driven members that participate in the Creating Resilient Communities (CRC) Accelerator certification program are known for having a deep affinity for humanitarian, philanthropic, and educational causes. Beyond Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), our members seek to deeply understand strengths-based insights embedded in the remaining ACEs quadrant: Adverse Community Environments, Adverse Climate Experiences, and Atrocious Cultural Experiences.

The same can be said for our body of 60K PACEs Connection members across 430 global communities who seek to ameliorate gaps in understanding about social, economic, political, criminal, and environmental justice and historic trauma—including the politicization of human rights issues and the importance of avoiding retraumatization—in order to transform their organizations and communities through the development of trauma-informed (TI) awareness and resilience building frameworks through the evidence of positive and adverse childhood experiences (PACEs).

“Privilege is, by the social justice definition, the advantages people have that they don't think about because they never have to experience the oppressive side. Understanding it requires an active effort to see things from the perspective of other, underprivileged people." -Cate Harpool

We remind current and future members, including those just beginning to learn about the negative short and long term health outcomes of toxic stress, that Children and Families Displaced by War & Violence is a well researched resource that is free and available to the general public. Join the CRC Accelerator to learn healing centered practices alongside like minded members across a variety of sectors.

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 all events in the series will receive a Certificate of Completion and will qualify for PACEs Connection fall 2023 fellowship program.

What’s new in November

As we near our final month of the year, we welcome this time with guest CRC facilitators who will share their knowledge and wisdom in education, social justice, the arts, and organizing resilient communities.

Nikole Barnes, 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.

Lara Kain, founder of Lara Kain Consulting, Coordinator, Education consultant, facilitator, and national speaker on implementing school system transformation and trauma-informed practices into schools, will facilitate Introduction to PACEs in Education. Schools are an integral part of creating a thriving and resilient community. This session will serve as an introduction for both education and non-education folks interested in the effects of Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences in school settings and the practices of trauma-informed schools. We will take a brief dive into how trauma and adversity affect learning and behavior, why this shift in school culture is so important, and how communities can support the efforts of their local schools. Learn more about Lara here.

With so much happening, it can be easy to forget the power of creativity as a conduit for trauma informed resilience. We look forward to Introduction to Arts as Healing a Community, guest facilitated by Bridgit Dengel Gaspard, author of The Final 8th: Enlist Your Inner Selves to Accomplish Your Goals. Bridgit is a creativity coach, psychotherapist and former performer who has always been fascinated by how we lead with different parts of ourselves. Being disconnected from your creativity, your sovereign and unique essence, is disempowering on a macro and micro level. This module, based on the psychological premise that our healthy personality consists of many different inner selves or parts of ourselves, links recent evidence on the physiological benefits of creative expression as a means of healing. Through a powerful and engaging exercise, participants will learn foundational guidelines for incorporating healing creativity into relationship building with oneself and others, as well as in community programming. Learn more about Bridgit here.

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

Wrap up the year on a high note. Pick Up the CRC Accelerator Certification Program Where You Left Off, This November

➤ 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.

November is the final month to participate in 2023 CRC sessions. We’re off for December and will resume in January.

What 2023 CRC Grads Have to Say About the Accelerator

“The CRC Accelerator program provided clear, practical insights, tools and strategies for engaging in trauma-informed work in multiple sectors, at multiple levels (individual, organizational, community), and with a focus on various specific aspects of the work (social justice, environmental justice, etc). Very worthwhile program!” —Melanie G. Snyder

“If you are truly seeking to heal the hearts and souls of individuals and communities, this is a great place to start. There is so much hurt screaming across the globe. It is overwhelming to understand or solve. But the old adage of "Each one, teach one" is the way we begin within ourselves, our families, our communities, and our world. This is a safe place to learn, grow, and become communities of resilience.” —Monica M. Morehead, MSN, RN, FCN

“I appreciated the opportunity to learn about PCEs since traditional focus has been on ACEs. I found great value in the opportunities to learn from others who do resilience work with young adults.” —Grace Flagler

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.