Resiliency Within

Drs. Larry Ward and Peggy Rowe-Ward will address how we are all as a world community are impacted by Racism and how we can heal from the traumas that arise from Racism. Dr. Ward’s book, America’s Racial Karma published in September 2020 addresses how America can begin to heal. They have been teaching and practicing with Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, a global spiritual leader, poet and peace activist, revered throughout the world for his powerful teachings and bestselling writings on mindfulness and peace. They received the lamp (teacher transmission) from him at Plum Village in 2001. They co-authored Love’s Garden and this book was featured in The Best Buddhist Writing of 2009. Peggy and Larry work with CEOs of Fortune 500 programs to integrate cultural diversity, corporate change and transformation. They will also address the Wisdom School they have created to bring healing to our global community.

Today's show is about navigating a successful life as you age. Just over 34 percent of the US population is aged 50 and over, and the numbers are rising rapidly with the aging of the baby-boom generation. The numbers are projected to climb from 21.7 million in 2010 to 32.8 million in 2020 and then to 38.6 million in 2030. Crafting a meaningful and successful life over fifty well be explored with Ron Roel, the radio show host of 45 Forward, a nationwide internet talk radio show on VoiceAmerica.com.

In the United States, the nineteen children murdered in Uvalde now are tragically added to the 4,357 American children from the ages of one to nineteen who died from gun violence in 2020. After every mass shooting, the dialogue is the same, and the themes run fast and furious – gun control, the internet, and mental illness. How did this happen? Why did he do it? What can we do to stop the subterranean secret life of the web that spews hate adding fuel to disturbed and distorted thinking? While mass shootings grab our attention momentarily, gunfire takes the lives of more children and teens every year than the Parkland, Sandy Hook, Uvalde, and Columbine massacres combined. Jenee Littrell, the Deputy Superintendent, of Educational Services at San Mateo County Office of Education, will bring forth her ideas and that of her school district to create safety and support within school districts. She will discuss how to support children, parents, and teachers. Dr. Michael Sapp, CEO of the Trauma Resource Institute, will also join to add perspective as trauma therapist and father of two teen-age boys.

Shannah Kennedy is one of Australia's foremost strategic executive life and health coaches, working with clients to help them transform their careers, well-being, and lives. She is a bestselling author, well-being specialist, keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, media contributor, and a wife and mother of two. Her most recent publication The Life Plan: Simple Strategies for Building Confidence in a Changing World released in May 2022 from Beyond Words Publishing. The Life Plan is an invaluable guide and workbook offering the tools you need for success, fulfillment, and happiness in every aspect of your life.

Brain diseases are now the world's leading source of disability. One of the most debilitating, Parkinson's disease, is the fastest growing neurological disorder in the world. Over the past 25 years, the number of people with the condition has jumped from 3 million to over 6 million. By 2040, it will likely double again. In addition to impacting millions of lives and livelihoods, Parkinson's is poised to crush our healthcare system and our economy. This, while harmful pesticides and other toxic chemicals that contribute to Parkinson's surround us, disproportionally affecting our farmers, our veterans, and even those in Silicon Valley. The most effective treatment is now a half century old, yet research funding stagnates. In short, we're failing to stop a runaway train. As we confront this coming wave of Parkinson's disease—one of the great health challenges of our time—we must turn to recent public health crises such as polio and AIDS, and what we can learn from them. In that same vein, we must look at what the global effort to address COVID-19 has taught us about how to martial scientific and financial resources to halt the insidious spread of a pandemic, because Parkinson's disease is fast on its way to becoming a pandemic—one that, if left unaddressed, will persist long after COVID-19 disappears.

In 2021, Georgia ranked 49th in access to behavioral health services. Children and youth have been particularly affected by the shortage of providers; longer wait lists to receive mental health services are contributing to increases in crisis-level care and visits to the emergency department. The Center for Interrelational Science and Pediatrics, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and Resilient Georgia is engaged in statewide efforts to train and support Georgia's behavioral health workforce with trauma and resiliency-informed wellness interventions.

These days, it feels like we can't look at the front page of a national newspaper or watch five minutes of cable news without hearing of a school shooting or a person in a position of power who abused a child or teenager. These incidents remind us that every young person needs a trusted adult who they can turn to at home and at school—someone who they can confide in and from whom they can receive guidance. According to author and educator Brooklyn Raney, having connections to trusted adults is the best way for young people to stay safe. She explains that parents are usually the first, and closest, trusted adult, but as young people grow they often look toward others. It may be a teacher, a guidance counselor, a coach, a friend's parent, an aunt or an uncle, or a neighbor. For this reason, all adults in contact with young people should know the ABCs of being a trusted adult: Accessible, Boundaried, and Caring. As Raney shows, being a trusted adult need not be onerous. It doesn't mean working 24/7, or acting as a mental health counselor, or sharing details of your personal life. At once a call to action for every school to put in place a program to assess whether each student has a trusted adult, a blueprint for how to make her paradigm a reality, and a guide for those interested in helping the next generation, One Trusted Adult stands to revolutionize the way we support the young people in our life.

Lauren Roselle and Joelle Casteix from SpotTheLine are here to talk about a brand-new, free app that can identify, prevent, and de-escalate sexual harassment. A sexual harassment issue can be intimidating to address, jarring to report, and confusing to identify whether it's illegal or just creepy. With custom action steps and empowerment tools to help the user move forward with confidence, SpotTheLine's Sexual Harassment Meter is a groundbreaking tool to help victims proceed beyond uncomfortable, confusing, and sometimes illegal situations with courage and support. It's "power in your pocket."

Clive Corry of Action Trauma Limited, will tell us what trauma is and why it affects so many people in the world in so many different ways; often causing them to hurt themselves and others. Clive says that trauma is a disturbing, subconscious memory or series of memories which can deeply affect our mood, behaviour, health and life. It often has a 'ripple effect' within families and can be passed down the generations. He is very clear that trauma is not an illness, but an injury which can be healed. So, what is the nature of this injury and what methods are available for healing? Traditionally in medicine, a 'trauma' was a physical injury. Today, the dictionary also describes it as a deeply distressing or disturbing experience and omits the descriptive prefix of 'psychological'. Clive says that the most important points to note in all of this, are that trauma is held in the subconscious and by both the mind and the body. He will give some amazing descriptions of how trauma manifests itself, taking charge of our thinking brain and preparing our entire body and mind for instant action, based upon our ancient survival instincts. He will detail the different types, causes and variations of trauma and its effects, which include anger, addictions, obesity, anxiety and depression. He avoids the use of complicated medical terms and, indeed, notes that the medical profession generally have not caught up with the new evidence and new thinking about trauma in the world today. Clive then goes on to describe how trauma may be healed and how difficult it can be to do so because trauma does not want to be revealed, in case it opens a Pandora's box of frightening memories and experiences. Resilience is an important factor but varies hugely between people depending upon their experiences and 'nature versus nurture'. Collective trauma is a major problem in healing experiences from 'the troubles' in Northern Ireland. Excitingly, after two years of Covid restrictions, The Trauma Summit (www.traumasummit.com) will be hosted live in ICC Belfast on June 13 & 14. Almost 2000 delegates are expected, along with up to 1000 virtual visitors. All will be able to view the talks and presentations for up to six months afterwards. Clive says that this will be the biggest conference since the very first one in 2018. 40 Speakers will be discussing the latest research findings, approaches and developments in trauma diagnosis and healing. He has a talented team, led by fellow director Karen Hamilton, who work with him to bring his vision forward.

Resilient Retreat was formed in 2018 and has been providing interdisciplinary workshops and training to victims of trauma since 2019. Over four hundred and fifty trauma victims, including survivors of abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence, first responders, and helping professionals such as teachers and nurses, have been treated free to date to heal their minds, bodies, and spirit. In October, 2020 Resilient Retreat began construction on a new 84-acre retreat center at 13010 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, FL 34240. Upon completion in 2022 Resilient Retreat will be able to further expand its capabilities and capacity to offer healing services to the community, including modalities like neurofeedback, yoga, meditation, massage, time in nature, gardening and support groups as well as enhancing self- care skills through workshops on healthy cooking, journaling, and other beneficial activities. In addition to their day programs, once retreat construction is complete, peaceful multi-day retreats focused on healing the entire person will be added to provide participants with the necessary tools to not only survive after trauma, but to thrive.