Trauma-informed groups rev up to address race, inclusion.

Article by Laurie Udesky, ACEs Connection Staff Writer

Eighteen-year-old Kia Hanson has always enjoyed her time as a youth leader at the East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC). She’s worked mostly with five- and six-year-olds since she began in 2016. Recently, she tapped into new skills, especially if the kids were having a meltdown.

“If they’re off, we ask them, ‘What’s wrong?’ ‘Do you want to talk about anything?’,” she explains. “Basically asking before assuming they’re mad at the world for no reason.” 

What made the difference? She learned how to respond to kids who’ve experienced trauma. The training provided by clinicians from the neighboring Youth UpRising also helped the youth leaders hurdle some of their own barriers…

Leaders in SF public housing deal with their own and community trauma head on.

Article by Laurie Udesky, ACEs Connection Staff Writer

The group is known as the Resident Warriors, which meets weekly. One participant talks of her recovery from addiction and her mother’s murder. Another mentions being molested as a child. Chloe Underdue describes what she thought her role was in creating distance with her best friend, and how she and the friend worked through it…

Jim Hickman:

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Elena Costa: The Advancing California’s Trauma-Informed Systems (ACTS) Project.

Bonnie Berman: Transition Age Youth (TAY) Conference in March 2020.