Love is an action, never simply a feeling. – bell hooks

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For the past two years I have privileged to take part in a consultation process to collaboratively develop a framework with IPV (Intimate Partner Violence) specialists and survivors from all parts of Canada. These practitioners and survivors came from a variety of settings including: shelters, women’s advocacy services, Indigenous and cultural-specific services, survivor organizations, programs for children exposed to IPV, men’s programs, and specialized IPV services within child protection, justice, and mental health. Together, we brought over 500 years of professional and lived experience to this work. Practical examples of skills, videos with specialists, and a panel discussion with working group members will bring the framework to life.

I recently participated on the panel discussion and launch of this new framework. It was held on January 21, 2022 | 1:00 – 3:00 PM EST and entitled: Recognizing critical expertise: A knowledge and skills framework for intimate partner violence specialists.

Check back here soon for a link to the recording.

I am thrilled to be involved with The PEACE for Canadian Children & Youth: Training and Peer Mentorship for Women’s Shelters in Northern, Rural and Remote Communities to Build Specialized Supports for Children & Youth Survivors and Witnesses of Gender-Based Violence. As the Training Coordinator I will be delivering online training to front line shelter workers at 30 pilot sites over a three year period. In addition, project results will be used to generate a legacy blueprint of promising practices that will be available for widespread use. This is exciting work and I am honoured to be invited to participate. the first training cohort begins next week- February 7th. the participants are all from the maritime provinces and I can hardly wait to work with this dedicated group of people.

I will be facilitating a workshop for Nanaimo Foodshare and am excited to use drumming to bring people together. I’ll also be exploring activities and simple exercises anyone can make use of to help regulate the nervous systems in times of stress and anxiety. I am looking forward to spending time with this fabulous group of people.