Each of us is shaped by the experiences in our lives. Exposure to toxic levels of stress at any age can impact our self-image and our world view. Our foundational relationships as children can have a profound influence on how we are able to build loving, trusting connections with others. Trauma takes a toll on our physical and mental health. The UU 2^nd Principle points to the need to build a community that supports justice, equity and compassion. We have a collective responsibility to support one another on our journeys toward healing.

 

Join Jaye Holly and Danisha Burnett-Bonner for a discussion on the impact that trauma has on individuals and communities. Shifting our viewpoint from “What’s wrong with you?”, which is about blame and shame, to a perspective of “What happened to you?” helps to foster compassion. Join us to talk about how a trauma-informed approach as a church helps to support the inherent dignity and worth of every person.

 

Jaye Holly has been designing and delivering training for more than 20 years on a wide array of topics, including leadership development, adult learning, and diversity. Her career includes working in an eclectic mix of settings, from human services to academia to government. In 2010, Jaye began working with the Sanctuary Model by leading the implementation of trauma-informed care for a child welfare agency serving communities across New York State. Since then, she has worked across the country and around the world to help build trauma-informed communities. She has a B.A in Psychology from Marist College and an M.S. in Human Resources Development from McDaniel College. She lives with her wife and their furry children in Delmar, NY.

 

Danisha M. Burnett-Bonner graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English with a minor in Professional Education from Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH. She continued on to study and complete a Masters of Arts Degree in Clinical Counseling, also from Xavier University. She has worked as a licensed counselor through the state of Ohio for over fifteen years. Her career has taken her to elementary, middle and high schools, residential group homes and correctional facilities, and the campuses of colleges and universities. She has had the privilege of working with individuals and families to assist with servicing their mental health needs and to provide stability in their lives. She continues this work in her private practice in Mason, OH.

 

Her services to the community locally and across the country include establishing and facilitating programs geared towards youth and young adults, and programs with specific focuses on pre-teen and adolescent girls, and women. Her training as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Training Supervisor, and her passion to see people live balanced and successful lives, has been displayed in her professional and personal endeavors.