Workshops - Virtual
Description
In this session, we will explore terminology, discuss Intersectionality and how mental health is a racial equity issue, reflect on our experiences and examine how the Commission on Racial Equity is working to break down these barriers to care. Through a mix of presenting, discussion and reflection, we will learn about the gaps in mental health resources for New Yorkers who are impacted by racial and social injustice.
Workshop Objectives:
- Define key terms related to racial equity, intersectionality, and mental health, and understand how they are interconnected.
- Identify systemic gaps in mental health resources that disproportionately impact communities of color in New York City.
- Reflect on personal and professional experiences with racial inequity and explore strategies, including those used by the Commission on Racial Equity, to reduce stigma and increase access to equitable care.
About Your Presenter
Lorenzo Van Ness is a queer, trans, Dominican, lifelong New Yorker, dedicated to building access for New Yorkers pushed to the margins, supporting community, and growing knowledge. Currently serving as the Director of Community Organizing and Engagement at the NYC Commission on Racial Equity, they bring over a decade of expertise in the legal field. They previously worked as a paralegal and supervisor where they focused on addressing discrimination, access to public benefits, immigration, and health law. Lorenzo is passionate about language access, disability justice, community safety, leadership development, and QTBIPOC liberation. Lorenzo holds a Master of Education from Hunter College.
Description
Workshop Description: If you want to learn and teach those you support simple, fast-acting and evidence-based stress and anxiety reduction techniques, this dynamic, experiential workshop is for you. This training will enable you to offer actionable exercises such as Quick Calm and Instant Vacation to reduce anger, restore focus, prevent panic episodes, improve sleep quality and reduce headaches, tension and other stress-fueled symptoms. You will also receive a customizable stress relief app to keep your chill on long after the program is over.
Learning Objectives:
- Aquire at least three evidence-based techniques to prevent and reduce your stress, sharpen focus and improve sleep
- Learn at least one technique to help those you support reduce anxiety, anger, overwhelm and other stress-related feelings
- Equip yourself with strategies and resources to support ongoing stress reduction for yourself and others
About Your Presenter
Jordan Friedman is known as The Stress Coach. For 25 years, he’s been helping people and communities around the world reduce stress and anxiety, including as director of Columbia University’s Health Education Program, host of The Chill Factory podcast and even as a New York City tour guide. Through his ‘chill factory’ of programs and resources, he has helped and learned from 9/11 survivors, educators, CEOs, students, incarcerated adults and many others who want to improve their performance, mood, sleep and health. Jordan’s specialty is training counselors, healthcare providers, coaches, parents and other helpers to use and teach evidence-based stress and anxiety reduction techniques to those they support.
Description
Workshop Description: Join us for a creative and reflective workshop where you will explore your inner world through guided imagery, uncover symbolic gifts and strengths, and bring them to life through artmaking and journaling. No art experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to connect with your inner wisdom.
Art Materials: For this workshop, all that is required is a pencil, pen, and unlined paper. If you have other materials as well, great! These might include: colored markers, colored pencils, watercolors, and crayons. You may also use found objects and/or collage materials such as beads, feathers, etc. - + glue.
Learning Objectives:
- Experience mindfulness through art meditation
- Engage in guided imagery as access to inner wisdom, strengths and gifts
- Make art as a means of expressing and embodying these symbolic gifts
- Reflect on all via journaling as access to gaining deeper insights
- Share experiences in a supportive group environment to enhance self-awareness and connection.
About Your Presenters
Linda Turner is a NYC based Visual Artist and Licensed Creative Arts Psychotherapist (LCAT) who has worked with a wide range of individuals and groups for 25+ years. Currently Linda is in private practice treating adults who struggle with complex trauma, anxiety and depression. Prior to this, she worked with youth for many years through the Chinatown YMCA, as well as at Catholic Charities, where she was art therapist and then clinical supervisor. Linda served on the board of NYCCAT (NY Coalition of Creative Arts Therapists) and is president of the LCAT Advocacy Coalition. As a workshop facilitator, Linda is passionate about reconnecting us to the profound value and impact of the creative process. She also has a robust mixed media art-making practice of her own.
Workshops - In-Person
Description
Workshop Description: This session facilitated by Kahshanna Evans will thoughtfully reflect on trauma-informed transformation and collective care as the North Star of actionable approaches to healing generational trauma and destigmatizing survivorship. By highlighting a combination of wisdom gained from her lived experiences—and the important role commonly used terms and jargon play in normalizing healing dialogues about survivorship and whole person wellbeing—participants will be invited to make space for a new lens on empowerment focused on relationships, belonging, and mattering.
Learning Objectives: Clarify benefits, challenges, opportunities, and unique obstacles to youth development in our times.
- Provide an example leadership path from vulnerable youth to trauma-informed change agent and consciousness leader
- Introduce commonly used terms and jargon in “PACEs and resilience science” as a tool to create awareness about the consequences of toxic stress and unique opportunity resilience-building practices offer
- Support healing-centered participant discussion on cultural and cross-cultural community building, the role of collective care, destigmatizing survivorship, and whole person wellbeing
About Your Presenter
Kahshanna Evans is a Trauma-Informed Resilient Communities Consultant, TINRC Advisory Council Member, and Senior Strategist at Kissing Lions Public Relations, where she brings a passion for trauma-informed transformation and community building through communications. Her diverse background spans wellness, nonprofit, communications, and professional services, including leadership at PACEs Connection, where she spearheaded the Creating Resilient Communities Accelerator program. Kahshanna’s journey began in entertainment as on-camera talent and an associate producer, which fueled her love for storytelling and led to founding her own communications consultancy for purpose-driven brands. She is a lifelong student of human nature, committed to human rights, expression, and transformation as tools for social change. Kahshanna has presented at numerous summits and educational institutions, and her insights have been featured in the New York Times, Mashable, and other outlets. Her work is deeply rooted in personal experience, resilience science, and the belief in the power of community to nurture healing and growth.
Description
Workshop Description: Join us for a hands-on Stars of Hope workshop where participants will create colorful wooden stars bearing messages of encouragement that will be sent to communities recovering from crisis. This immersive team-building experience combines the therapeutic power of creative expression with meaningful social impact, demonstrating how simple acts of kindness can transform both the giver and receiver.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will experience how artistic expression can be used as a tool for building team cohesion while simultaneously supporting community resilience.
- Participants will practice mindfulness techniques that can reduce workplace stress and improve team communication.
- Participants will discover how the simple act of creating art for others can foster empathy and purpose-driven teamwork in the workplace.
About Your Presenter
Lansie Sylvia headshot
Lansie Sylvia, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Vibrant Emotional Health, manages the Stars of Hope program while cultivating key organizational relationships that expand Vibrant's mental health services nationwide. With her expertise in strategic development and relationship management, she identifies and nurtures new collaborative opportunities that align with Vibrant's mission of making emotional wellness a reality for everyone. Based in Philadelphia and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Lansie excels at creating immersive Stars of Hope experiences that strengthen team bonds through shared creativity, combining meaningful corporate social responsibility with powerful team-building
Description
Workshop Description: In this very interactive training participants will learn skills and tips that work for hostage negotiators, 911 call responders, and suicide hotline operators to respond to people and clients in distress. In addition, they will learn how to minimize trauma to themselves and clients in the conversation.
Workshop Objectives:
- How to manage strong emotions from people in distress;
- How to work with people in distress to help them choose to comply or deescalate; and
- Handle their own reactions to these situations.
About Your Presenter
Nick Schmitt has over a decade of dedicated experience in conflict resolution. He is a seasoned mediator, negotiator, and facilitator whose expertise spans diverse fields. Having worked for multiple organizations, Nick has played a pivotal role in civil, state Supreme, and Federal court disputes as well as private conflicts. His practice includes mediation, conflict coaching, motivational interviewing, circle-keeping, and dialogue facilitation. He has taught mediation and conflict resolution at the law school level, has presented at local, national, and international conferences on conflict resolution, and has been quoted in media outlets from U.S. News & World Reports, Newsweek, and Univision.
Description
This workshop explores how restorative practices can be used to support LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness. Rather than relying on punitive approaches, we will focus on repairing harm and restoring relationships after conflict or crisis. Participants will learn how to bring together those affected to promote healing, accountability, and understanding. We will also discuss ways to involve the broader community in creating inclusive, affirming, and equitable responses.
Workshop Objectives:
Participants will learn how to:
- Repair harm rather than imposing punishment on LGBTQ+ young people
- Restore relationships by bringing together all folks who are impacted by an incident
- Involve community in decision-making and healing practices
About Your Presenters
Lexie Korn, LMSW, SIFI is the Clinical Supervisor for membership at The Door. She is a highly accomplished Licensed Social Worker and Psychotherapist who is committed to the resistance of all systems of oppression and dedicated to healing communities through an anti-racist and anti-oppressive lens.
Justin DeMateo, MSW, is the Director of Runaway & Homeless Youth Services at The Door- A Center of Alternatives. Justin currently holds a MSW and has been in social services in an array of systems such as, homeless youth, after-school programing, and child welfare. His true passion is youth development and mental health services to our young people in the community.