Encore Intersectionality: The Trauma and Resilience of Girls of Color
October 26, 2023
Hosted by Ingrid Cockhren
[Download MP3] [itunes] [Bookmark Episode]
Guest Information
Episode Description
Recent research findings have outlined that adolescent girls are experiencing extreme levels of trauma and adversity. This is especially true for African American, Hispanic/Latina and Indigenous girls. These findings are aligned with the recently released book "Girls on the Brink" written by PACEs Connection member, Donna Jackson Nakazawa. In this episode, we will be joined by Vernisha Crawford to discuss the lives of girls of color and the intersectionality of racism and sexism. Vernisha is the CEO of Trauma Informed Institute. By educating 15,000+ working professionals, helping secure and manage over $12 million, and directly serving hundreds of families, her work has increased in need across many sectors and countries worldwide. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from UNC Charlotte and a Master’s Degree in Leadership from Grand Canyon University. She is a Certified Trauma Informed Executive Coach, Certified Health & Wellness Coach, a Master Level Certified Professional Life Coach, a Business Coach, and Scrum Master. She is pursuing her Ph.D. in General Psychology with a specialization in Trauma & Disaster Relief, yet her most significant learning is motherhood. Vernisha is also the Founder of the BYE Foundation. This 501c3 organization offers a unique approach to systems change work by addressing equity gaps in funding, data, research, capacity building, and wellness. Vernisha has been a guest facilitator at Davidson College, Belmont, Vanderbilt, and Fisk Universities. She has served as a member of the Early Childhood Executive Committee for Mecklenburg County, the NC ACES Task Force Advisory Board, NC Juvenile Justice Behavioral Health Committee, Charlotte Lab School Board, and Charlotte Community Board for The Gathering Spot. In her free time, she is full-filled, working with her passion project @DanceHerSize, a wellness program that teaches women and girls about the eight dimensions of wellness through dance and exercise.
History. Culture. Trauma
Thursday at 1PM Pacific Time on VoiceAmerica Health and Wellness Channel
According to Resmaa Menakem, trauma decontextualized over time looks like culture. We, at PACEs Connection, agree. 2020, with COVID-19, our climate crisis, and the racial reckoning, has shown us that trauma is embedded within our institutions, our culture, and our history. 2020 was a collective trauma. And, with the addition of technological advances like the internet and social media, we are more connected to our collective selves than ever before. We can no longer live in silos, focused on the individual. We know now that our shared experiences matter. Our podcast will examine trauma and resilience, not just at the individual level, at the systems and cultural level. How has the trauma of slavery and genocide impacted our current society? Why are the cultural manifestations of trauma, i.e., community violence, school shootings, etc., so pervasive? Together, our hosts and their guests will outline the true impact of trauma and resilience on the human experience.
Ingrid Cockhren
Ingrid Cockhren knows first-hand how impactful trauma and toxic stress can be for children and families and has dedicated her professional life to investigating and educating the public about the link between early trauma, early adversity, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), positive childhood experiences and the consequences that occur across the lifespan. Specializing in creating equitable and inclusive environments within organizations, collective impacts and grassroot movements, Cockhren uses her knowledge of stress, trauma, historical trauma, human development, and psychology to translate research concerning DEI into community, workplace, and organizational solutions. Cockhren graduated from Tennessee State University with a B.S. in psychology and from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College with a M.Ed. in child studies specializing in minority and impoverished children. Her research areas are African American parenting styles, positive and adverse childhood experiences, historical trauma, intergenerational trauma, brain development, developmental psychology, and epigenetics. Cockhren’s experience includes juvenile justice, family counseling, early childhood education, professional development, consulting, and community education. She is currently CEO at PACEs Connection and an adjunct professor specializing in Black psychology, developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, and personality theory at Tennessee State University.
