Conference Thanks
Dear Editor: The Sitka Resilience Project would like to express gratitude and appreciation for all those who supported, participated in, and attended the Aug. 18 Sitka Trauma-Informed Community Conference. The conference was a great success, with over 100 attendees, 10 presenters, and numerous individuals, agencies, and businesses working together to improve trauma-informed care in our community.
We would like to extend special thanks to the following: Dr. Linda Chamberlain for presenting the keynote address; Dr. Linda Chamberlain, Patrick Sidmore, Lakota Harden, Louise Brady, Jean Swanson, and Melissa Wentzel for presenting at and facilitating breakout sessions; Maria Papa, Mandy Evans and Tina Bachmeier for participating in the panel discussion; Bertha Karras for providing an opening prayer; Tina Bachmeier, Kelsey Barbour and Sydney Carter for providing advocate support; Matthew Jackson for organizing child care and Sitka Counseling staff and volunteers for providing child care; Harrigan Centennial Hall staff for providing space and tremendous support; Sea Mart Quality Foods, A/C Lakeside Grocery, Sitka True Value, and Ben Franklin Store for donations; and the Daily Sitka Sentinel and Raven Radio for advertising and coverage of the event.
We would also like to offer special thanks to the following agencies and organizations for supporting and organizing the conference: the Sitka School District, Sitkans Against Family Violence and the Pathways Coalition, Sitka Tribe of Alaska Social Services Department, Sitka Counseling, Youth Advocates of Sitka, Sitka Conservation Society and Neurobehavioral Consultants. Special thanks to Phil Burdick and Alaire Hughey for their tremendous work organizing and ensuring everything ran smoothly. If we forgot to include anyone in this letter of appreciation, we apologize for the oversight.
Above all, we would like to honor the Sheet’ka Kwaan Tlingit people, for lending us use of their land. We would like to thank Louise Brady for opening the conference with intentionality, respect and spirit in an appropriate traditional manner. And we would like to thank the many citizens of Sitka who spent a sunny Saturday inside in service to the community.
For information about the Sitka Resilience Project and to get involved, contact Melissa Wentzel at 738-0462.
Gunalchéesh!
The Sitka Resilience Project
