Leadership

Trauma-informed, anti-racist leadership integrates an understanding of the neurobiology of collective trauma and the inner workings of the human nervous system as well as anti-racist strategies that leaders can use to facilitate adpatation in a changing organizational landscape.

THE COVID PANDEMIC has brought unprecedented pressure onto local government, healthcare, and non-profit leaders to be responsive to the extreme stress impacting all clients, and employees, as well as their families. In addition to the spread of sometimes lethal virus, hitting hard in BIPOC communities, in the past year there has renewed scrutiny of unjust police practices and the way they impact members of the African-American community. The dramatic economic downturn has also negatively impacted clients especially BIPOC clients and their families, as well as BIPOC employees and their families. The reverberations can be felt through many communities

Organizational leaders are in an important position to buffer against some of the stressful impacts of this unprecedented moment in history. There is a need for coherent frameworks to guide their response to these communities that are hurting and the employees who help and support them.

Tailored to the needs of leaders with positional authority as well as those emerging leaders who exert natural influence, “Trauma-informed, Anti-racist Leadership During a Pandemic and Beyond” describes how trauma-informed and anti-racist strategies can be important in buffering against psychological injury and enhancing resilience and adaptation in a rapidly changing world. Drawing on the pathbreaking work of Ibram X. Kendi, it explicitly incorporates an anti-racist framework to help leaders navigate an emotionally fraught and dramatically changing organizational landscape. Trauma-informed, anti-racist leadership integrates an understanding of the neurobiology of collective trauma and the inner workings of the human nervous system as well as anti-racist strategies that leaders can use. These practices strengthen protective factors that enhance long-term resilience and facilitate meaningful adaptation and inclusion.

In addition to presenting content on trauma-informed and anti-racist practices, the impacts of trauma and racism on the body, the value of empathy and authenticity in navigating sensitive issues, and leadership strategies to buffer against toxic stress, the webinar will model trauma-informed facilitation practices that participants can use in their work.

As a clinician, co-facilitator Tori Lopez, LCSW has worked with marginalized and traditionally underserved youth in the public school, community mental health, and criminal justice systems, with an interest in youth of color and LBGTQA+ individuals. She has also been a crisis responder who worked with individuals who struggle with chronic mental illness. She is a Wraparound Instructor for PSU’s System of Care Institute.