Fayette FACTOR is excited to bring a Trauma Summit: Our Community Thrives When Families Thrive! to Fayette County on Tuesday, August 15, 2023!  At this in-person event, we will share information about the impact of trauma on the community as well as providing key action steps and resources to help you be part of the solution.  Community leaders and stakeholders with an interest in building healthy communities are invited to attend.

During the Summit, attendees will hear from experts from across the state and nation regarding how to be more aware of and responsive to those who are impacted by trauma.

Understanding how to respond to persons dealing with trauma is important, given that anyone of any age, race, or economic status can experience traumatic events. By participating in the upcoming Summit you will be at the forefront of moving this important work forward in Fayette County.

Registration Fee: There is no fee to register for the Trauma Summit however there are a limited number of spaces available. Please email us at [email protected] if you have not received an invitation and would like to attend. If you registered and are no longer able to attend, please let us know.  This may allow others to join the Summit based on capacity numbers.

Guest Presenters

Jill Taylor, Community Partnerships and Projects Manager, Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL).

In her role, Jill leads DECAL’s team of Early Education Community Partnership Coordinators who work across the state of Georgia to connect and convene community partners that are focused on early childhood education. DECAL strives to ensure access to high quality early education services for all children and families, particularly by building capacity and awareness among local leaders.  Her work also includes the implementation of DECAL’s Community Impact Grants. These grants provide community-level support for Georgia’s children ages birth to five and their families, increase opportunities for sustainable community collaboration, and create new opportunities for communities to innovate at the local level to address critical needs. Before joining DECAL in 2015, Jill served as the program coordinator for the Early Childhood Care and Education program at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College (WGTC) and taught Georgia’s Pre-K in the Coffee County School District.

Debra Ross, Trainer, Child Welfare Training Collaborative/ Professional Excellence Program at Georgia State University School of Social Work.

Debra Ross  is a trainer for the Child Welfare Training Collaborative/ Professional Excellence Program at Georgia State University School of Social Work. In this capacity, she provides extensive training in the topics of trauma, trauma-informed care, resilience, and other related child welfare topics. Participants in Debra’s classes come from a variety of backgrounds in both the public and private sectors. Debra has worked in training and staff development for the last 20 years. She began her career in social work over 30 years ago – working in child welfare in a variety of roles. In her downtime, she enjoys gardening, eating seafood, and long drives.  Debra earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Fisk University and a Master of Social Work from Fordham University.

Dr. Veirdre Jackson, CEO/Founder of Living Strong Consulting LLC.

Dr. Jackson is an award-winning author, educator, and entrepreneur who is recognized as a leading educational trainer in trauma informed practices and DEIB. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Drexel University; a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Temple University; and a Doctoral Degree from Wilmington University in Leadership and Innovation. Dr. Jakson is a veteran educator with over 25 years of experience supporting non-profit and executive leadership which has led to her becoming the CEO/Founder of Living Strong Consulting LLC.

She has harnessed her passion for building organizational resilience and personal strength on behalf of youth, families, and educational professionals and provides training, consulting and support to impact children from the inside out.  She is a highly sought-after keynote speaker and consultant. Her commitment to leaders and organizational development is elevated through her John Maxwell Team Certification in Leadership Development. Her internet radio show and podcast on Voice America’s Empowerment Station, Spotify and iHeart Radio entitled Living Strong: The Flip Side of Adversity reaches listeners in more than 40 countries with inspirational, authentic and practical stories of healing through lived experiences by her guest cohosts. Her 2019 book and video series Fearless Conversations with a Limitless God provides insight on addressing the challenges to breaking the cycle of toxic thoughts that keep women in “hiding places”.

Adrienne L. Marshall, M.S. LMFT owner of The Living Well Agency, LLC.

Adrienne L. Marshallis a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Life Coach, and Psycho-educational Trainer originally from the state of Mississippi. She has worked in the mental health field for over 15 years. She has served a variety of clients from all different walks of life in places such as New York, rural Mississippi, and now Georgia. Adrienne now resides in Fayette County and calls the city of Fayetteville home with her husband and daughter who attends Fayette County High School. She is also the new owner of The Living Well Agency, a private practice right in the heart of downtown Fayetteville serving clients in need of therapy, coaching, and training services.

Krista Gonce, Regional Prevention Coordinator for the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy

Krista Gonce has been a Regional Prevention Coordinator for the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy since August 2012. She has a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University in Atlanta, and has worked in the human services field since 2004. She previously worked as a Victim Advocate at the State Attorney’s Office in Orlando, Florida and a Substance Abuse Counselor at various non-profit agencies in both Florida and Georgia. Krista currently resides in Fayette County with her husband and daughter.

Dr. Julie Turner, CEO/Founder of JAT Educational Consulting Services

Dr. Julie Turner is a retired educator with experiences in all levels of education - PreK through post secondary.  Dr. Turner’s career began as a science teacher.  She has also served as an assistant principal, principal, and district leader.  Under her leadership as principal, Kedron Elementary School was the first elementary school in the Fayette County Public Schools system to earn a score of 100 on Georgia's College and Career Ready Performance Index. The school was also named a National Blue Ribbon School for a second time.  Dr. Turner earned degrees from Northeast Louisiana University, Louisiana State University, and Georgia State University.  Since retiring from K-12 education, Dr. Turner has focused on the development of children before they start kindergarten.

We look forward to seeing you there! Please contact us at [email protected] with any questions.