We’re thrilled to announce that resilience research experts Dr. Kateryna Keefer and Dr. Sandrina de Finney are confirmed as the keynote presenters for the Inviting Resilience national conference to be hosted by Trent University; Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre; and The Mane Intent Inc. on May 21 & May 22, 2019 at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario. Academic and experiential learning will be combined to provide meaningful opportunities in building community capacity for the newest evidence-based practices; community-driven, multi-sectoral initiatives; and trauma-informed programming focused on building resilience in youth and adults impacted by childhood trauma and sexual violence over the lifespan.
Dr. Kateryna (Katia) Keefer will Chair the Inviting Resilience conference. Dr. Keefer is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Trent University and the research lead for Building Internal Resilience Through Horses. As an emerging scholar, Dr. Keefer has co-authored over 30 journal articles and book chapters on the topics of emotional intelligence, resilience, mental health, and psychological assessment; delivered numerous invited talks and conference presentations on these topics; and co-edited the Springer book of Emotional Intelligence in Education.
Dr. Keefer is the opening plenary keynote scheduled at 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Her presentation themed Resourceful Communities, Resilient Youth will focus on the developmental dynamics and applications of socioemotional competencies in the promotion of wellness and resilience across the lifespan. She will also share preliminary research results from Building Internal Resilience Through Horses.
Dr. Sandrina de Finney is the Associate Professor and Graduate Advisor, School of Child and Youth Care, at the University of Victoria. Dr. de Finney is an associate professor whose primary focus of scholarship is Indigenous and minoritized populations, particularly youth in care and girls/young women. Drawing on over two decades of experience as a community activitist, researcher, trainer and youth worker, Dr. Sandrina’s academic work documents the impact of (neo)colonial practices and policies and how racialized communities negotiate and disrupt their effects. Her scholarship is rooted in participatory, action-oriented, and arts-based methods and draws on Indigenous, queer, anti-racist, anti/postcolonial and transnational feminist theories and perspectives.
The theme of Dr. de Finney’s keynote scheduled for Wednesday, May 22 at 8:45 a.m. is: Indigenous Resurgence as Resilience: Promising Pathways for Resilience and Healing in Indigenous Contexts. In this presentation, Dr. de Finney will explore the issues of trauma, resilience, healing and reconciliation can be reconsidered through Indigenous lens. This conceptual shift takes Indigenous resilience out of its individualized psycho-social definition and locates it instead in relationship with ancestors, lands, kinship, and self-determination.
Conference organizers have extended the deadline for applications for session proposals and poster presentations that focus on resilience research and experiential practice related to: Neurobiology and Impacts of Interpersonal Trauma; Models, Factors and Processes in Resilience; Child, Youth & Young Adult Development; Trauma-Informed Community Programs; Resilience-Building Programs; Opportunities for Resilience-Building with Survivors of Sexual, Gender-based and Intimate Partner Violence, and Survivors of Adverse Childhood Experiences. Organizers encourage applications highlighting Indigenous, Racialized, Immigrant, Refugee and LGBTQ+ perspectives. The deadline for session proposals is January 28, 2019 and the deadline for poster presentations is February 18, 2019. For more information about Inviting Resilience Conference contact Katie McKeiver at the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre at 705-748-5901 or by email kmckeiver@kawarthasac.ca.
Research results from Building Internal Resilience Through Horses, a community-based program launched in 2017, will be part of Dr. Keefer’s keynote presentation. The program is designed to promote resilience and life skills in young women aged 13 – 18 years living in the City and County of Peterborough and surrounding areas who are survivors of child maltreatment and/or young women exposed to intimate partner violence. The initiative is founded on the premise that, through hands-on experience of equine-assisted learned combined with expressive and psychoeducational workshops, women will reduce post-traumatic symptoms, improve mental health, enhance personal coping skills and resilience, while reducing post-traumatic symptoms and their risk of harm in the future.
Both Inviting Resilience Conference and Building Internal Resilience Through Horses are supported by a $464,983 contribution fund received by Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre in 2017. The funding is part of the The Public Health Agency of Canada Innovation Strategy supporting the Health of Victims of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse through Community Programs. This innovative project is being led by Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre in partnership with The Mane Intent Inc. and researchers from Trent University’s Emotion and Health Research Laboratory. Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre was one of over 150 agencies from across Canada to apply for the funding and one of 17 organizations to successful receive the funding.
About the Author: Jennifer Garland is the Owner/Program Director of The Mane Intent, offering Health and Wellness Workshops and Individual and Team Effectiveness Coaching. Jennifer’s intent is to bring horses and humans together to explore new possibilities, getting you out of your comfort zone and giving clarity of voice to your leader within. She has over 25 years of leadership experience in communications, cause-related marketing and change management. As a strategist, facilitator and effectiveness coach, Jennifer has provided counsel and support to senior leaders from all walks of life to build productive relationships, facilitate learning and to embrace change. She is a ‘socialpreneur’ who values the art of living life fully with intent.
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