Volume 3 | September 27, 2017
TRACEs Newsletter - November 2017
Prepared by Katie McClure, TRACES Director at your service.
541-410-8779, katiehmcclure@gmail.com
REFLECTIONS ON RESILIENCE & THANKSGIVING
As we immerse ourselves in Thanksgiving week, let us consider the three categories of resilience:
  1. Individual Strength
  2. Social Connections
  3. Community Resources
 
Within the category of individual strength is something called ‘having a strong cultural identity.’ According to the National Institutes of Health, a positive cultural identity can provide an individual with a sense of belonging, purpose, social support & self-worth. Identifying and engaging in Indigenous cultures has been linked with enhanced self-assessed health, improved educational and employment outcomes, and greater life satisfaction. [1]

Most view Thanksgiving as a time to think about and celebrate those things for which we are thankful. While this is important, for many Indian people, “Thanksgiving” is a time of mourning, of remembering how a gift of generosity was rewarded by theft of land and seed corn, extermination of many from disease and gun, and near total destruction of many more from forced assimilation. As currently celebrated in this country, “Thanksgiving is a bitter reminder of 500 years of betrayal returned for friendship. [2]
This Thanksgiving, we encourage you to learn about and share the Native American experience. Here are some ways to do so:
  1. American Indian perspectives on Thanksgiving from the National Museum of the American Indian
  2. National Geographic exercise for 14-18 year-olds
  3. Consider ways to celebrate November as Native American Heritage Month
  4. Children’s books about Thanksgiving from the Native American perspective
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5525355/
[2] http://moniquill.tumblr.com/post/13244159361/deconstructing-the-myths-of-the-first
WORKING TOGETHER
  1. SHARED COMMITMENT: Welcome new partners! Since our last newsletter, we’ve welcomed LaPine Middle School, Healthy Families of the High Desert, Boys and Girls Club of Bend, Inspire Early Learning Centers, High Desert ESD PreK-3rd Initiative, Fact for Oregon, Circle of Friends, and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and now have 23 formal partners. Are you committed to learning together and sharing what you know? Joining is super easy; just enter your information here!
  2. SUPPORTING PROVIDERS: Become a TIO Trained Trainer! More trainers means more people can get the training they desire so Trauma Informed Oregon (TIO) and the United Way are hosting an intensive (FREE!) Train the Trainer Feb. 14-16. The training is free but space is limited and there are prerequisites (offered in Jan). If you are at all interested, please contact the United Way… and/or spread the word!
  3. LEARNING TOGETHER:
a. Spring Event. Winter has only just begun and already it’s time to think about the TRACES Spring Event. In order to ensure that the event meets the needs of partners, please share your thoughts here about what would make it a good use of your time.
b. Metrics. Would your organization be interested in piloting a Resiliency Survey Tool early in 2018? We find it fascinating that with all the benefits of resiliency, we don’t actually know how resilient the people of Central Oregon are. OSU is working with us to change that and you can help. Contact me to learn more.
RESOURCES

1.  Community Conversations. TRACES partner, Kara Tachikara from Inspire Early Learning Centers is on fire making sure more people know the impacts of trauma, the solution of resilience, and what they can do. She has already engaged her staff; and has plans to engage her board, other early learning center leaders, and a local Chamber of Commerce audience.  Contact us to learn about bringing the TRACES 101: Community Conversation to your community.
2. Trainers and Speakers . Are you looking for quality speakers or trainers for your audience? Check www.tracesco.org for our (growing) list of local and national experts or give me a call if you want help figuring out who might be right for what you are hoping to accomplish. 
3. Videos . PAPER TIGERS and RESILIENCE: The Biology of Stress & The Science of Hope are companion films directed and produced by KPJR Films . Both films explore Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the impact of toxic stress on the brain and overall health of children. To host a (no cost) screening for either film, contact Marci Oakes of the Early Learning Hub, at 541-693-5769 or marci.oakes@hdesd.org 
TAKING ACTION PARTNER HIGHLIGHT: Boys and Girls Club

Wondering where to start? Follow the lead of the Boys and Girls Club (Contact: Alley Sabin, ASabin@bgcbend.org for more details). They are using Dr. Ginsburg’s 7C’s  and ACESConnection’s new Tracker App for inspiration. Here’s BGCs approach:
  1. Viewed "Paper Tigers" documentary (available for free; contact us for details) at a dinner meeting with all staff
  2. Did an ACEs survey of staff, shared and discussed the (anonymous and summarized) results and how to build a supportive work environment
  3. Used the 7C's to assess their work environment and identify things they want to work on
  4. Plan to show "Resilience: The biology of stress and the science of hope" documentary (also available for free; contact us for details
  5. Plan to survey staff for resiliency and then discuss
  6. Talking about how to effectively understand the trauma experience and resilience of their kiddos
Thank you for taking the time to stay informed and connected to this important work. We wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving connecting with those you care about, remembering our history, and giving thanks for those things that build resilience in our communities.
TRACEs Central Oregon | katiehmcclure@gmail.com| www.tracesco.org