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Surprize Parker and Luis Luna Join SCAN Team
in Richmond Public Schools
SCAN has the opportunity to deepen our partnership with Richmond Public Schools during the 20-21 school year through support from federal CARES funding. Two new SCAN staff, Surprize Parker and Luis Luna, have already begun working within the school system. They join SCAN staff, Olivya and Margo, that have been embedded within RPS since 2018. Through this project, Luis and Surprize will provide technical support to RPS staff and community partnerships in order to build their capacity to identify and respond to manifestations of toxic stress in educational environments in a trauma-responsive manner, as well as develop skills to actively build resilience in students, families and staff to serve as a preventative and universal support. We are thankful to have Luis and Surprize join the SCAN team!
Surprize Parker

What has your life/work experience been that brought you to SCAN?
I am the oldest of four children to a single parent teen mother. My childhood experiences are similar to many of the wonderful children and families we serve. I remember throughout my schooling there was always a significant adult (staff) that supported me and my family. It has always been my heart's desire to be just what a child needs, just as the many along my journey were just what I needed!

I began my work in this field as a family advocate with Henrico Public Schools and then transitioned to an identical role as a Parent Liaison with Richmond Public Schools. In this role I provided support for parents to help them better navigate the school system. This role also allowed me to help educate parents about trauma and how it may show up in every day arenas, and provide resources to help them work through issues as they arose. While doing this work I obtained my degree in Professional Counseling and then transitioned into the role of Behavioral Specialist also with Richmond Public Schools. In this role I worked diligently to support teachers, administrators, students and their families to understand the social emotional needs of children and by doing so helping to mitigate challenging behaviors. In this capacity I was able to work with Margo and other SCAN staff to enrich the staff of RPS with Trauma Informed professional development to continue the work of becoming a Trauma Informed Community!

Do you have any goals or hopes for the next year?
I have a Master's degree in Professional Counseling and it is my hope to work towards completing my hours to obtain full licensure and to be a greater asset to SCAN and have a greater impact on creating mindful living in Richmond. It is also my hope that through the work of SCANs RPS Trauma Informed Team that we help to create mindfulness practices as a way of life, to shift the culture of RPS and the community at large. I hope that the impact is allows for school staff, families and students to feel safe and supported each and every day!
Luis Luna

What has your life/work experience been that brought you to SCAN?

I was born in Barranquilla, Colombia and immigrated to the United States at the age of four. I do not consider myself a refugee, but my family left Colombia because of much of the turmoil that ravaged the country in the 1980s and 1990s. I grew up in a very diverse community with a very diverse core group of friends. However, growing up as a Latino immigrant in the United States provided me with experiences and a very unique perspective that has informed my work today. I learned early on through my own experiences that people are treated differently by society because of their demographics, and as someone who loved all my friends from all different walks of life, I could not understand why this was the case. It was not until high school and then undergrad that I really understood why I was l perceived and treated differently than others around me. Finally, while studying at Virginia Tech, I decided that I would become a teacher because I wanted to help those that felt like me, or that may have been treated worse than I ever had, navigate their adolescence in order to inevitably become healthy and successful adults.

Upon graduating with my Master’s in Education from George Mason, I decided that I would move to Richmond to teach at the Richmond Alternative School. During my tenure at the Richmond Alternative School I lost precious children to gun violence in our city. Children that I had the pleasure of building relationships with would get arrested for anything from petty larceny and possession of drugs to homicide. I began to question my role in my students’ lives and the role of public schools in general. This led me to do some independent research and I learned about the ACEs Study and how trauma impacted our children. I then reached out to GRSCAN and the Trauma Informed Community Network in order to help bring trauma informed and resiliency building practices to the Richmond Alternative School. Unfortunately, by the time GRSCAN was able to start working with the Richmond Alternative School, the latter was set to be privatized and upon its privatization I was transferred to Huguenot High School, the only high school in the city at the time that had an English Language Learner program.

During my time at Huguenot High School I experienced much of the same issues that I saw at the Richmond Alternative School to a lesser extent, but also became more aware of the traumas our Latinx community has and its impact in the classroom. As a teacher, coach, and volunteer with LULAC and the Mayor’s Youth Academy, I made a deliberate effort to build relationships with all my students and their families in order to better serve our communities. Over the years I continued to advocate and organize for trauma informed and resiliency building practices as well as services for our ELL and SPED students, whom are often times the most marginalized. Many years later I have come full-circle to work for GRSCAN as a Trauma Informed Education Specialist to impact our schools at a more systemic level.
Child Advocate's Virtual Breakfast
Join us on October 9, 2020 at 8:30am for the 10th Annual SCAN Child Advocate's Breakfast. The program will highlight 
SCAN's Trauma-Informed Education work including the Circle Preschool Program and SCAN's work within the public school system focusing on the 
social-emotional needs of children.
Questions: kbyrd@grscan.com or call 804.257.7226 x 106
Help Outfit New Circle Preschool Program Classrooms!
SCAN's Circle Preschool Program has moved and is expanding! In partnership with the YWCA, SCAN has relocated to the new Sprout School at 1101 Bainbridge Street this month. We are excited to have two classrooms, a sensory room, and a therapy room to serve our preschoolers in this new space.

We need your help to make the classroom a welcoming learning environment for our preschool friends. From art supplies and play therapy toys to book shelves and sensory items, there are many different items on our Amazon wish list that you can purchase and send directly to the preschool.


**Be sure to select Greater Richmond SCAN-Stop Child Abuse Now, Inc. as your AmazonSmile Charity in your app or on the web before you shop!**

SCAN Staff Appear on Episode of the ACEsConnection
A Better Normal Community Discussion Series
SCAN's Melissa McGinn and Lisa Wright were guests on Episode 50 of the ACEs Connection A Better Normal Community Discussion Series. View the full episode on YouTube as they dive deeper into the work of the Greater Richmond Trauma Informed Community Network (TICN) and explore how this initiative has grown dramatically in the past 8 years to spread knowledge about Adverse Childhood Experiences, trauma, resilience and trauma-informed care in the Richmond region and has inspired a TICN movement across Virginia.
Join Greater Richmond SCAN's Trauma-Informed Specialists Amanda Lynch and Amy Johnson for this two-part virtual training. In part one, we will define trauma, review the findings of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Study, and explore the impact of trauma on the brain and behavior. In part two, we will share and practice strategies and interventions specific to responding to individuals with trauma and discuss the science of building resilience. This free public training is open to all members of the community interested in a foundational learning experience around these topics.
Thank you!
Thank you to Bon Secours for their recent grant to support the Greater Richmond Trauma Informed Community Network!

Thank you to the Memorial Foundation for Children and Robins Foundation for their recent grants to SCAN's Circle Preschool Program. We are grateful for their ongoing commitment which will help enable us to expand this program and serve more preschoolers in our community.
Support Greater Richmond SCAN during the Dominion Energy Charity Classic through Birdies for Charity Presented by TowneBank!

The Birdies for Charity Presented by TowneBank program enables Richmond-area charities to use the Dominion Energy Charity Classic tournament as a fundraising platform.

The program gives SCAN an opportunity to generate contributions through flat donations,
as well as a 10% bonus on the funds we generate through the program!
 
Mustaches 4 Kids Richmond Recruiting Growers
M4K Richmond have been longtime supporters and friends to SCAN. They are currently recruiting growers for their 2020 season.

M4K Richmond improves the quality of life for local children through individual fundraising, partnering with local charities and businesses, and having a little bit of fun with facial hair.
Give a Gift Through United Way
When you join a United Way campaign, you have the opportunity to choose how your contribution is spent. You can have your gift distributed for you or you can give your gift to a specific organization.  

SCAN is eligible to receive donor designations through the United Way campaigns.  
 
Our campaign codes are as follows:
United Way Campaign: #3343 (please also list SCAN)
Combined Federal Campaign (CFC): #82607
Local Government & Schools (LGS): #166
Protect a Child today with a gift to SCAN's Annual Fund.
Greater Richmond SCAN | 804-257-7226 | www.grscan.com