January 11 is designated National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. It is a day devoted to becoming more aware or making others aware that Human Trafficking is prevalent not only around our world, but in our own towns. It exists within our neighborhoods. Our initial response to learning of human trafficking is to accept its existence…
Dr. Heather Evans sits down with Deb Cummins Stellato on the Think Courageously podcast. Heather shares her journey of working with women and how “the work of trauma found her.” Heather and Deb explore the connection between the word courage and trauma. Trauma is an experience of threat that creates powerlessness and often silences the…
I am preparing to attend a Community of Practice this week organized by the American Bible Society. This annual gathering includes an opportunity to network and learn from those committed to domestic and global trauma healing. This year’s theme is “We are Sojourners: Refugees & Trauma.” It is an appropriate theme in a glaring, growing…
Dr. Heather Evans sits down with Joe Velarde, Lead Pastor of Riverbend Community Church on the podcast Vision for the Valley. They take a look at what trauma is, what it does to us, and some helpful ways to process it. They also discuss ways to help others who may experience trauma: how to be…
Quarantine. When it seems all has been stripped away, what remains? Comfort traded for uncertainty. Ease becomes disruption. Anticipation leads to loss. Shared spaces become divided souls. Joyful moments to forced boundaries. Sense of time is disordered (how do weeks feel more like months, yet how have we lost two months already?!). What has this…
Today I attended the sentencing hearing for a local human trafficker. Over the last 2 years since his arrest, VAST (Valley Against Sex Trafficking) Coalition, has sought to work alongside law enforcement and prosecutors by providing stabilizing support for 7 of the victims. The room was glaringly empty. A newspaper reporter, and a couple…