Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are hyper-stressful, traumatic events experienced in a child’s or adolescent’s life. ACEs very common and most Americans have at least one, they can happen to anyone. The experiences and environments during our childhood and developing years have a tremendous, lifelong impact on our health, ability to learn and the quality of our lives – as they can alter the architecture of our developing brain and body. The ACE Study showed dramatic links between adverse childhood experiences and risky behavior, psychological issues, serious illness and the leading causes of death. Looking upstream, the science also positively affirms what is predictable is preventable! Each of us has the potential to reduce ACEs and build Resilience that will lead to better lifelong outcomes. Together, we can grow a thriving and healthy community family tree for generations to come. Mary King Gruman, MS, LPC, NCC. A licensed professional counselor with Birchbark Counseling in Traverse City, Michigan, Mary is active in the Traverse City based Licensed Professional Counselors of Northern Michigan group and currently serves as a Master Trainer for the Michigan ACE Initiative. She is on the board of the local National Alliance for Mental Illness chapter as well as the advisory board of the Generations Ahead teen parenting program. Her practice serves people aged 13 and up and she specializes in helping young people figure out how to get back on track.
Mary has lived in Traverse City for 8 years after spending thirty years in Southeast Asia, where she raised four children with her husband Jep. She founded and led the Singapore American School Arts Council, the Community Library and Symphony Bus programs for ten years.
A graduate of the University of Connecticut, she captained the women’s Division 1 tennis team; upon graduating she accepted a position in the management training program at Citibank in New York and completed a series of overseas assignments in Europe, South America and Asia. She received her MS at the University of the Southwest.
Alison Arnold Ed.D. Directs the Interdisciplinary Center for Community Health & Wellness at Central Michigan University, a five-college collaboration with community partners to provide programs, research, professional education and projects focused on health priorities. By creating awareness within communities, mobilizing health care professionals and educators, and giving them tools to productively and timely intervene, we can ensure that children, families and adults receive life-changing assistance.
Dr. Arnold’s experience cuts across education, business, and philanthropy. With over 20 years in education administration, she has led community engagement initiatives, grants, and partnerships to support learning for P-12 and higher education institutions. She serves on the board for the Utopia Foundation which is dedicated to help create a world where communities thrive and every child goes to bed feeling nourished, loved, happy and hopeful about tomorrow.
Dr. Arnold is a Master Trainer for the Michigan ACEs Initiative, Building Self-Healing Communities, providing training for teachers, allied health and medical professions, community health workers, parents, and others who support children and individuals experiencing trauma and adversity in their lives. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at [ Ссылка ]
