"If you are alive, you have emotions" The Cultural Impact of Trauma Recovery: an interview with Simi Basu

"If you are alive, you have emotions" The Cultural Impact of Trauma Recovery: an interview with Simi Basu

Simi Basu, STEM School teacher and parent during the shooting in May of 2019, speaks about the impact of her Indian culture on trauma recovery. Simi highlights the importance of recognizing and acknowledging the impact of a traumatic event on herself and her family rather than the cultural norm of ignoring mental health. Simi elaborates on her development of a new reality, her acceptance of being misunderstood, in finding new social groups and support systems, as well as the impact of cultural competence among providers such as therapists. Simi is passionate about speaking the unspoken, and helping others recognize that they are not alone in their journey in trauma recovery.

Recovery is not one line; It's Scribbles. Interview with Heather Martin

Heather Martin, one of the founders of the Rebel's Project and Columbine shooting survivor shares about her journey following the shooting, and things that have helped her to cultivate resiliency. Heather discusses how she came to discover what her "new normal" is, the importance that she has found in community of other survivors, what the Rebel's project is, normalizes the non-linear path of life following a shooting. The resource mentioned at the beginning is the National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Centerhttps://www.nmvvrc.org/ [https://www.nmvvrc.org/] The Rebels Project Website: https://www.therebelsproject.org/ [https://www.therebelsproject.org/]

Different Paths: Interview with Heather Dearman

Heather Dearman, CEO of the 720 Foundation, describes the nuances in her, her family's, and her community's, journey in recovery from the 2012 shooting at Century 16 movie theater in Aurora Colorado.  She considers her definition of resiliency and things that have been impactful in her journey.   Heather highlights the power of community following tragedy.  How support systems, and seeking support have shifted for her, while also acknowledging how her perspective on seeking support has changed.  She reflects on how her views related to who is impacted by mass violence have changed, as well as how it has been beneficial for her to shift into advocacy related to gun violence.   She discusses the impact of one child in Missouri inspired the creation of the memorial for the theater shooting, and continues to inspire many to send support to other's following mass violence through the creation of paper cranes.   Heather discusses the Survivors of Tragedy Outreach Program (STOP) and the importance of peer to peer support in trauma recovery, whether through this program or through the Rebel's project.   Further information on the 720 Foundation can be found: https://www.7-20memorial.org/ The Rebels Project: https://www.therebelsproject.org/ STOP: https://www.tuesdayschildren.org/our-programs/community-resilience/#:~:text=The%20Survivors%20of%20Tragedy%20Outreach,to%20help%20other%20communities%20heal. Also, to see what we are up to at the Center for Strength visit: https://www.center4strength.org/

Resiliency and Rubberbands: Conversation with MacClain Figueroa

MacClain Figueroa is the guest on this episode.  MacClain is a parent of two children who were at STEM School in Highlands Ranch during the shooting in 2019.  MacClain discusses resiliency, factors that have helped him and his in cultivating resiliency, and ways that martial arts can be impactful for people both who have experienced trauma and in general.  MacClain provides insight into how honoring trauma responses, developing grounding techniques through breathing, and double backflip dragon kicks can impact a persons perspective, frustration tolerance, and life in general.   Check out MacClain's martial arts groups at the Center for Strength, and reach out with any questions you have. Center4strength.org

Cultivating Resiliency, Community, and Flexibility: An Interview with Bethany Laurie

Bethany Laurie is a facilitator at the Center for Strength, and is an impacted community member as her children were at school during a shooting in 2019.  Bethany shares how her views related to trauma recovery have evolved following 2019, and things that have helped both herself and her family in their recovery journey.   Bethany discusses how community decreases feelings of isolation and how her partnership with the Center for Strength has impacted community for herself.  Bethany discusses empowerment in understanding more about the impact of trauma through reading, and facilitating groups based on The Body Keeps the Score, and how this has helped shape her understanding of recovery as a non-linear process and challenged the idea of "getting over" traumatic events.  She discusses how mindfulness and exercise has impacted her, while highlighting that differences in trauma recovery journeys, and the things that help people can be as unique as they are.  Check out our calendar on Center4Strength.org to learn more about the events discussed in the episode and to look into joining an upcoming book club or art activity Bethany is facilitating.