{"id":84,"date":"2019-07-17T18:17:51","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:17:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wcsu.wpengine.com\/news-archives\/2014compassionconference\/"},"modified":"2019-07-17T18:17:51","modified_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:17:51","slug":"2014compassionconference","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/news-archives\/2014compassionconference\/","title":{"rendered":"2014 WCSU to host compassion conference"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"CompassionDANBURY, CONN. <\/strong>\u2014 By bringing together the voices and ideas of innovators and educators, community members and caregivers, the \u201cCompassionate Strategies for Mental Wellness<\/a>\u201d conference at Western Connecticut State University<\/a> will find and help others discover a path toward mental wellness.<\/p>\n

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On Saturday, Oct. 11, in Warner Hall on the university\u2019s Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury, the WCSU Center for Compassion, Creativity & Innovation<\/a> will hold its annual conference from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with registration beginning at 8 a.m. Pre-registration is encouraged and there is a $20 registration fee that includes lunch and all workshops; Students are free. To register, visit www.wcsu.edu\/compassioncreativity\/conference<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The event will include panel discussions led by mental health experts, lectures and workshops. Keynote speaker Nancy Von Euler, program director of Fairfield County\u2019s Community Foundation<\/a> and staff liaison to the Bridgeport Public Housing Residents\u2019 Support Fund, will begin the conference by sharing her insights and experiences in working to develop relationships between public, nonprofit and government sectors. <\/p>\n

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\u201cOur mission is to provide meaningful ways to address issues of mental wellness and illness through practical means,\u201d said Dr. Chris Kukk<\/a>, WCSU professor of political science and director of the WCSU Center for Compassion, Creativity & Innovation. \u201cEveryone can walk away with strategies to address issues such as how to increase social-emotional learning in educational settings and how community organizations can network together to address and resolve incidents in their communities related to mental illness in a comprehensive and holistic fashion.\u201d <\/p>\n

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Those attending the conference will be invited to choose three workshops or discussions in which to participate for each of three sessions. Each session will offer a range of options and some of the offerings include a panel discussion on \u201cEffective Collaborative Strategies for Strengthening the Safety Net;\u201d a lecture on \u201cInfusing Health, Happiness and Compassion into Living and Learning\u201d by Dr. Maria Hersey, U.S. director of education & training for The Hawn Foundation (THF) and their MindUP\u2122 program; a Reiki session; a talk on \u201cDimensions of Wellness Mandala;\u201d and a panel discussion on \u201cServing Veterans Suffering with PTSD and TBI,\u201d led in part by the Danbury Veterans Center and the Veterans Affairs Danbury Community Based Outpatient Clinic.<\/p>\n

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The day will conclude with a networking session.<\/p>\n

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For more information, contact the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486 or visit www.wcsu.edu\/compassioncreativity\/conference<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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