The Catawba County Partnership for Children, Patrick Beaver Learning Resource Center, and the Council on Adolescents want to focus attention on finding ways to help all children be successful. For many years, these three agencies have brought awareness and solutions for the learning and behavior challenges of children from infancy through adolescence.

On March 5, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Fintel classroom in the McCrorie Center on the Lenoir Rhyne University campus, these three agencies collaborate to present the movie “Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope.”

RESILIENCE is a one-hour documentary that explores the science of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).  Because the effects of divorce, abuse and neglect, and substance abuse touch every segment of society, no one is immune, but there is hope in the actions communities can take. Following the film, there will be a time for discussion, facilitated by Dr. Gail Summer, an educational consultant who has dedicated her professional career to advocating for deepening understanding of positive teaching and learning environments for children and youth from birth through college age. Dr. Summer is the Coordinator of the KidsREADy project with the Catawba County Partnership for Children.

“Recent brain science documents how children’s brains are changed through repeated traumatic experiences. It is now clear that interventions can keep these experiences from having serious lifelong health consequences. This film helps the viewer develop greater understanding and empathy for others and consider ways that a caring adult can become “a buffer” in a child’s life,” Dr. Summer commented.

This award winning film has a message for a wide audience including families, teachers, faith communities, and medical professionals. Volunteers, like the Patrick Beaver Learning Resource Center’s Augustine Literacy Project tutors, and the Council on Adolescents’ Lunch Buddies will recognize the value of the support they provide children. The sponsors hope that viewing the film will encourage Catawba County residents to become part of the national movement to prevent childhood trauma, treat toxic stress, and improve the health of future generations.

For more information, email info@patrickbeaverlrc.org or call 828-624-2012.