A Conversation With Norma Wong and Sonya Shah
On Breaking Generational Silence (Livestream)
A Conversation With Nicole Russell-Wharton and Deanna Jimenez
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It took a near-death experience for mental health expert Nicole Russell-Wharton to realize that after 35 years, she didn't know the body she was living in. After being diagnosed with a rare genetic condition that others in her family had, Nicole couldn't understand how and why everyone remained silent. It wasn’t until she started collecting data on generational issues like poverty and trauma that she had this awakening: it's the silence that's harming us. Many of our healing challenges are rooted in our families’ silence and psychological pathology.
Join Nicole and Assistant Professor at California Institute of Integral Studies in the Somatic Psychology Department Deanna Jimenez for a transformative conversation exploring generational silence and healing from inherited trauma. They discuss generational silence, a term applied to families who have experienced suppressed thoughts or repressed emotions for at least two generations. Generational silence addresses both the cycle and impact of issues like substance abuse, religion, racism, education inequality, and parenting.
Sharing insights from her latest book, Breaking Generational Silence, Nicole speaks from her Black experience about how slavery left an intergenerational impact on her family and how understanding and healing the root of silence can finally break the cycle for generations to come.
Nicole invites you to begin to break the cycle of suffering and find courage to face family challenges to become your own best advocate.
Nicole Russell-Wharton is a certified trauma-informed healing instructor. She's the cofounder and executive director of Precious Dreams Foundation, which advocates for mental health and the well-being of children. She is also CEO of Pitch House Productions, her consulting agency dedicated to educating corporations on best practices for serving vulnerable populations. Nicole is the author of Everything a Band-Aid Can’t Fix and My Busy, Busy Brain. She lives in New York City.
Deanna Jimenez is an Assistant Professor at California Institute of Integral Studies in the Somatic Psychology Department and a somatic/transpersonal psychotherapist in private practice supporting individuals and couples.
Her clinical work is centered in the dialogue of mental health as it intersects with race, culture and spirituality. She received a bachelor's in international relations from UC Berkeley studying the efficacy of conflict resolution and cultural awareness in the international workplace. Following a career in corporate and non-profit fields, Deanna received her master's from John F. Kennedy University in transpersonal counseling psychology. Through an eclectic body of training, she uses a freedom-focused approach to support clients who have dedicated their lives to transformative justice movements. In supporting people of marginalized identities to build a solid spiritual, embodied foundation we raise collective consciousness while dismantling systems of oppression.
We are grateful to our Bookstore Partner
Marcus Books is the nation’s oldest Black-owned independent bookstore celebrating its 60th year. Marcus Books’ mission is to provide opportunities for Black folks and their allies to celebrate and learn about Black people everywhere. Learn more about Marcus Books.
Accessibility
If you need to request accessibility accommodations, please email publicprograms@ciis.edu at least one week prior to the event. For more information, explore our Accessibility web page.
Important Event Information
Access to the livestream event is limited to registered guests. Registered ticket holders will receive the link to watch the livestream, will have access to chat and Q&A, and will have an ad-free watching experience.
Recording Policy
Ticket holders will have access to an ad-free replay of the event for one week after the live event. A replay with ads will be released on our YouTube channel one week after the livestream. Portions of the audio will also be released on our podcast. Only registered ticket holders who choose to watch live can participate in the chat and Q&A.
Refunding Policy
All tickets and donations for this event are nonrefundable.