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“Resiliency” is thetheme for the Sixth Annual Kent Estes Justice for All Conference which is set for Friday, Feb. 8, in the University of Nebraska at Kearney Ponderosa Room.
The keynote speaker for the event is Dr. Thomas Scofield. Dr. Scofield is currently the Community Counseling Program coordinator at the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh. His message is titled, “Recognizing and Nurturing the Resilient Self,” which focuses on a personal account of self-reclamation and offers an address to the resilient facets within each of us. He will also participate in a breakout session on “The Optimism of Hope,” which will engage participants in dialogue of how to put hope and optimism in others.
Presenters for the event include:
-Al Bishop, who is a former West Point philosophy instructor and a retired lieutenant commander. Bishop is the author of “Gays in the Military: It’s a Question of Liberty.” He will speak about legislation related to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
-Bruce Dickenson, a retired school counselor and a past executive director for the Nebraska Counseling Association. His topic is bullying.
-Judy Priess, who has worked in the domestic violence and sexual assault field for over 11 years. She has been serving as the executive director of the Spouse Abuse Sexual Assault Crisis Center since 2000. Priess’ message will be focused on domestic violence and sexual abuse.
-Dr. Maha Younes, a social work professor at UNK, who served as the Social Work director from 2001-2006. Dr. Younes will be looking at family resiliency.
During one breakout session, a panel of students will share the experiences they had while at Pine Ridge Reservation. The focus of the panel will be their exposure to a different culture. In addition to the panel, they have invited a guest from the reservation to attend this event, Dallas Chief Eagle. He is a well-known Lakota hoop dancer who has performed at the White House.
The conference is sponsored by Chi Sigma Iota, the UNK Department of Counseling, Graduate Association of School Psychologists and the Nebraska Counseling Association.
The event is open to UNK faculty, staff and students as well as the general public. It is especially geared toward those in the helping professions, including social workers, psychologist and nurses.
Participants can earn up to 4.5 Continuing Education Units.
The program schedule follows:
8:30 – 9 a.m. Registration/Continental Breakfast
9 – 9:15 a.m. Welcome/Announcements and Opening Remarks
9:15 -10:30 a.m. Keynote Speaker – Dr. Thomas Scofield
10:30 – 10:40 a.m. Break/Refreshments
10:40 – 11:40 a.m. Breakout Session I with Bruce Dickenson and Dr. Maha Younes
11:40 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Lunch/Dallas Chief Eagle hoop dancer
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Breakout Session II with a panel of students who attended the Pine Ridge Reservation and Dr. Scofield
1:30 – 1:45 p.m. Break/Refreshments
1:45 – 2:45 p.m. Breakout Session III with Al Bishop and Judy Priess
2:45- 3:00 p.m. Closing Remarks
3:00 – 3:30 p.m. Chi Sigma Iota Initiation
