Description:

This workshop provides participants with information, ideas, and concrete skills that will help them build a practice of care for themselves and others in their communities and workplaces. Self-care has unfortunately become commercialized and is often suggested as an easy solution to structural problems. This workshop will break down some of these harmful approaches, and instead offer a more nuanced and trauma-informed view of when, how and why to develop a self and community care practice.

The start of a new school year and the change from summer to fall can bring new stressors. But this transition time can also be a good opportunity to evaluate old practices and build new ones to ensure we (individuals, labs, colleague teams, and communities) are better positioned to care for ourselves and one another.

This workshop will help participants:

• Understand the mental health challenges in the workplace and Professional Quality of Life
• Define and explore the layers of self-care and community-care
• Learn and practice some self-soothing/regulation strategies
• Begin to outline what a community care would need and could look like within their organizations

Please note that this workshop will center many opportunities for participant discussion. While participants will not be required to participate in discussion, the goals are better met when more people contribute. Verbal, nonverbal, and anonymous ways to contribute will be provided. The workshop will not be recorded. Additionally, please note that this workshop is designed as a companion to the Trauma Awareness workshop which we will be offering in Spring 2023. Learning about the science and impacts of trauma will help participants in this workshop more fully understand the roles of self and community care, so we encourage you to watch for a future announcement about our Trauma Awareness workshop.

The informational and participatory parts of this workshop will last 2 hours and include multiple breaks. There will be an additional, optional 30 minutes built onto the end for participants who might like to stay to discuss specific scenarios, ideas, and questions.

Workshop Facilitator: Sarah Sims, the BSA Diversity Equity Inclusion and Outreach Programs Coordinator. Prior to joining the BSA team Sarah had a long career in education and DEAI work in museums and non-profits. Most recently she served as a trauma-informed trainer and strategic planner with the St. Louis based non-profit, Alive and Well Communities, where she consulted with local school districts, museums, universities, and other non-profits to train their staff and volunteers in the science of trauma, and worked with them to build policies and practices that are trauma-informed.

This workshop is capped at 50 registrants. If there is enough interest we may schedule a second workshop. If the workshop is full when you go to register please feel free to email Sarah at ssims@botany.org to indicate your interest in attending a possible second date.

To register click here.

Contact information:

• Sarah Sims, BSA Diversity Equity Inclusion and Out
• ssims@botany.org