The Junior League of Greenwich and the Greenwich PTA Council will host Kaitlin Roig-DeBellis, author of Choosing Hope, a memoir of survival in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy.
Roig-DeBellis was a first grade teacher during the heartbreaking events at the Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012 and saved her students by hiding them in a single-stall bathroom.
Ms. Roig-DeBellis will speak about her memoir, and how she has overcome the difficult events of that day.
Since the shooting, Ms. Roig-DeBellis has started a nonprofit organization called Classes4Classes where students learn that they are all connected through generosity. She has also toured the country giving inspirational speeches to encourage kindness, compassion, and ways to grow from tragedy.
After her speech, Kaitlin Roig-DeBellis will be joined by local Greenwich psychotherapist Clarena L. McBeth, LMHC, LMC and Kimberly Lisak, Director of Adolescent Services at Kids in Crisis in an intimate facilitated discussion about navigating children’s exposure to current events that are all too often unnerving and traumatic. The panel will recommend strategies for talking to children of different age groups to help avoid children from feeling overwhelmed, and to ease parents’ concern over these types of events as well.
“It is an unfortunate fact that these types of events have become more frequent. The need to support our children in helping them to understand and cope with senseless tragedies has never been more critical,” said Sue Rogers, President of the Junior League of Greenwich. “Kaitlin’s presence and participation are certain to make this event both compelling and insightful.”
“Tragic events, regardless of whether they directly impact us, require parenting skills none of us thought we would ever need. The Greenwich PTA Council urges the Greenwich community to attend this meaningful presentation,” said Michael Trogni, President of the Greenwich PTA Council.
The event will be held on October 27, 2016 at 6:30pm at the Greenwich High School’s peforming arts center, at 10 Hillside Road. Admission is free.
For more information regarding this event, the Junior League of Greenwich or other community events, please contact the Junior League of Greenwich at (203) 869-1979 or visit www.jlgreenwich.org
The Junior League of Greenwich has been bettering the community for 57 years. It is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained individuals. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. If you are interested in joining the Junior League of Greenwich, contact the JLG Office at (203) 869-1979 or visit www.jlgreenwich.org.