Sustaining Purpose: Leadership and Resilience in Human-Centered Work
(11:00 – 1:00 PM CT, 10:00 – 12:00 PM MT, 9:00 – 11:00 AM PT)
The National Capacity Building (NCB) Project at the Center for Victims of Torture and the National Consortium of Torture Treatment Programs is pleased to announce this upcoming virtual training on “Sustaining Purpose: Leadership and Resilience in Human-Centered Work”.
Who Should Attend
Staff of torture rehabilitation programs that are funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement and/or are members of the National Consortium of Torture Treatment Programs, as well as Services to Afghan Survivors Impacted by Combat (SASIC) and Support for Trauma-Affected Refugees (STAR) program staff. This session is designed for providers working with survivors of torture populations across disciplines, such as: legal services, social work, psychology, psychiatry, medicine, and case management.
Session 1
Staying the Course: Mindful leadership & practical approaches for program sustainability
Description
In this 60-minute interactive workshop, participants will explore strategies for sustaining organizational mission and momentum in the face of shifting circumstances and low morale. Through guided discussion and collaborative activities, we will examine the causes of morale challenges, identify practical tools for resilience, and develop actionable approaches to maintaining purpose and engagement during times of change.
Presenter
Ana Grande
Executive Director, Program for Torture Victims
Ana Grande is a first-generation Salvadoran American with an extensive background in community organizing, policy, and nonprofit management. She has worked in education opportunity, higher education, and healthcare industries, with a keen focus on empowering children of color, women, and immigrants. Most recently, Ana served as the Academic Dean and adjunct professor at Mount St. Mary’s University and as the Associate Executive Director of the P.F. Bresee Foundation. Currently, Ana serves as the Executive Director at the Program for Torture Victims.
Ana holds a BA in Political Science, an MA in Humanities from Mount St. Mary’s University, and a Doctorate in Interdisciplinary Leadership from Creighton University.
Learning Objectives
After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Evaluate team dynamics and identify strategies to meet individuals where they are in terms of motivation, capacity, and morale.
- Align team support with organizational priorities to ensure mission-driven decision-making.
- Apply practical approaches to enhance employee retention and foster a positive, resilient workplace culture.
Session 2
Small Acts of Living: Fostering Resilience during Supervision in Times of Transition
Description
In this 60-minute interactive workshop, Dr. Akinsulure-Smith will revisit the purpose of clinical supervision, including the components and processes that are important for effective supervision when working with displaced communities who have experienced trauma. In recognition that clinical supervision often comes with challenges, we will explore strategies for addressing those stressors created by upheaval when working with this population. This training is designed to engage participants in a thoughtful discussion of compassionate, intentional ways to tap into our own strengths and those of our supervisees when faced with instability.
Presenter
Dr. Adeyinka M. Akinsulure-Smith
NYS Licensed Psychologist, Professor of Psychology, CUNY
Adeyinka M. Akinsulure-Smith, Ph.D., ABPP, is a Sierra Leonean born, licensed psychologist. She is Board Certified in Group Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). A tenured Professor in the Department of Psychology at the City College of New York, the City University of New York (CUNY) and at the Graduate Center, CUNY, she cared for migrants, as well as survivors of torture, armed conflict, and human rights abuses from around the world at the Bellevue Program for Survivors of Torture from 1999 to 2024.
Guided by the urgent need to acknowledge and provide culturally informed services for survivors who have fled their home countries and are struggling with mental health challenges and/or with psychosocial disabilities, Dr. Akinsulure-Smith’s research utilizes qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches to better understand and address such challenges, while working with local partners to improve validity and cultural significance. Over the years, her advocacy, clinical work, research and teaching have focused on three specific areas: i) Experiences of migrants, survivors of human rights abuses and armed conflict; ii) Mental health interventions in low resource settings; and iii) Mental health consequences of service provision.
Dr. Akinsulure-Smith served on the American Psychological Association’s Task Force on the Psychological effect of war on children and families who are refugees from armed conflicts residing in the United States (PEWCF). She has participated in human rights investigations in Sierra Leone with Physicians for Human Rights and the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone, Human Rights Division.
Learning Objectives
After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Recall the role of clinical supervision when providing competent, trauma informed care to displaced communities.
- Identify steps to promote an effective supervisory relationship and process during times of transition.
- Identify and discuss strategies for fostering a culture of community support and care within organizations that serve survivors of torture and refugee trauma.