Speakers

Alana Knoppow

Project Manager, Center on Aging, Trauma, and Holocaust Survivor Care, Jewish Federations of North America

Staci Barber serves as a Co-Chair of JFNA’s Holocaust Survivor Initiative and is a steadfast advocate for supporting Holocaust survivors in need.

Alana Knoppow is a Project Manager at The Center on Aging, Trauma, and Holocaust Survivor Care. Her responsibilities include technical assistance, capacity building, systems improvement, and program analysis. For over a decade, Alana has managed programs across the nonprofit field, at hospice organizations, Habitat for Humanity, and the Older Adult Services department at Jewish Family Services in Ann Arbor, MI. Alana earned her BA in Psychology at the University of Michigan and returned to earn an MSW with specializations in Aging and Management. She is a Fellow with the University of Michigan School of Social Work Geriatric Scholar program and completed a Certificate in Advanced Clinical Dementia Practice there. Alana holds a professional certificate in Human Resource Management.

Alice Tennis

Senior Vice President of Senior Services, Ruth and Norman Rales Jewish Family Services

Alice Tennis, Senior Vice President of Senior Services, is responsible for overseeing the delivery of services for Holocaust Survivors, caregivers of older adults, volunteer-based programs and services for frail seniors in the community. Alice carries this out through program development, evaluation and supervising an active team of social workers and professionals. Strong community partnerships enable her team to serve over 500 older adults annually.

Amy Fairweather

Director of Policy, Swords to Plowshares

Amy Fairweather directs Swords to Plowshares policy department which conducts research and advocacy regarding veterans’ health, access to benefits and well-being. She has worked in veteran policy since 2006, focused on underserved veterans, trauma survivors and those who have experienced homelessness. She leads Swords’ work as consultant for the design, technical assistance and process evaluation of the CalVet Veteran Support to Self-Reliance (VSSR) pilot. This pilot seeks to demonstrate how additional onsite supports allow formerly homeless, aging and high acuity veterans maintain wellbeing and age in place in permanent supportive housing (PSH). She also directs Swords to Plowshares Combat to Community™ veteran and military culture education and technical assistance programs. Swords to Plowshares provides transitional and permanent supportive housing, supportive services, mental health, employment and training services and VA claims representation. In their 50th year of service, Swords houses over 500 veterans and serves over 3000 veterans every year.

Anat Barber

Director, UJA Federation New York

Anat Barber is a Director in the Capital Gifts & Special Initiatives Department at UJA-Federation of NY. Prior to this role, Anat served as Planning director of the Commission on the Jewish People. Anat holds an MPA from the Robert F. Wagner School and an MA in Hebrew and Judaic Studies both from NYU. During her tenure there she was also a Wexner Graduate Fellow.

Andrea Korsunsky

Director, Center for Dementia Care and Care Management, Jewish Family and Children's Services of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties

Andrea Korsunsky, BSW, is the founder and director of the Center for Dementia Care, a specialized division of Jewish Family and Children’s Services. For over a decade, this program has provided vital psychosocial support to individuals living with dementia and their family care partners, improving quality of life through compassionate, person-centered trauma informed care.

Rabbi Avrohom Hecht

Executive Director, Project Lead

Avrohom Hecht is the Executive Director of the Project Lead that has serviced over 6,000 youth throughout Central Queens and thousands of frail elderly, and distributed over seven million pounds of nutrient-dense foods. Under his leadership Project Lead has developed special services for at-risk elderly, Holocaust survivors, Nazi victims and other elderly victims of trauma. Special services have also been implemented to benefit émigré and American youth. On a city-wide basis, he has been a strong advocate for increased food security assistance to the disadvantaged and at risk.

Bertha Sanchez-Hayden

Directing Attorney, Bet Tzedek Legal Services

Bertha Sanchez Hayden serves as a Directing Attorney at Bet Tzedek Legal Services. Ms. Hayden currently oversees Direct Services for Seniors, Dependent Adults, and Caregivers. Ms. Hayden has dedicated her career in legal services to serving older adults, dependent adults and their caregivers navigate elder law issues. Current projects include launching the Leaving a Legacy, an estate planning program providing estate planning with the aim of preventing financial elder abuse and building intergenerational wealth for low-income families. In 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Ms. Hayden to the Professional Fiduciaries Advisory Committee where she currently serves as chair. In 2022, she served as a delegate at the World Congress on Adult Capacity. In 2023, she was appointed to the California’s Judicial Council Probate and Mental Health Advisory Committee. Ms. Hayden serves as stakeholder co-chair of California’s Elder and Disability Justice Coordinating Council (EDJCC) and chair of the EDJCC’s conservatorship subcommittee.

Bill Benson

Board President, International Association for Indigenous Aging

Bill Benson has worked in aging and health for 36 years. Along with IA2 Executive Director Dave Baldridge, Benson has co-authored numerous papers on long-term care issues in Indian country. As former staff director for the Senate Labor Subcommittee on Aging, Benson oversaw the successful reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA) in 1992. Under his leadership, that year’s reauthorization included Title VII, Subtitle B–Native American Organization and Elder Justice Provisions — the first federal law created to address the issues of elder abuse and elder justice for Indian elders.

Carmel Rabin

Director, Research and Evaluation, Center on Aging, Trauma, and Holocaust Survivor Care, Jewish Federations of North America

Carmel Rabin is the Director for Research and Evaluation at The Center on Aging, Trauma, and Holocaust Survivor Care. She oversees research projects and program evaluations of the Center and subgrantee initiatives. Prior to joining the team, Carmel worked on monitoring and evaluation of economic development programs across private, public, and social sectors. She helped US-based organizations ensure effectiveness and impact of philanthropic spending. She specializes in empowering, person-centered, and trauma-informed evaluation. Carmel holds a Master of Arts in Development Studies from Erasmus University in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and a Master of Arts in International Relations from Syracuse University.

Chris Herman

Senior Practice Associate–Aging, National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

Chris Herman (she/her), MSW, LICSW, is the senior practice associate–aging at the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) in Washington, DC. In this role, she analyzes and advocates for aging-related federal policy; creates resources to enhance social work practice with older adults; provides technical assistance to NASW leaders, members, and other stakeholders; and represents NASW in numerous national coalitions and collaborative initiatives focused on older adults, including serving on peer review and other committees for the Center on Aging, Trauma, and Holocaust Survivor Care. Before joining the NASW staff in 2007, Chris worked with adult clients in various aging, disability, and health care settings. More recently, she was a care partner for her parents in the final years of their lives.

Cindy Laegeler

Program Support Specialist and Special Projects Coordinator, CJE SeniorLife

Cindy Laegeler transitioned to roles that have followed her heart after spending the first decade of her career as an investment banker, working at multiple start-ups including an organic snack bar company, a progressive, independent elementary school, and a non-profit that upcycled school, art and craft supplies and distributed them to under-resourced communities. In her free time, she founded and organized the Chicago Kindness Club, a volunteer organization for local families that coordinated monthly, hands-on community service opportunities for 12 years. Cindy joined the Holocaust Community Services Group at CJE SeniorLife in early 2023. Although initially hired to assist with data management and prepare for an audit, her role has expanded to include teaching a weekly ESL class for survivors and co-leading our Mitzvah & Mingle programming initiative.

Courtney Owen

Program Officer for Hoarding & Care Management, JFCS Philadelphia

Courtney Owen, LCSW, has primary responsibility for leadership of specific JFCS programs; ensures the fiscally-responsible operation of those programs and services; and seeks new program development opportunities consistent with the mission and values of the organization. In this role, Courtney partners with program leaders and the development team in the identification and pursuit of new funding sources for program sustenance and expansion. Courtney received her MSW from Tulane University and her BS in Psychology from the University of Oregon. She has over 17 years of experience providing community based mental health and social services in Philadelphia and New Orleans. Prior roles at the organization include JFCS Director of Individual and Family Services (2017-2022) and JFCS Program Manager for Hoarding & Care Management (2015-2017).

Daniel Dearmin

Peer Leader, Colorado Health Network

Daniel Dearmin has called Colorado home since 2001 but identifies as a proud southerner from Western North Carolina. He is a long-term survivor of HIV/AIDS circa 1985-’86. Through his personal and professional career, he is an artist, musician, cook, volunteer and lover of life with all its ups and downs. He leads his life by centering gratitude as his north star; acceptance, forgiveness, curiosity and listening as his temperance; diversity and change as his power! Daniel is also a member of the Colorado Health Network Healthy Aging Peer Leadership Committee working to support the implementation and facilitator of Aging Positively Part 1 & 2.

Daryna Marchenko-Bernhardt

Technology and Volunteer Coordinator, CJE SeniorLife

Daryna Marchenko-Bernhardt joined CJE Senior Life Holocaust Community Services in January 2022 as Virtual Systems and Programs Coordinator, where she uses her training and experience working with various virtual platforms and electronic/digital data management systems and applications to support Holocaust survivors. A native of Kyiv, Ukraine, Daryna provides technology assistance to Ukrainian, Russian and English-speaking survivors, and leads all technology-related projects for the program, including Uniper. In 2023, Daryna was promoted to Technology and Volunteer Coordinator, and started overseeing HCS' active program, through which approximately 50 volunteers are actively engaged in supporting survivors and the program. Prior to joining HCS, Daryna spent 10 years with Upwardly Global supporting the Chicagoland immigrant and refugee community by providing trainings and job assistance. Daryna received her Bachelor of Science in Linguistics and her Master of Arts in Education. She also holds an MBA from the National Technical University of Ukraine.

Dawn Olson

Ability Expert, North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities, Minot State University

Ms. Dawn Olson (Bachelor of Science) is an Abilities Expert for the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities. She co-teaches a disability studies class at Minot State University with Ms. Webster. She also works directly with consumers who have disabilities on a project to help them find affordable health insurance through navigating the healthcare.gov website. Most recently, Ms. Olson is part of the Trauma Informed Approaches for Adults with Disabilities (TRIAD) Project. As a person with disabilities who lived in an institution from the age of four to 20, Ms. Olson brings real-life experience related to the trauma that resulted from living away from her family during her childhood and young adult years.

Deborah Rosen

Community Program Coordinator, Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ

Debbie Rosen administers grants that seek to care for Holocaust survivors and other older adults with a history of trauma using a person-centered trauma-informed care (PCTI) approach. Prior to working for Federation, Debbie led the budget office at Columbia University following more than a decade in hospital administration and finance. She holds a Masters in Public Administration from New York University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Brandeis University.

Dr. Ashley Stripling

Professor, Nova Southeastern University

Ashley M. Stripling, PhD is a professor, licensed psychologist, and Director of Nova Southeastern University’s Counseling Center for Older Adults. Dr. Stripling served as Chief Intern in Psychology at the Bruce Carter VAMC in Miami, with a geropsychology specialization, and completed her postdoctoral fellowship in the Division of Geropsychiatry at the San Francisco VAMC. She has a long-standing interest in psychology and aging, which is demonstrated through her nearly twenty years of aging focused clinical research and provision of psychological services across VA and University settings. As a result of her research involvement Dr. Stripling had authored or co-authored one book, twenty peer-reviewed articles, two book chapters, 9 grants and over a hundred presentations at national conferences. Her geropsychological interests span clinical, teaching, scholarly and advocacy activities; and she is particularly interested in avenues that promote healthy aging, understanding subjective aging and ageism and combating ageist stereotypes.

Dr. Dror Golan

Clinical Director, AMCHA - The Israeli Center for Psychological and Social Support for Holocaust Survivors and the Second Generation

Dr. Dror Golan is a Senior clinical psychologist for National Clinical Director of “Amcha- The Israeli Center for Psychological and Social Support for Holocaust Survivors and the Second Generation” Senior Lecturer in the ""Temurot"" Psychotherapy Program, Bar-Ilan University, and the chair of advanced study of Clinical Supervision in Psychotherapy. Dr. Golan has been working at Amcha since 2006. Dr. Golan has recently been teaching at Bar-Ilan University. For several years, Dr. Golan led a project that makes psychological principles accessible in educational institutions for children in an ultra-Orthodox society.

Dr. Eva Fogelman

Holocaust survivor Psychotherapist, Author and Filmmaker

Dr. Eva Fogelman is a licensed psychologist, author, and filmmaker specializing in trauma, intergenerational effects, and psychotherapy. A pioneer in Holocaust survivor and descendant support, she co-founded the first clinical training program on this topic and co-directs Child Development Research, including archives at Hebrew University and Yad Vashem. Her work integrates Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed (PCTI) practices, emphasizing the importance of addressing trauma with sensitivity and respect for individual experiences. She authored the Pulitzer Prize-nominated Conscience and Courage: Rescuers of Jews During the Holocaust, co-produced the award-winning documentary Breaking the Silence, and has published widely. Dr. Fogelman is also the Founding Director of the Jewish Foundation for Christian Rescuers and frequently lectures and appears in the media.

Dr. Irit Felsen

Irit Felsen, LLC

Irit Felsen, PhD, is a clinical psychologist specializing in trauma and traumatic loss, with a focus on Holocaust survivors and their families. She maintains a private practice in New Jersey and serves as an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University. Dr. Felsen is a member of the APA Trauma Division, the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, and serves on the board of the Holocaust Council of MetroWest. She co-chairs the NGO Committee on Mental Health at the United Nations. Her research on trauma and its intergenerational effects has been published widely and informed the book Psychoanalysis and Holocaust Testimony: Memories of Unwanted Social Trauma. Dr. Felsen is an experienced national and international speaker on trauma and resilience.

Dr. Jenni Frumer

President, Jenni Frumer & Associates, LLC

Jenni Frumer, PhD., LCSW, MSEd, serves as VP of Strategic Initiatives and Director of the NOW for Holocaust Survivors Initiative at MorseLife Health System. She is the retired CEO of Alpert Jewish Family Service in West Palm Beach, Florida, and is a founding board member of the International Center of Multigenerational Legacies of Trauma. She helped co-create the national guidelines for PCTI programming and services for Holocaust Survivors. Her passion is evident in her oversight of the Holocaust Learning Experience, an impactful initiative that deploys and delivers a bundled approach as lessons from the Holocaust directly into 5th - 12th-grade classrooms. Dr. Frumer has published on Holocaust survivors, the impact of COVID, and support models for community-dwelling older adults and is an adjunct faculty member at Fordham and Lynn Universities and the Lifespan Gerontology Certificate Program, affiliated with the Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center - University of Rochester Medical Center.

Dr. Jennifer Davidtz

Associate Professor, Nova Southeastern University

Jennifer Davidtz is an Associate Professor in the department of Clinical and School Psychology, the Director of the PSED (Psychological Services for the Emotionally Distressed) clinic in the Psychology Services Center, and the coordinator of the Serious Mental Illness Concentration in the College of Psychology at Nova Southeastern University. She completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, followed by a doctoral internship at The Cambridge Hospital/Harvard Medical School and post-doctoral fellowship at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Davidtz specializes in the treatment of severe and persistent mental illness, personality disorders, and complex posttraumatic and dissociative conditions. Dr. Davidtz’s other interests include community psychology and social justice; countertransference and other intersubjective psychotherapy process phenomena; psychotherapy integration; and clinical psychology training, clinical supervision, and therapist development.

Dr. Jessica Ruiz

Associate Professor, Nova Southeastern University

Dr. Jessica J. Ruiz is an Associate Professor in the department of Psychology at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) where she is also the Director of the Healthy Lifestyles Guided Self-Change clinic, a specialty training clinic that provides motivational, evidenced-based treatment for individuals presenting with substance use and other behavioral concerns. She obtained her doctorate from NSU and completed her internship and postdoctoral training at Yale University’s School of Medicine where she gained additional experience in the treatment of addiction, trauma and co-occurring disorders. In her previous role as Director of Behavioral Health for Goodman Jewish Family Services of Broward, Dr. Ruiz led a team of trauma-trained clinicians who served individuals who were directly impacted by the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. She is passionate about training providers in trauma-informed care and the use of evidenced based treatments for trauma and addiction.

Dr. Karyn Harvey

Psychologist

Dr. Karyn Harvey has worked as a clinician in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities for over 35 years. She has her Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Maryland. She has written three books: Positive Identity Development, Trauma –Informed Behavioral Interventions and Trauma and Healing, as well as several articles and chapters in various publications. Dr. Harvey currently has a private practice and does therapy with people with IDD. In addition, she regularly conducts trainings on trauma-informed support for people with IDD, trauma-informed leadership, and trauma-informed behavioral interventions for both individual and state organizations throughout the US and Canada. Dr. Harvey has trained numerous professionals in providing person-centered trauma informed support. In the last several years, she has received awards for her clinical service from the National Association for the Dually Diagnosed, University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability, and the American Association on IDD.

Dr. Kendra Ray

Vice President of Research and Innovation in Aging, MJHS Menorah Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing Care

Kendra Ray, PhD, MPH, MBA is a New York State licensed creative arts therapist, nationally board-certified music therapist, clinician, and researcher with more than two decades of experience working with people with dementia and their caregivers. She has published several widely recognized, peer-reviewed articles that focused on the use of music therapy and music-based interventions for the aging population, especially people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Currently, she is the principal investigator on an Alzheimer’s Association and Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement funded study that focuses on the use of evidence-based music interventions for people with dementia and their family caregivers.

Dr. Liron Ben Ezra

Lecturer, Tel Aviv University

Dr. Liron Ben Ezra is a Social worker, lecturer at Tel Aviv University’s School of Social Work, and the Director of the Research Department at Amcha – The Israeli Center for Psychological and Social Support for Holocaust Survivors and the Second Generation. Her work integrates research, teaching, and practice, focusing on trauma, intergenerational connections, and community-based interventions for Holocaust survivors and their descendants. As a practicing social worker, she combines her clinical expertise with academic inquiry, advocating for trauma-informed approaches in social work. Dr. Ben-Ezra has published widely in peer-reviewed journals and presents her research at international conferences. She is also co-founder of The Living Room: A Qualitative Collective.

Dr. Lori Garnes

Executive Director, North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities, Minot State University

Lori Garnes, Ph.D. is the Executive Director of the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities (NDCPD) and a Professor in the Education and Inclusive Services Department at Minot State University. Dr. Garnes also serves as the NDCPD Research Coordinator to identify and apply evidence-based practices to support individuals with disabilities and their families. She has conducted credible, practical research and evaluation in areas important to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities including advocacy, health equity, customized employment, and assistive technology. In her role as the Executive Director, Dr. Garnes also supports NDCPD’s culture of inclusivity, as well as employee health and emotional well-being. Dr. Garnes has prior experience in community settings with adults with disabilities who are learning to live meaningful lives through increased independence and self-determination. She has been with Minot State University since Fall 1996.

Dr. Sheri Gibson

Co-Chair, Board of Directors, Pikes Peak Elder Justice Center

Dr. Sheri Gibson received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Geropsychology from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS). She is an instructor and clinical supervisor for the Psychology Department at UCCS and a faculty affiliate with the UCCS Gerontology Center. Dr. Gibson serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, is a member of the Research Committee for the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA), and a founding member of the Pikes Peak Elder Justice Center. In addition to being an advocate for elder justice, Dr. Gibson has a private psychotherapy and consultation practice, which includes provision of capacity evaluations, expert testimony, consultation, and training. For more information on Dr. Gibson’s services and resources, visit her website: www.DrSheriGibson.com

Dr. Yonit Hoffman

Senior Director, Holocaust Community Services, CJE SeniorLife

Dr. Yonit Hoffman is Senior Director of Holocaust Community Services at CJE SeniorLife in Chicago. She oversees program development and services for nearly 1,600 Holocaust survivors, supervises clinical and administrative staff, and provides direct services and support groups for survivors and families. She is a key advocate in establishing partnerships to build resources and capacity. Dr. Hoffman has conducted numerous national and international presentations on PCTI care and the unique needs of aging Holocaust survivors. Her clinical research focused on resilience in Holocaust survivors and their descendants. Dr. Hoffman served as Co-Chair of the Holocaust Survivor Services Professionals Group of the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies in 2021-2022 and received their 2024 Impact and Professional Leadership Award. Dr. Hoffman earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Case Western Reserve University, and prior clinical work centered on childhood trauma in underserved populations in Ohio, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois.

Elissa Mittman

Advisor, Financial Oversight, Center on Aging, Trauma, and Holocaust Survivor Care, Jewish Federations of North America

Elissa Mittman is the Financial Oversight Advisor at the Center on Aging, Trauma, and Holocaust Survivor Care. She brings extensive experience from senior roles in international non-governmental organizations and the U.S. government, where she developed and managed programs serving vulnerable populations both domestically and abroad. Elissa has overseen multi-year, multi-million-dollar grants and directed operations across finance, human resources, advocacy, and legal services. She holds a JD with academic honors from Hofstra Law School and a BA from Johns Hopkins University.

Ellie Kastel

Executive Director, Young Men & Young Women's Hebrew Association of Borough Park

Mrs. Ellie Kastel has been the Executive Director of the Boro Park Y for the past 15 years. Under her leadership, the Boro Park Y created a dynamic center of community for Holocaust Survivors, Club Nissim and with the help of JFNA, was able to more recently launch a new program for the children of Holocaust Survivors, Club 2G. Mrs. Kastel has been honored by the New York State Senate with the " Woman of Distinction Award.

Erica Costello

Director, Commission on Law and Aging American Bar Association

Erica Costello serves as Director at the ABA Commission on Law and Aging, where she works on issues concerning adult guardianship, elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation, supported decision-making, and access to courts. Prior to joining the Commission, Erica was the Adult Guardianship Attorney with the Indiana Supreme Court and assisted courts and the public on all matters relating to guardianship. Erica has a B.A. from Indiana University-Bloomington, a M.A. from Northwestern University, and a J.D. from Brandeis School of Law, at the University of Louisville, in Kentucky.

Gabe Halperin-Goldstein

Hoarding Program Manager, JFCS Philadelphia

Gabe Halperin-Goldstein, LSW, is the Hoarding Program Manager at Jewish Family and Children's Service of Greater Philadelphia. Gabe is a clinical social worker who recently graduated from Temple University. He has spent the past two years at JFCS Philly, working with individual clients, facilitating Buried in Treasures groups, leading training and educational events, and supporting new JFCS staff. In addition to social work, Gabe has worked in digital communications, writing news stories and blogs about research in public health and business.

Gail Belfer

Director, Holocaust Survivor Services and Advocacy, Jewish Family and Children's Service of Southern NJ

Gail Belfer is a licensed clinical social worker who graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with dual degrees in social work and psychology. She earned her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Pennsylvania with a specialization in health and aging. As a geriatric social worker, Gail’s specialties are grief counseling, life transitions, and caregiver counseling. She works with many Holocaust Survivors, offering counseling and case management services. Gail is an experienced supervisor for staff and social work students and interns, and is trained as a certified dementia practitioner. She has worked for Jewish Family & Children's Service of Southern New Jersey for 25 years and the majority of her current work is with the Holocaust Survivor population.

Gigi Amateau

Assistant Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Gerontology and Virginia Center on Aging

Gigi Amateau serves as Assistant Professor and Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed Care Lab Director for the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Department of Gerontology and Virginia Center on Aging. She holds a Master of Science in Gerontology and a Ph.D. in Health Science. In her role with VCU, she focuses on person-centered, trauma-informed care for nursing homes, capacity-building within the home and community-based services network, and teaching in the graduate program, where she integrates poetry, film, and humanities as tools for building person-centered, trauma-informed skills. Her current projects include Oral Housing Histories with Centenarians, Caregiver Empowerment, Social Health Connector, Elder Justice Shelter Innovation, and Trauma-Informed Care Toolkit for nursing homes. Dr. Amateau is the author of 7 books for teens and children that celebrate elderhood and intergenerational connection. She is a certified personal care aide in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a certified yoga instructor with Yoga Alliance, a YWCA Richmond Pat Asch Social Justice Fellow, and a Health Equity Faculty Fellow with the VCU Health Humanities Lab.

Haley Sanner

Healthy Aging Programs Manager, Colorado Health Network

Haley Sanner is an innovative leader, a trauma-informed facilitator, and an intentional mixed-methods researcher. As the Healthy Aging Program Manager at Colorado Health Network, she works alongside older adults living with HIV to design and implement individual and group programs that promote improved quality of life and social connections. She leads the department in expanding program offerings including Aging Positively. Haley has worked in the aging field for over ten years, including with AARP Foundation, LeadingAge and as a Fulbright Scholar in Nepal working alongside aging non-profits to bilingually explore aging and multigenerational connections. She is a co-founder of Collective Healing Through Art, a psychosocial arts program using creativity and storytelling to build meaningful intergenerational connections. Haley has a BS in Mathematics from Davidson College with specializations in social determinants of health, specifically social isolation.

Hayley Bunting-Herzog

Assistant Manager, Research and Evaluation, Center on Aging, Trauma, and Holocaust Survivor Care, Jewish Federations of North America

Hayley Bunting-Herzog is the Assistant Manager for Research and Evaluation at the Center on Aging, Trauma, and Holocaust Survivor Care. Hayley enhances the research and evaluation team by advancing program evaluation efforts, building the field of PCTI evaluations, and supporting the Center’s online training program. Prior to joining the Center, Hayley worked as a research assistant in academic and non-profit settings focusing on and publishing in the areas of reproductive health, sexual- and gender- based violence, and gender equity. Hayley has a Masters of Public Health and Masters of Public Administration from New York University.

Jacqueline Raxter

Behavioral Health Program Manager, Chaldean Community Foundation

Jacqueline Raxter, MA, LMSW, LPC is the Behavioral Health Program Manager for the Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF) in Sterling Heights, Michigan. CCF is a non-profit social service organization serving over 48,000 individuals from 70 different countries of origin in 2024. Jacqueline has a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling with a certification in Gerontology and licensure as a Social Worker and Professional Counselor. Jacqueline has over 40 years of experience providing mental health services, she serves on the board for MI center for Contextual Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease (MCCFAD) and current programs she oversees have received national recognition for innovative and exemplary care.

Jamila Kulov

Russian-speaking Case Manager, Jewish Family and Children's Service of Southern NJ

Jamila Kulov, a native Russian speaker with a degree in Political Science and Economics from Hunter College, CUNY, pursued her passion for communications and project management both in the U.S. and her home country of Kyrgyzstan. She worked on various commercial and non-profit projects, including founding a grassroots feminist organization. Experienced in Russian-English communications and passionate about engaging with people, Jamila brings her expertise in project management, cross-cultural translation, and marketing campaigns to the role of a Russian-speaking Case Manager at the JFCS of Southern NJ.

Jean Hartnett

Founder, Radical Sabbatical

Bio Forthcoming

Jeri Mendelsohn

Consultant, Young Men and Young Women's Association of Borough Park

Jeri Mendelsohn, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker works as a consultant assisting clients in the not for profit, philanthropic and educational sectors develop meaningful organizational strategies, building capacity, and identifying tools for ongoing assessment and evaluation. As a clinical social worker, she provides services for older adults, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations, and provides ongoing clinical supervision for social workers. Additional services include grant writing, advocacy, and program development. In addition, Jeri is committed to facilitating professional development through teaching targeted courses and individual coaching. Jeri has worked extensively in the field of social work as a clinician in psychiatric hospitals, in private practice, as a social worker, and as an agency executive.

Jim Murphy

Senior Vice President of Healthcare, Ageless Innovation

Jim Murphy joins the Ageless Innovation team with more than 25 years of experience in marketing and innovation, particularly in the area of healthcare. Jim’s ability to integrate and innovate across business lines and teams has earned him high industry recognition and led him to oversee large-scale projects and budgets. In his role at Ageless Innovation, Jim serves as the Senior VP of Healthcare and spearheads the company’s growing business with a variety of healthcare organizations and CMS-related grant programs. He is also responsible for expanding Ageless Innovation’s footprint as an approved nontraditional intervention for older adults who are lonely, socially isolated, or living with cognitive impairments such as all forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.

JoLynn Webster

Director of Human Potential, North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities, Minot State University

JoLynn Webster (M.Ed) is the Director of Human Potential at the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities at Minot State University. She facilitates professional development training that is responsive to ever-evolving changes in the disabilities field. Ms. Webster has served as a Research Associate on grant-funded state and national projects. She is currently the Project Director for the Trauma Informed Approaches for Adults with Disabilities (TRIAD) Project which supports older adults with disabilities who have a history of trauma, as well as family caregivers and professionals who have experienced vicarious trauma. As an adjunct instructor in Minot State University’s Education and Inclusive Services Department, Ms. Webster has also taught courses to prepare preservice students as educators and researchers. For over 30 years, Ms. Webster has supported individuals with disabilities to live meaningful lives. Ms. Webster is passionate about supporting the well-being of individuals with disabilities across the life span.

Karen Edell Yoskowitz

Director of Partnerships and Grants, Center on Aging, Trauma, and Holocaust Survivor Care, Jewish Federations of North America

Karen Edell Yoskowitz is the Director for Partnerships and Grants at The Center on Aging, Trauma, and Holocaust Survivor Care. Karen oversees the development of the Center’s partnership strategy with internal and external partners. She also leads strategic grantmaking for supportive services for Holocaust survivors, older adults with a history of trauma, and family caregivers by distributing subgrants to Federations and national human service agencies, and by providing coaching, technical assistance, and capacity building support to subgrantees. Previously, Karen worked on Capitol Hill; as well as for the Montgomery County (MD) Council Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO) and at a DC-based, lobby firm advocating on key issues for cities. She earned an MPA from the American University and a BA in Political Science from the University of Arizona.

Katharine Manning

President, Blackbird DC

Katharine Manning is the President of Blackbird, which provides training and consultation on empathy at work. She is the author of The Empathetic Workplace: Five Steps to a Compassionate, Calm, and Confident Response to Trauma on the Job, and teaches at American University and in the Master’s in Trauma-Informed Leadership Program at Dominican University. Her work has been featured in the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Newsweek, CNBC, Business Insider, Thrive Global, and CEOWorld. She has worked on issues of trauma and victimization for more than 25 years, including 15 years at the Justice Department, where she was a Senior Attorney Advisor consulting on victim issues in cases like the Boston Marathon bombing and the Pulse Nightclub shooting.

Kayleh Levy-Weller

Planning Associate, UJA Federation New York

Kayleh Levy-Weller is a Strategic Planning & Grants Associate in the Caring Department at UJA-Federation, where she oversees the Aging and Holocaust Survivor portfolios. In this role, she works to ensure that adults age 55 and older have access to vital services such as end-of-life care, dementia and Alzheimer’s support, and robust socialization programs. Since joining UJA in June 2019, Kayleh has been deeply committed to fostering community inclusion and promoting dignity for older adults.

Kent Deslongchamp

Peer Leader, Colorado Health Network

Kent Deslongchamp is a third generation Coloradan, graduating from University of Colorado at Denver with a BA in Communication and Theatre. He has applied his professional skills across a variety of fields including at Denver Public Schools i Special Education, Denver Health Hospital as a Nursing Assistant, and WellPower Recovery Center as a Mental Health professional. Kent has served the LGBTQ+ and HIV community as a facilitator at Colorado AIDS Project, Metropolitan Community Church of the Rockies, and currently as a Peer Leader at Colorado Health Network. Kent has many entrepreneurial endeavors focusing on self-awareness, self-kindness and self-unconditional love including a second upcoming book publication.

Lauren Shaivitz

Executive Director, CHANA

Lauren Shaivitz, Esq., LMSW, is both a lawyer and social worker with more than 25 years of experience in the field of domestic violence, sexual abuse and elder abuse. She served as CHANA’s Director of Programs for 6 years and became the Executive Director in November 2018. She has established policies and procedures that have sustained core components of a comprehensive elder abuse and domestic violence center while incorporating innovative practices that have addressed the complex trauma that victims experience. Ms. Shaivitz also served as president and a board member of the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence. She began her career as an attorney at House of Ruth Maryland. Ms. Shaivitz received her B.A. from Hamilton College, her MSW from the University of Maryland School of Social Work, and her J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law. In 2018, she received the Outstanding Jewish Communal Professional Award.

Leah Bergen Miller

Director of Grants and Training, Center on Aging, Trauma, and Holocaust Survivor Care, Jewish Federations of North America

Leah Bergen Miller is the Director or Programs and Training at The Center on Aging, Trauma, and Holocaust Survivor Care and helped to launch it. Leah manages program operations, coordinates the grant award process, coaches subgrantees and develops a supportive cohort, presents at conferences, facilitates webinars, and plans the national Training Workshop. Previously, Leah worked as a case manager, program manager, client advocate, and teacher. Leah graduated from American University’s School of International Service with a BA in International Peace and Conflict Resolution.

Leah Rosenberg

Wellness and Education Coordinator, Care Manager, CJE SeniorLife

Leah Rosenberg joined Holocaust Community Services in 2016 having more than 25 years experience in the pharmaceutical industry working for retail, infusion, and corporate pharmacies, serving people with various backgrounds and cultural diversities. Leah is the daughter of a Holocaust survivor and is well versed in how survivor experiences affect their wellbeing and needs. In addition to a large client caseload, Leah leads numerous wellness groups and social outings for HCS clients including Memory Café, Book Club, and Brain, Memory and Wellness Classes. Leah holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from University of Illinois-Chicago as well as numerous certifications and competencies in the pharmaceutical industry. She incorporates her love for psychology, history and pharmacology into her work with Holocaust survivors.

Lily Liu

Principal, Liu Consultants

Lily Liu is an advocate for family caregivers and a public speaker about caregiving issues, in particular, her lived experience as a 1.5-generation immigrant family caregiver to parents with lived experience of trauma. Lily participates in community-education events around the country and on virtual platforms to share the learnings from her own caregiving journey. She encourages other family caregivers to empower themselves with information and resources and to have agency as everyone handles their wide range of daily caregiving tasks and responsibilities. She presents in English, Mandarin Chinese and bilingually.

Linda Blumberg

Vice President, Development, Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies

Linda Blumberg joined the Network of Jewish Human Services in 2021 as Grants Manager. She currently serves as Vice President of Development at The Network, responsible for grants and fundraising. Prior to coming to The Network, Linda spent 25 years at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit including serving as Senior Planning Advisor, Director of Planning and Agency Relations, and Director of the Commission on Jewish Eldercare Services. Before working at the Federation, Linda served as Manager in the Social Work Department at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and worked for the Council of Jewish Elderly in Chicago. Linda received her Master's Social Work and Master's Education from Washington University in St. Louis.

Lorenzo Ramírez

Peer Leader, Colorado Health Network

Lorenzo Ramírez has worked as a Community Research Liaison with the University of Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CCTSI) serving the various Latino communities of metro Denver for the past 16 years. He is a member of the CCTSI Colorado Community Engagement Alliance for Health Equity (CO-CEAL) serving as a data collector / community connector, a member of the Healthy Living Ageing Positively Peer Leadership Committee with the Colorado Health Network, serves in the role of a facilitator with the Older Adult Research Specialist (OARS) Program training team with the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and as a selected member of the Near Northwest Denver Area Plan Steering Committee addressing the impact of gentrification and development in the neighborhoods of Northwest Denver that he has called home for over 40 years. Lorenzo is also a member of the community-based Arts Alliance for Health Equity, and is the Founder / Artistic Director of the award-winning Denver based Grupo Folklórico Sabor Latino, faculty member of the In Lak’ech Denver Arts Program, and the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities Arts Day Program.

Lori Mars

Director, National Center on Elder Abuse

Lori Mars, JD, LLM, is the Director of the National Center on Elder Abuse and Elder Abuse Guide for Law Enforcement. She is an assistant professor of clinical family medicine in the Department of Family Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. After practicing law for over 20 years, Lori’s concentration lies at the intersection of law, aging, education, and elder abuse. Ms. Mars has a master’s in law in alternative dispute resolution and serves as a volunteer long-term care ombudsman.

Malky Hertz

Social Worker, Young Men and Young Women's Association of Borough Park

Malky Hertz, MSW, is the Social Worker at the Boro Park YM-YWHA, where she provides support and meaningful connections to Holocaust survivors and children of Holocaust survivors. Malky has worked in various community social service agencies and, having grown up in the community, is deeply committed to this work.

Malya Levin

Assistant Director and General Counsel, The Weinberg Center for Elder Justice

Malya Levin is the Assistant Director and General Counsel at The Weinberg Center. In this role, she represents victims of acute elder abuse from throughout New York City and Westchester County in a wide variety of legal forums. Malya has spoken extensively about various aspects of elder abuse to professional and community audiences, and has also published prolifically on the subject, with a primary focus on the role of legal tools and policies in elder abuse cases. She is on the Executive Committee of the New York State Bar Association Elder Law Section, and a member of its Elder Abuse Committee. Malya was named one of The New York Jewish Week’s “36 Under 36” for 2018. She graduated cum laude from Brooklyn Law School in 2012 and is a certified Reiki energy healer.

Marina Yakush

Dementia Certified Nursing Assistant, MJHS Menorah Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing Care

Marina Yakush immigrated from Belarussia in the early 1990's, settling in Brooklyn, NY. With a background as a registered nurse in her home country, Marina faced the challenge of learning English upon her arrival. She quickly earned her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certificate and began her career in a Brooklyn rehab facility, where she gained valuable experience as a nursing assistant, staffing coordinator, and translator for Russian-speaking patients For over 26 years, Marina has dedicated her career to working in nursing homes, focusing on the dementia unit. Currently, she serves as a Dementia CNA at MJHS Menorah Center, where she leads daily activities and programs for residents with various types of dementia. Her responsibilities include planning and facilitating special events, culinary activities, arts and crafts, and assisting with fundraising efforts. Marina is also committed to supporting families in the nursing department, ensuring a compassionate environment for memory care residents.

Masha Pearl

Executive Director, The Blue Card

Masha Pearl is a philanthropist, mother, and businesswoman. As the Executive Director of The Blue Card, she leads its national efforts to provide direct financial assistance to over 3,000 Holocaust survivor households living at or below the poverty line. Her leadership emphasizes Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed (PCTI) practices, ensuring that survivors' needs are addressed with compassion and respect for their unique experiences. Under Masha's guidance, The Blue Card operates in 35 states and is recognized for its stellar record, earning praise from lawmakers and media outlets. The organization has provided more than $30 million to thousands of survivors. Since becoming Executive Director, Masha has leverage donor support to increase the charity’s annual operating budget by 40%. Her philanthropic efforts have led The Blue Card to receive The Independent Charities of America’s Best in America Seal of Excellence, a four-star rating by Charity Navigator, and accreditation by Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance.

Mohini Mishra

Vice President, Senior Communities, Selfhelp Community Services, Inc.

Mohini Mishra, LMSW, is a nationally recognized thought leader with expertise developing innovative programs for large nonprofit organizations. Since joining Selfhelp in 2004, Ms. Mishra has played a key role in advancing the organization's mission. As Vice President, she oversees vital programs, including the Selfhelp Active Services for Aging Model (SHASAM), Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs), and Person-Centered Trauma-Informed (PCTI) Care. She leads emotional resiliency initiatives to prevent staff burnout and compassion fatigue while ensuring teams effectively support clients facing trauma. Ms. Mishra drives Selfhelp’s PCTI Strategic Priority, integrating it across the organization to honor its legacy of supporting Holocaust survivors. An advocate for community-based solutions, she serves on the NYS Board of Regents' Office of Professions (Social Work) and the Gravity Project to set national standards for social determinants of health. She also chairs the Diversity Committee for NASW New York Chapter and serves on LeadingAge NY’s HCBS cabinet.