Past Events & Resources

Supporting Our Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic, presented by Dr. David J. Schonfeld

This session provided practical advice to parents and other caregivers on how to help our children cope with persistent adjustment difficulties and grief associated with the pandemic.  

Practicing Resiliency with Your Family During COVID-19, presented by Dr. Kelly Greco 

Resilience, or the ability of an individual to function competently in the face of adversity or distress, is an important protective factor for both adolescents and adults. COVID-19, with its continuing and lasting impacts, has presented many unprecedented and unique challenges for Beach Cities students and families. Families Connected Speaker Series keynote speaker Dr. Kelly Greco guided participants through a discussion for parents, caregivers and community members to learn how to utilize and teach life skills that help families cope and managing the stressors, loss, disappointments and unique challenges of life – with and without COVID-19. 

Social Justice Parenting: Teaching Children to Leverage Privilege for Good, presented by Dr. Mimi Nartey 

Dr. Mimi Nartey delivered strategies to empower parents to discuss social justice topics with their children, set intentions for themselves and their communities toward social justice outcomes, contextualize real and perceived social disadvantages responsibly and to leverage social privilege towards the manifestation of a better world. 

The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind, presented by Dr. Dan Siegel 

In this seminar, Dr. Dan Siegel explored an exciting approach to raising children through engaging discussions, case examples and experiential immersions. Child development professionals, parents, grandparents, teachers and others who help children grow will find this learning experience filled with scientifically-based ideas and practical skills that can promote well-being in children’s lives. By offering a definition of an important aspect of the mind and a core mechanism of mental health, the whole-brain child approach offers care providers the cutting edge art and science of child development. 

“The Journey” – A Conversation About Mental Health in New, Uncertain Times, with professional surfer Alex Gray and local clinician Kevin Sousa, MFT.

In this Families Connected Speaker Series, Kevin and Alex shared valuable insight and personal experiences with stress, anxiety and coping mechanisms in a casual, intimate conversation.  

“Vaping in 2020: What Parents Need to Know,” presented by Sarah Grippa.  

Sarah Grippa, Co-Founder of the Marijuana Education Initiative, delivered unbiased information to help parents and educators better understand the risks and impacts of adolescents’ vaping and marijuana use. Relevant for parents of elementary through high school aged youth, this presentation helps navigate the unknown territory so many of our kids are already comfortable with. 

Purpose vs. Performance: Shifting the Mindset from Outcomes to Experience 

Extracurricular activities. AP classes. College applications. From a very early age, students are diligently checking the boxes for a successful future, but do they take time to think about who they want to be when they grow up, instead of just what they want to be? Hear from former Dodgers player Eric Karros and his daughter, Mikah Maly-Karros, about their personal story and how to shift your family mindset away from one focused singularly on outcomes to more purposeful experiences.