Save The Date
Fall 2023
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Upcoming Events
"Locs, Wigs, & Everything Between": Black Women/Girls & Emotional Wellness
Tuesday, November 14 · 1pm EST
In this FREE training event, the Co-Founders of CRESTS-Achieve (Dr. Cirecie West-Olatunji and Dr. Constance West) will provide an overview of the race-based trauma that Black women and girls often experience related to their hair. In addition, these presenters will identify culture-centered, trauma-informed interventions to be used by educators, parents, partners, and mental health professionals in order to promote resilience in Black women and girls.
Infusing Black History & Culture into Your Holiday Celebrations (Part III)
Tuesday, December 12 · 1 - 2:30pm EST
This year will mark our 3rd annual holiday training event (yes, it is BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND)!!!! As before, this is a FREE, virtual, training session in which Dr. Cirecie West-Olatunji and Dr. Constance West will teach simple, fun, and evidence-based interventions aimed at enhancing Black children's racial identity development, emotional well-being, and academic performance.
Recent Events
Emancipatory Research Symposium
Friday, July 7, 2023
Dr. Cirecie West-Olatunji hosted this program and featured two emancipatory scholars from New Zealand, Fiona Cram and Tepora Emery, as keynote speakers. The keynote session was followed by concurrent seminars where presenters shared their recent emancipatory research projects.
Harnessing the Power of Black Fatherhood to Promote Excellence in Children
Tues, June 13, 2023
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This training session featured a panel discussion that was co-facilitated by Dr. Cirecie-West-Olatunji and Dr. Constance West (Co-Founders of CRESTS-Achieve). In this discussion, panelists summarized current data about Black fathers (identifying truths and dispelling myths), highlighting the important role that fathers play in promoting academic success and emotional well-being in their children, and identifying culture-centered interventions that can be used to maximize engagement and outcomes related to Black fathers (and their children).
Countering Race-based Stress for Young Children
Thurs, May 25, 2023
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This was a live in-person training in partnership with Be Strong Families that will be held in New Orleans, LA. The training focused on race-based stress for young children. Dr. Cirecie West-Olatunji discussed what is known about race-based stress and how to identify the symptoms among young children. More importantly, Dr. West-Olatunji offered solutions and interventions that can be implemented to arm children against threats to their self-esteem, self-actualization, and self-identity to promote healthy emotional and psychological well-being and lifelong success.
Culture-Centered Strategies to Enhance Support for LGBTQ Black Youth
Tue, March 21, 2023
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This FREE webinar featured a panel discussion that summarized the experiences of Black LGBTQ youth, challenged notions of tolerance versus acceptance, and equipped attendees with culture-centered, trauma-informed skills and interventions to be used to best support Black LGBTQ youth in their identity development and overall well-being.
Putting the R(ace) into ACES -Part II: Focusing on Early Childhood
Tue, April 25, 2023
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In this virtual training event, the presenters justified the importance of including race-based trauma as key ACEs for Black children; used case studies to illustrate evidence-based information; and provided practical tools to educators, parents, and clinicians to intervene and mitigate the consequences of race-based trauma for Black children.
Counteracting the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Black Youth
Tue, Feb 28, 2023
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This panel discussion focused on identifying evidence-based strategies to be used by educators, parents/guardians, juvenile justice professionals, and clinicians to excise racism across settings. In addition, panelists identified strategies that can effectively promote resilience in Black youth (and other minoritized youth) who are at elevated risk for (or are experiencing) juvenile justice involvement.
2023 National ESEA Conference
The National ESEA Conference is intentionally aimed at coordination among federal education programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and other federal programs.
The CRESTS team attended the ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act) conference from February 1-4, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana to interact with educational leaders, policymakers, and educators from all over the U.S. We had a booth in the exhibit hall to share information about our programs and services, which focus on culture-centered trauma-informed care for Black children.
The Necessity of Culture-Centered, Trauma-Informed Care in Juvenile Justice
Tue, January 24, 2023
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This virtual training event focused on the identification of evidence-based strategies to be used by educators, parents/guardians, and/or clinicians to excise racism across settings, and to promote resilience in Black youth (and other minoritized youth) who are at elevated risk for (or are experiencing) juvenile justice involvement.
Infusing Black History & Culture into Your Holiday Celebrations (Part II)
Tue, December 13, 2022
For educators, parents, and clinicians of Black children, this was a perfect time to engage in activities to enhance Black children's racial identity by infusing Black history and culture into their holiday plans! In this FREE virtual training session; Dr. Cirecie West-Olatunji and Dr. Constance West taught simple, fun, and evidence-based interventions to enhance Black children's racial identity development, emotional well-being, and academic performance.
These interventions targeted the following areas: culture-centered decorations for the school, home, and/or clinical setting; gift ideas; activities with children (and their families); and resources. Like last year's version of this innovative training session, it was designed to be HIGHLY INTERACTIVE (with a limited number of participants so they could SHARE their favorite examples in a meeting format). In addition, this session included musical selections by a guest artist.
Preventing Suicide and Homicide Among Black Men and Boys
Tue, November 15, 2022
Suicide rates among Black males have increased over the last two decades. The onset of the COVID pandemic has aggravated this trend. For adolescent males, depression and anxiety, coupled with a tendency not to seek help, have exacerbated this issue. For adult males, issues of identity and self-worth have been cited as influential in their sense of hopelessness.
The panelists for this webinar highlighted the factors that influence the overall wellbeing of Black men and boys to contextualize their everyday challenges, including race-based stress. Additionally, the presenters shared elements of clinically effective programs with Black boys and men. Key aspects of this presentation focused on the role of family members, friends, and community resources ins supporting emotional and psychological wellness among Black males.
LGBTQ Black Youth: Acceptance, Protection, & Support
Tue, October 4, 2022 ​
This webinar brought together Black youth to form a panel to talk about their exposure to race-based stress, the social-justice interventions and outreach they have performed, and their research activities related to historical trauma within the Black experience. This webinar brought their voices to center stage.
Black Children Speaking Up & Out on Experiences With Race-Based Trauma
Sun, September 18, 2022
This webinar brought together Black youth to form a panel to talk about their exposure to race-based stress, the social-justice interventions and outreach they have performed, and their research activities related to historical trauma within the Black experience. This webinar brought their voices to center stage.
