--- title: "Nonprofit Stories: Uplifting Voices" description: "The community-centered joy last year’s conference inspired motivates this year’s conference theme: Uplifting Voices." image: https://blog.womensconsortium.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/file-Dec-20-2021-10-15-13-96-PM.jpg --- - [Home](https://www.womensconsortium.org/) - [About Us](https://www.womensconsortium.org/about-the-consortium) - [About The Consortium](https://www.womensconsortium.org/about-the-consortium) - [Board Members](https://www.womensconsortium.org/board-members) - [Our Team](https://www.womensconsortium.org/our-team) - [Annual Report](https://www.womensconsortium.org/annual-report) - Initiatives - [Trauma & Gender Initiative](https://www.womensconsortium.org/trauma-gender-initiative) - [Every Woman Connecticut](https://www.womensconsortium.org/every-woman-connecticut) - [Advocacy](https://www.womensconsortium.org/advocacy) - [Community Film Series](https://www.womensconsortium.org/community-film-series) - Training & Events - [Training Catalogs](https://www.womensconsortium.org/training-catalogs) - [Registration Policies](https://www.womensconsortium.org/registration-policies) - [Private Trainings](https://www.womensconsortium.org/private-trainings) - Resources - [Trauma Services Directory](https://www.womensconsortium.org/traumaservicesdirectory) - [Our Blog: The Consortium Speaks](https://blog.womensconsortium.org/) - [Guide to Behavioral Health Training](https://training.womensconsortium.org/guide-to-behavioral-health-training) - [Guide to Building Trauma-Informed Practices and Organizations](https://training.womensconsortium.org/building-trauma-informed-practices-and-organizations) - Contact Us - [Directions](https://www.womensconsortium.org/directions) - [Join Our E-mail List](https://training.womensconsortium.org/workshop-and-events-email-notifications) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.womensconsortium.org/privacypolicy) [Donate](https://womensconsortium.configio.com/moneyrequest?id=2) ![White CWC Banner - 1 Line with logo (1)_](https://blog.womensconsortium.org/hubfs/White%20CWC%20Banner%20-%201%20Line%20with%20logo%20(1)_.webp) [Register for Live Trainings](https://womensconsortium.configio.com/) [Trauma Matters](https://www.womensconsortium.org/traumamatters) [On-demand Online Courses](https://training.womensconsortium.org/on-demand-training-catalog-download) **Share Post** - - - [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://blog.womensconsortium.org/nonprofit-stories-uplifting-voices&body=Check%20out%20https://blog.womensconsortium.org/nonprofit-stories-uplifting-voices&media=https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/20283716/Imported_Blog_Media/file-Dec-20-2021-10-15-13-96-PM.jpg](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://blog.womensconsortium.org/nonprofit-stories-uplifting-voices&body=Check%20out%20https://blog.womensconsortium.org/nonprofit-stories-uplifting-voices&media=https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/20283716/Imported_Blog_Media/file-Dec-20-2021-10-15-13-96-PM.jpg) # Nonprofit Stories: Uplifting Voices ![Principal image blog-post](https://blog.womensconsortium.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/file-Dec-20-2021-10-15-13-96-PM.jpg?width=372&height=250&name=file-Dec-20-2021-10-15-13-96-PM.jpg) [Emily Hoyle](https://blog.womensconsortium.org/author/emily-hoyle) ![Author icon](https://blog.womensconsortium.org/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Connecticut_Womens_Consortium_2021_Theme/images/feather.svg) •  5 Oct, 2021 • 2 minute read Share Post Last year brought many changes to the Consortium. Like most other offices, we closed our doors and spent the better part of the year working from home. We launched our debut solo-hosted conference online, rather than with the in-person spectacle for which we had hoped. Of the experience, the Consortium’s executive director, Colette Anderson, wrote, “Our staff has not hesitated in preparing and delivering on our promise to continue providing high-quality trainings to the behavioral health workforce. In 2020, it is all the more important to ensure that the professionals providing mental health care to isolated, anxious, and scared clients are equipped to manage any scenario sent their way.” ![CWC Team - Nonprofit Stories: Uplifting Voices](https://blog.womensconsortium.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/555203_4301f445747344b481e493feb3451176~mv2.jpeg?width=300&name=555203_4301f445747344b481e493feb3451176~mv2.jpeg) The 2020 Trauma & Recovery Conference holds a special place in our memories. We were so grateful for the patience and excitement our participants demonstrated and were moved by the strong messages our presenters shared, despite the unusual circumstances. One benefit of moving to an online format was that people from across the state and country were able to join with ease, helping to grow our evergreen community. As Board President Carol Huckaby said in her closing statement, “Hearing – and more, knowing – that this work continues throughout the state is a testament to the necessity of a trauma responsive system” as well as “the strength of our communities.” The community-centered joy last year’s conference inspired motivates this year’s conference theme: Uplifting Voices, where we will highlight local experts and practitioners, helping to bring their messages to you. Among others, our presenters include:  **Amy B. Smoyer,** PhD, an Associate Professor of Social Work at Southern Connecticut State University. Her program of research examines women’s lived experience of incarceration and the impact of this experience on health outcomes, including HIV care and prevention, food justice, bladder health, housing stability, and psychosocial wellness. [www.amysmoyer.com](http://www.amysmoyer.com/) **Margaret Evans, PhD**, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor at the University of Connecticut Health in the Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Evans received her PhD from the University of Vermont, and subsequently completed a clinical postdoc at the VA Boston Healthcare System. Dr. Evans works with adults in outpatient settings, providing treatment for individuals presenting trauma-related anxiety, OCD and mood disorders. She has been trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD.  **Renesha Nichols, LCSW,** is a licensed clinical social worker who has served in the mental health field for 13 years and counting. Her experience includes crisis management, trauma work with foster and adopted youth, school social work, and individual and family counseling. Renesha is currently pursuing her doctorate in social work while rendering virtual counseling services within her private practice. Renesha is passionate about helping others and is a strong advocate for social justice.   [![Subscirbe to Trauma & Recovery Monthly](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/20283716/9dc1b76c-34eb-43d2-ba5e-dc092370e5fd.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/20283716/9dc1b76c-34eb-43d2-ba5e-dc092370e5fd) 0 comments Subscribe for updates ## **The Connecticut Women's Consortium** Education for nonprofits, state agencies, social workers, clinicians, and others interested in learning about gender, trauma, substance use, and mental health. **Phone:** 203-909-6888 **Fax:** 203-909-6894 ###### Join Our Mailing List [Sign up!](https://training.womensconsortium.org/email-list) [![Facebook](https://blog.womensconsortium.org/hubfs/e316f544f9094143b9eac01f1f19e697.webp)](https://www.facebook.com/CTWomensConsortium) [![Youtube](https://blog.womensconsortium.org/hubfs/a1b09fe8b7f04378a9fe076748ad4a6a.webp)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJfJuv8BoyLRG8NvAr0UmtQ) [![Instagram](https://blog.womensconsortium.org/hubfs/8d6893330740455c96d218258a458aa4.webp)](https://www.instagram.com/thectwomensconsortium/) ###### Quick Links - [About Us](https://www.womensconsortium.org/about-the-consortium) - [Initiatives](https://www.womensconsortium.org/trauma-gender-initiative) - [Training & Events](https://www.womensconsortium.org/training-catalogs) - [Resources](https://blog.womensconsortium.org) - [Podcast](https://www.womensconsortium.org/podcast) - [Contact Us](https://www.womensconsortium.org/contact-us) © 2020 by The Connecticut Women's Consortium. Proudly created with Wix.com | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy