Recognizing A Trauma Advocate

Update: The women’s Center Women’s Center Welcomes a new keynote speaker, Filmmaker and Activist Nancy Schwartzman Annual Luncheon Returns to Civic Auditorium. Please read updated story CLICK HERE.

The Women’s Center of San Joaquin recognizes Advocate for survivors of trauma including homeless, survivors of child abuse, domestic violence, acute trauma, and natural disasters: author and Zen Master Laura van Dernoot Lipsky at this years 32nd annual luncheon.

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY, CA – The Women’s Center will host its 32^nd Annual Luncheon on Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at the Stockton Civic Auditorium.

This year, the Women’s Center welcomes Laura van Dernoot Lipsky to the 32nd Annual Luncheon, an expert on trauma and self-care who has worked directly with trauma survivors for over two decades, including the homeless, survivors of child abuse, domestic violence, acute trauma, and natural disasters. Lara initially engaged in her work with great passion and commitment, and with a sense that it was a privilege to serve others. But over time, the work changed her, until about 10 years ago, she realized her work had compromised her ability to be present in her life, enjoy her relationships, and even be an effective social worker and educator.

In 2000, feeling that she could no longer work with integrity, she quit her job as an emergency room social worker and began an urgent quest for wisdom that would allow her to preserve her trust in life and its beauty even when doing work that guaranteed exposure to endless waves of pain. Her explorations took her from Buddhist monks and nuns to qigong healers to Native American medicine men and women to the latest scientific research on the effects of prolonged exposure to others’ trauma. Laura’s hunger to embrace both the joy and the sorrow of our life experiences is at the root of her concept of trauma stewardship.

Laura offered her first workshop on trauma stewardship in 1999. Since then, she has trained a wide variety of people, including zookeepers and reconstruction workers in post-Katrina New Orleans, community organizers and health care providers in Japan, U.S. Air Force pilots, Canadian firefighters, public school teachers, and private practice doctors. She has worked locally, nationally, and internationally.

In 2009 she co-authored Trauma Stewardship, an Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others.The book has earned praise from physicians, mental health professionals, trauma workers, trauma survivors, activists, and members of law enforcement. Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen Master, peace activist and author, said: “Reading this book is like looking into a mirror. We will see ourselves much more clearly, will understand ourselves much better and will come up with better ways of being It and of doing It. Compassion, yes Compassion is Happiness itself. Enjoy.” 

Laura lives in Seattle, Washington, with her family; holds a master of social work degree; is bilingual in Spanish; and in 2008 was given a Yo! Mama award in recognition of her work as a community-activist mother.

The Women’s Center’s luncheon has become a highly attended event in our community; each year more than 700 guests attend this event. After two years at the Stockton Arena, the Women’s Center is moving its signature event back to the Civic Auditorium where it has been held since the luncheon’s inception. The Women’s Center boasts that the funds raised from the luncheon help support free, confidential services and shelter for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in San Joaquin County. The luncheon also serves as an opportunity for the community to gather in unity against domestic violence and sexual assault. The goals of the luncheon are to raise awareness, challenge misperceptions about abuse in our community, and offer hope and strength to survivors.

Doors to the Civic Auditorium will open at 11:00 a.m. and the program will start promptly at 11:30 a.m. Individual lunches are available for $40.00 (vegetarian lunch available upon request) and reserved tables are available for $350. Sponsorship opportunities ranging from $500 to $5,000 are also available. Laura’s book, Trauma Stewardship, an Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others, will be on sale for $19.95 at the event.

For more information, contact Kate Macek, Development Director, at kmacek@womenscentersjc.org or Tiffany Baca, Development Associate, at tbaca@womenscentersjc.org, or call (209) 941-2611. Information is also available at please visit www.womenscentersjc.org.