In light of the current situation with COVID-19 and precautions taken worldwide, we have decided to postpone the summit until further notice. Once it is safe enough we will publicize a new date. We hope that everyone will take the necessary measures to stay safe.
Saturday, April 25, 2020 9am-2pm
Comfort Suites Paradise Island
Paradise Island Drive, Paradise Island, Bahamas
The 242 Strong: Recovery and Resilience Summit focuses on rebuilding the emotional, cultural, and spiritual foundations of the Bahamian people who suffered and survived Hurricane Dorian. Overall wellness strategies will be discussed focused on recovery and resilience. Experts in each domain will provide healing practices and rejuvenating conversations that will lead to a transition from trauma to triumph.
Admission is FREE, food is provided, and each participant will receive a care package.
Creating a safe space to begin rekindling feelings of community and kinship
Establishing a foundation with community partners in order to increase knowledge and awareness, facilitate networking, and to provide inspiration for future direction
Speakers
Dr. Tracey Murry
Dr. Tracey Murry is a licensed Louisiana and Alabama Clinical Psychologist. She currently works at Louisiana’s largest non-profit, academic, healthcare system. She conducts adult psychological evaluations and evidence-based therapy with individuals contemplating or undergoing cancer treatments, cancer survivors and family members of cancer patients.
Dr. Murry received her undergraduate degree from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Howard University, and her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Clinical Psychology from Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri. She has extensive experience working with trauma, PTSD, and chronic pain in civilians and Veterans.
Dr. Byron Benton
Rev. Dr. Byron Benton is the Senior Pastor of Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in North Charleston, South Carolina. Pastor Benton is a proud graduate of NC A&T University and completed his Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary (Princeton, New Jersey) with a focus on Homiletics and Pastoral Care and has a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Eastern University (Philadelphia, PA).
Pastor Benton’s gifts extend beyond the classroom and the sanctuary. He is a gifted percussionist and served as Chaplain of the A&T State University Band and has instructed award winning drum lines.
Our Why
On Sunday, September 1, 2019 Hurricane Dorian made initial landfall at Elbow Cay, Abaco. Since then 70,000+ lives were abruptly disrupted and changed forever. Imagine going from being in a secure and safe place to seeing everything you ever owned demolished and swept away. Dorian was a traumatic experience that was catastrophic and life-altering. These types of traumatic events/critical incidents have a significant psychological, emotional, cognitive, and physiological impact and can cripple a person’s ability to manage stress and recover.
Common stressful reactions following exposure to a traumatic event/critical incident include anxiety, depression, fear for safety, preoccupation with the stressful event, sleep difficulties, guilt, anger, problems with performance in school, home, or work, and increased susceptibility to medical illness. Overtime, many individuals may develop major depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and ongoing anxiety disorders.