A Wildflower Path: Navigating Wellness Through Life’s Seasons Webinar Series

Join us to explore practical, accessible ways of cultivating a sense of safety in our bodies as we move together on the path of collective healing. This session, featuring Gabriela Zapata-Alma, LCSW, CADC, NCDVTMH’s Associate Director, and Giada Matteine, Founder, Artistic and Executive Director of WADE Dance Company, offers a welcoming space for those who have experienced trauma and those who support others in their healing. Together, we’ll share strategies for reclaiming our bodies and transforming ourselves from histories of harm into powerful catalysts for collective healing and vitality.

This session is presented by:

Giada Matteini, Founder, Artistic and Executive Director of WADE Dance Company

Giada Matteini is an Italian performer, educator, choreographer, and cultural producer based in New York City. She is the Founder and Director of WADE (Wandering Avian Dance Experience), a women-led multifaceted performing arts company working at the intersection with social justice and focused on supporting the voices and artistic expressions of women and historically underrepresented artists. Giada is also an Assistant Arts Professor at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and the Principal Investigator of an NYU funded research project investigating somatic movement rehabilitation models for perpetrators of gender-based violence. They have traveled as a guest artist to Germany, Sweden, Austria, Finland, Spain, China, The Philippines, Mexico and across the U.S. and Italy.

Gabriela Zapata-Alma, LCSW, CADC, NCDVTMH Associate Director

Gabriela Zapata-Alma, LCSW, CADC is the Associate Director of the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health, as well as faculty at the University of Chicago, where they direct the Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor Training Program within the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. Gabriela brings over 15 years of experience supporting people impacted by structural and interpersonal violence through evidence-based clinical, housing, resource advocacy, and HIV integrated care programs.

Currently, Gabriela authors best practices, leads national capacity-building efforts, and provides trauma-informed policy consultation to advance health equity and social justice. Gabriela served for two years as Director of Policy and Practice on Domestic Violence and Substance Use at NCDVTMH, before becoming Associate Director in 2021.

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” – Maya Angelou

Creative expression is a term often used to describe how thoughts or feelings are conveyed to the world around us. This can be done through mediums like poetry, music, painting, drawing, and more.

In this session, please join Tori Wynecoop, LSW, NCDVTMH Training and Technical Assistance Manager, and guest speaker, Amy Torchia from the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence to explore ways that creative expression can support us on our healing journeys.

Collectively, we’ll discuss strategies and share examples of how we can engage in creative expression. This will give us the opportunity to embrace our imaginations and discover how our healing can blossom through our artistic creations.

This session is presented by:

Amy Torchia, Children’s Advocacy Coordinator | Healing Together Project Co-Coordinator

Amy Torchia has worked with and on behalf of children who experience domestic and sexual violence since 1987. She brings with her knowledge and insight gained through a decade of providing advocacy and support services for children and their mothers at an emergency domestic violence shelter in Pennsylvania. Amy has worked with the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence since 2000 both as a staff member and contractor. In her work with the Network, Amy has provided child advocacy related technical assistance to direct service organizations and leadership for federal grant projects focused on family healing and child welfare collaboration. Amy has worked nationally as a consultant and trainer on topics related to children and domestic violence. She has consulted closely with domestic violence shelters as well as state and national organizations on topics such as children’s advocacy, supporting parents, enhancing advocacy and programming, and strengthening family relationships.

Victoria “Tori” Wynecoop-Abrahamson, MA, LSW, NCDVTMH Training and Technical Assistance Manager

Tori is a citizen of the Spokane Tribe and serves as the Training and Technical Assistance Manager at NCDVTMH. Her advocacy work began during her undergraduate years at Illinois College, where she established a sexual assault support group in response to the #MeToo movement. After serving as a domestic violence advocate on the Spokane Indian Reservation, where she supported survivors with court advocacy, mental health, and substance use services, Tori earned her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Chicago Crown Family School. Prior to joining NCDVTMH, she provided SAMHSA-funded training and technical assistance to tribal communities, focusing on suicide prevention, substance use, and mental health program development.

Join Jasmin Brandow, Amanda Lyon, and special guest Songiné Clarke from Sista Afya Community Mental Wellness for this interactive session focused on finding joy and hope in our lives and communities. We’ll explore practical ways to tap into our inner wellspring of joy and cultivate unwavering hope.

This session will be a tapestry of personal stories, insightful discussion, and practices that nurture our mind, body, and spirit. Songiné Clarke will share her powerful perspective on community care and the healing journey, highlighting the importance of connection and belonging. This is an opportunity to connect with others, find healing, and rediscover the ‘radiant rays of sunshine’ within ourselves.

This session is presented by:

Jasmin Sian Brandow, MA, Co-Founder, HumanKind Workshop

Jasmin supports individuals and groups through both the challenges and rewards of changing organizational culture, embracing humility and healing while creating spaces for others to find their own path in this journey of self-reflection, growth, and action. Jasmin brings a commitment to continued learning, a genuine curiosity about the potential of our humanity, and the understanding that even though we each move differently through this work, we can still move forward together.

Songiné Clarke, Program Manager, Sista Afya Community Mental Wellness

Songiné Clarke (she/her) is a multidisciplinary creative and community organizer. As a community organizer, Songiné believes in using her voice to free herself and encourages others to do the same, whether through her writing or in the different spaces she holds for the community through Sista Afya and other organizing spaces. She believes in the transformative power of art, restorative justice, and community. Having spent years as an after-school art teacher, she is also a certified peace circle keeper. In her free time, Songiné enjoys dining out with friends, practicing yoga, and reading a good book.

Amanda Lyon, MSW, TTA Specialist, NCDVTMH

Amanda Lyon, MSW (she, her) is a Training and Technical Assistance Specialist at the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health. As part of the Survivor Health Connections Consortium project, Amanda develops training and technical resources for behavioral health providers, domestic violence and/or sexual assault programs, hotlines, and coalitions to increase resource accessibility and effectiveness for survivors and their families.

Amanda completed her Master of Social Work at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. She was previously employed with the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault as a Rural Grant Specialist, supporting the development of integrated services targeted towards Alaska Native survivors of domestic violence and/or sexual assault who experience behavioral health challenges. She also has over 20 years experience as a certified yoga instructor, incorporating trauma-informed principles, mindfulness, and compassion-based practices. Amanda has 17 years of experience as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and Ayurvedic Yoga Therapist. Amanda has been the Ayurvedic Director for programs in California, Wisconsin, and Alaska, where she developed curriculum, trained practitioners, and supervised interns.

Join us for an uplifting webinar with Amanda Lyon and Tori Wynecoop, who will share how spirituality and connecting with nature can nurture both personal and collective healing from trauma. Together, we’ll explore meaningful practices from our upcoming Wildflower Path toolkit to create a shared healing experience.

Special guests Lindsay Pingel and Dr. Maria Corona will offer insights about the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s annual Día de los Muertos Tribute in Des Moines. This community program incorporates spirituality to advocate for ending violence and raising public awareness. 

Through stories, thoughtful discussions, and shared wisdom, we’ll discover ways to cultivate inner and outer spaces where peace and strength can flourish in our lives and communities.

This session is presented by:

Dr. Maria Corona, ICADV Executive Director

Dr. Maria Corona (she/ella) serves as the Executive Director of the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV). Dr. Corona is dedicated to uplifting the strengths and generative power of immigrant communities in the context of interpersonal, community, and systemic violence. Her scholarly pursuits encompass a broad spectrum of critical topics, including the help-seeking behaviors of domestic violence survivors in rural settings, the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) among DV-convicted individuals, and the profound community and individual health ramifications of restrictive immigration policies.

As a research practitioner, she remains engaged with research initiatives connected to immigration and gender-based violence such as the National Institute of Health awarded project called Understanding Latina Experiences with Victimizations, Intersectionality, and Discrimination (LAT-VIDA)and an a pilot research project funded by the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) that centers on engaging men through a group-based initiative called  ProACTIVE .

Lindsay Pingel, ICADV Director of Community Engagement

Lindsay Pingel (she/her) has more than two decades of experience in the corporate and nonprofit sectors and has served for the past 11 years as the Director of Community Engagement at the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence. In her role, she leads marketing and communications efforts, shaping the Coalition’s voice and messaging across internal and external audiences. A passionate storyteller, Lindsay is dedicated to elevating the voices of those most vulnerable in our communities. She believes in sharing powerful narratives that inspire change, raise awareness, and promote healing – because we know when we tell our stories, others feel less alone, and that’s how change begins. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations and a minor in Business Communications from Iowa State University.

Victoria “Tori” Wynecoop-Abrahamson, MA, LSW, NCDVTMH Training and Technical Assistance Manager

Tori is a citizen of the Spokane Tribe and serves as the Training and Technical Assistance Manager at NCDVTMH. Her advocacy work began during her undergraduate years at Illinois College, where she established a sexual assault support group in response to the #MeToo movement. After serving as a domestic violence advocate on the Spokane Indian Reservation, where she supported survivors with court advocacy, mental health, and substance use services, Tori earned her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Chicago Crown Family School. Prior to joining NCDVTMH, she provided SAMHSA-funded training and technical assistance to tribal communities, focusing on suicide prevention, substance use, and mental health program development.

Amanda Lyon, MSW, NCDVTMH Training and Technical Assistance Specialist

Amanda Lyon, MSW (she, her) is a Training and Technical Assistance Specialist at the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health. As part of the Survivor Health Connections Consortium project, Amanda develops training and technical resources for behavioral health providers, domestic violence and/or sexual assault programs, hotlines, and coalitions to increase resource accessibility and effectiveness for survivors and their families.

Amanda completed her Master of Social Work at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. She was previously employed with the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault as a Rural Grant Specialist, supporting the development of integrated services targeted towards Alaska Native survivors of domestic violence and/or sexual assault who experience behavioral health challenges. She also has over 20 years experience as a certified yoga instructor, incorporating trauma-informed principles, mindfulness, and compassion-based practices. Amanda has 17 years of experience as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and Ayurvedic Yoga Therapist. Amanda has been the Ayurvedic Director for programs in California, Wisconsin, and Alaska, where she developed curriculum, trained practitioners, and supervised interns.

In our final webinar of our Wildflower Path series, we will explore how organizations cultivate wellness at both individual and program levels. Our session begins with a discussion of collaborative strategies for building sustainable wellness partnerships and programs.

Special guest Adrienne Gantz, Co-Executive Director of the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence, will share how her coalition transformed wellness activities into deeper statewide initiatives addressing visibility, authenticity, and belonging. We’ll conclude with guidance for crafting wellness experiences that create safe, trauma-informed spaces for both survivors and advocates. This webinar offers inspiration and practical tools for organizations at any stage of their wellness journey, whether just beginning to plant seeds of wellness or nurturing existing programs into full bloom.

This session is presented by:

Adrienne Gantz, Co-Executive Director at the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence

Adrienne Gantz is the Co-Executive Director at the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence (NJCEDV). Since 2019, she has transitioned from direct service to social justice advocacy, focusing on breaking down systemic barriers for survivors. Adrienne has led initiatives to promote wellness, and support for culturally specific organizations. Her career began in 2012 as a counseling intern and shelter advocate, later becoming a licensed professional counselor and primary clinician at a domestic violence program. Adrienne holds degrees from Morgan State University (B.S. in Telecommunication: Public Relations) and Rider University (M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling).

Adrienne is an active member of NJCEDV’s Women of Color Task Force and represents the organization on the New Jersey Women’s Reentry Commission. She is also a proud graduate of the LEAP program for emerging leaders of color. Passionate about trauma-focused and somatic healing, Adrienne enjoys practicing yoga and dance and is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She is also the proud mother of Ilana, a sophomore at Rutgers University, and the owner of two cats, Ash and Martin.

Cathy Cave, NCDVTMH Senior Training Consultant

Cathy Cave (she, her) has more than 30 years’ experience as an administrator, facilitator, and consultant specializing in cultural inclusion and disparities elimination, trauma informed services and supports, organizational development, supervisory practice, and leadership coaching within child welfare, juvenile justice, disaster response, health care, mental health, and substance use services. She is one of New York State’s early trauma champions, coordinating county collaboratives and clinical training trauma conferences.

Currently, Cathy provides technical assistance through the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health, other national training and technical assistance centers, governmental bodies, and community-based organizations. She is the former Director for Cultural Competence for New York State Office of Mental Health. As Senior Training Consultant, she utilizes her survivor, family, community, and administrative perspectives to facilitate organizational change in order to improve service quality at local, state, and national levels.

Amanda Lyon, MSW, NCDVTMH Training and Technical Assistance Specialist

Amanda Lyon, MSW (she, her) is a Training and Technical Assistance Specialist at the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health. As part of the Survivor Health Connections Consortium project, Amanda develops training and technical resources for behavioral health providers, domestic violence and/or sexual assault programs, hotlines, and coalitions to increase resource accessibility and effectiveness for survivors and their families.

Amanda completed her Master of Social Work at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. She was previously employed with the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault as a Rural Grant Specialist, supporting the development of integrated services targeted towards Alaska Native survivors of domestic violence and/or sexual assault who experience behavioral health challenges. She also has over 20 years experience as a certified yoga instructor, incorporating trauma-informed principles, mindfulness, and compassion-based practices. Amanda has 17 years of experience as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and Ayurvedic Yoga Therapist. Amanda has been the Ayurvedic Director for programs in California, Wisconsin, and Alaska, where she developed curriculum, trained practitioners, and supervised interns.