
Live Panel Discussion
How can we improve children, youth and families’ relationships and connections with each other, and strengthen one’s own mental health and wellness?
Host
Olympia Della Flora
Panelists
Joe O’Callaghan
Matthew Laskowski
Rev. Robert Jackson
Mary Alice Walsh
Kaitlin Comet
Meet Our Panelists

Olympia Della Flora
Stamford Public Schools Associate Superintendent for School Development
Olympia Della Flora has served as a teacher, principal, and now Associate Superintendent in public school both in Columbus, Ohio and Stamford, CT. She has a passion for helping to remove barriers to academic learning and opportunities for students and families to experience success. She is a strong advocate for providing mental health supports for both students, staff, and families.

Kaitlin Comet
Americorps Prevention Corps Member, The Hub
Kaitlin is an Americorps Prevention Corps member serving at The Hub (RBHAO for Region 1). Her work at The Hub includes community-focused solutions in opioid education, awareness, and stigma reduction. She is a Narcan trainer and hosts trainings for community members and organizations. She is a fierce advocate, community organizer, educator, and activist.
Contact:
The Hub is the Regional Behavioral Health Action Organization (RBHAO) for Region 1 of Southwest CT:
https://www.thehubct.org/
info@thehubct.org
kaitlin@ryasap.org
RYASAP Prevention Corps of Connecticut: http://www.ryasap.org/what-we-do/prevention-corps/

Joe O'Callaghan, LCSW
District Department Head Social Work Stamford Public Schools
Joe O'Callaghan supervises social work and mental health services for the Stamford Schools. His areas of expertise include School mental health, trauma informed practices and grief and loss as well as the training of social workers.
Contact:

Matthew Laskowski
Principal, Rippowam Middle School
Mr. Laskowski has been an educator for 16 years serving the Danbury and Stamford communities. Mr. Laskowski began his career as a physical eduction and health teacher and is currently the principal at Rippowam Middle School. He resides in Stamford with his wife and two children.
Contact:
www.rippowammiddle.org
Rippowam Middle School
381 High Ridge Rd, Stamford, CT 06905

Reverend Dr. Robert Augustus Jackson, Jr., D.Min., Pastor,
Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
The Reverend Dr. Robert Augustus Jackson, Jr. is married to the former Ms. Moninya Denise Hovington of Rehoboth, DE. They are the proud parents of four sons. Reverend Dr. Jackson attended Hagerstown Community College. He is a graduate of Andersonville Bible College where he received a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Payne Theological Seminary. The Reverend Dr. Jackson has also successfully completed one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education from the Dayton VA Medical Center in Dayton, OH. Reverend Dr. Jackson earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from New York Theological Seminary with a focus on Transformational Leadership and Faith Rooted Organizing. Since 2015, he has served as the pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church Stamford, CT.
Contact:
Presentations
Presentation:
How to Get Your Kids to Talk
PRESENTER:
Robin Seymour
Child Guidance Center
of Southern CT
Presentation: I Missed You!
Coming Together After COVID-19
PRESENTER:
KIMBERLY WOLFSON-LISACK
Kids in Crisis
Presentation: Understanding and Responding to School Avoidance
PRESENTERS:
JULIE RINGELHEIM (ENGLISH) & GEORGETTE HARRISON (SPANISH)
Child Guidance Center
of Southern CT
Presentation:
Establish Structure and Routines
PRESENTER:
Emily Segal
Family Centers
Presentation:
Consent & Boundaries
PRESENTER:
Danielle Walker &
Maileen Martinez
The Rowan Center
Presentation:
Physical and Emotional Safety
PRESENTER:
Donn Reid &
Craig Baker
DOMUS
Presentation:
Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships
PRESENTERs:
Nikkia Ellis &
Ann Rodwell-Lawton
Domestic Violence Crisis Center
Presentation:
Staying Connected
PRESENTER:
John Hamilton
Liberation Programs, Inc.
Presentation:
Harmonize your body to decrease stress and increase relaxation.
PRESENTER:
Carol Shwidock
Harmony Yoga Studio
Presentation:
Screen Time and Social Media
PRESENTER:
Elizabeth Ortiz-Schwartz
Silver Hill Hospital
Presentation:
Vaping: Is it harmless??
PRESENTERs:
Emma Goldberg, Samantha Samuel & Rocco Lucia
Stamford Vaping Task Force- committee of Stamford Youth Services
Presentation:
Connecting in the Latino Community: What are the unique challenges?
PRESENTERs:
Myriam Isaza-Postrel &
John Hamilton
Liberation Programs, Inc.
Presentation:
Establishing and Maintaining Physical
and Emotional Safety
PRESENTER:
Tanesha Rankine, PsyD
Community Health Center, Inc.
Presentation:
Keeping Your Cool When It Counts
PRESENTER:
Krista Rizzo
Stamford Public Schools
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