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Keynote Speaker
Dr. Portia Jackson
Dr. Portia Jackson
Full bio found here: www.empoweredtoexhale.com/about#portia
Empowered to Exhale was founded by Dr Portia Jackson with a mission to Equip educators and leaders with tools to effectively manage stress and foster resilience so they may serve others from a position of wholeness. Dr. Portia Jackson Preston is an Assistant Professor of Public Health at California State University, Fullerton, where she conducts research on multilevel approaches to self-care, and examines stressors such as racism drivers of health inequity.
Prior to her career in academia, she worked for Deloitte Consulting and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, consulted for Susan G. Komen Orange County, and founded Active Steps Coaching. Dr. Jackson Preston earned her Doctorate of Public Health from UCLA, her Masters of Public Health from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and her Bachelors degree from Stanford University.
Nat Vikitsreth
Nat Vikitsreth
LCSW, DT, CEIM
LCSW, DT, CEIM
Nat is a dot connector, norm agitator, and lover of liberation who supports social justice curious parents to practice social justice in their parenting while re-parenting their inner child. Nat works as a decolonized and licensed clinical psychotherapist, transgender rights community organizer, and child development specialist. She founded ComeBack to Care and hosts the Come Back to Care Podcast to collaborate with parents who want to transform from autopilot to decolonized, embodied, and intergenerational parenting. She believes that when parents heal their inner child and internalized oppression wounds in a community, they put fragmented pieces of themselves together to show up to both parenting and community organizing with their whole selves. Then, parents can dismantle systemic oppression and rebuild a culture that's rooted in liberation for their future generations.
Nat is a graduate of and faculty instructor with the Erikson Institute’s Social Work and Child Development Program. She also holds another master’s degree in Infancy & Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. In 2021, she received the Zero to Three Award for Emerging Leadership where she was nationally recognized for her innovative work at Come Back to Care. Her most recent publications include an academic article in the June 2022 Zero to Three Journal and an op-ed piece in Condé Nast’s Them.
Outside of her clinical and psychoeducation work at Come Back to Care, Nat provides political education and mental health support to youth organizers around the stolen land of the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations (Chicago). Her advocacy areas include economic justice, intergenerational healing justice, disability justice, and trans rights.
RaChe' Russel-Van
RaChe' Russel-Van
My name is RaChe’ Russell-Van, I am a mother of two previous Head Start students (BreAle 19, MarJon 15), 7 month of puppy, and blessed to be a bonus mom of a son whom is on his senior year in high school. I have been in the early childhood field for 22 years in many roles (teacher aide, assistant, lead preschool teacher, head start teacher, assistant director, director). Throughout my years in the field I earned my Bachelors degree from Governor State University in Interdisciplinary Studies with a Early Childhood major then my Masters in Education in Teacher Leadership. I joined Easterseals Education Inclusion and Mental Health team in 2013 as a coach, then coordinator, and now have been the Three to Five Education Manager for the last 6 years. I love working with the teachers and families but most of all I enjoy interacting with the children singing and dancing and connecting in ways with them that they learn best. Being a life long learner is important to me and I cherish the opportunity I have connecting with some many educators throughout the program.
Contact RaChe': Rrussel@eastersealschicago.org
Anne Fedele
Anne Fedele
My name is Anne Fedele, I am an Instructional Coordinator for Easterseals with our suburban program. I am in my 8th year with Easterseals. I've worked with Head Start programs for 15 years learning and gaining knowledge through a variety of roles. I started as a teacher, site supervisor, Instructional Coach, Lead Coach and Instructional Coordinator since August of 2016. I have worked in the Early Childhood Field for my entire career and have enjoyed wearing many different hats in the field and having the opportunity to watch many children and teachers grow throughout that time.
Contact Anne: afedele@eastersealschicago.org
Ericka Farag
Ericka Farag
Ericka earned her teaching certificate at UIC-Chicago and is current serving as an instructional coordinator. She is married to Samer and has 3 children ages 30, 28, and 18. She enjoys history and traveling and her hobbies include crafting and gardening.
Contact Ericka: efarag@eastersealschicago.org
Hannah Kilroy
Hannah Kilroy
BCBA, LCSW, MSW
BCBA, LCSW, MSW
Hannah received her MSW from Saint Louis University and holds certificates as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). She is the Social Emotional Manager at Easterseals. She has worked in early childhood education since 2017 and works alongside families and staff to promote positive social-emotional development. She uses an interdisciplinary approach to working with children who have experienced trauma and have related behavioral concerns.
Contact Hannah: hkilroy@eastersealschicago.org
Carmen Engel
Carmen Engel
LBA, BCBA
LBA, BCBA
Carmen is a licensed behavior analyst (LBA) who received her master’s degree in Behavior Analysis from the Florida Institute of Technology and holds a certificate as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She has spent the last 6 years providing home and clinic based behavior therapy to children with special needs. Her specialty includes children with autism between the ages of 2-5. Carmen recently joined Easterseals in December as an inclusion specialist in order to continue to promote the importance of early intervention and inclusion for individuals with disabilities.
Contact Carmen: cengel@eastersealschicago.org
Julia Paloma
Julia Paloma
Julia has worked with young children, their parents and their teachers for over 30 years, with an emphasis on relationship-based practices in environments ranging from a group home for teen mothers to a Chicago Public School to Early Head Start and Head Start. She has specialized in supporting infants and toddlers as well as children who have developmental differences, using practices that help create an inclusive community where everyone is at their best most of the time, and learns to cope with the times when they are not. She earned her MA from Roosevelt in Early Childhood Education with Professional Teaching License, and an Infant Studies Certificate from Erikson Institute. She is also a teaching artist working with cast aluminum and bronze.
Contact Julia: jpaloma@eastersealschicago.org
Nayeli Diaz
Nayeli Diaz
LCPC
LCPC
Nayeli Diaz holds a master on clinical psychology and is a Licensed Clinical Professional counselor (LCPC). Nayeli Diaz has been a therapist for 10 year and works with people of all ages throughout their life spans, and especially loves working with children; adolescents and their families.
Contact Nayeli: sndiaz@eastersealschicago.org
Maria Casiano
Maria Casiano
Instructional Coordinator
Passion for supporting teachers in their practice
Passion for supporting children in their development
Providing those resources for our educators to be successful
Over 14 years of experience in ECE
Contact Maria: mcasiano@eatersealschicago.org
Samantha Lucero
Samantha Lucero
Registered Dietitian
Registered Dietitian
I am the Nutritionist for our Chicago partner sites and a Registered Dietitian. I am passionate about helping others and communities thrive. In my role, I support our centers provide healthy meals, work with children and families about nutrition concerns, and support classroom staff to teach children about nutrition.
Contact Samantha: slucero@eastersealchicago.org
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