Conference Keynotes

Celebrate the 10 Year Anniversary of the Seminal Documentary

This session will feature clips from the Paper Tigers documentary and a discussion panel with students and teachers featured in the film. Includes opening remarks from the man who helped bring the trauma-informed framework to Walla Walla Public Schools: Jim Sporleder.

Jim Sporleder retired in 2014 as Principal of Lincoln High School in Walla Walla, WA. Under Jim’s leadership, Lincoln High School became a “Trauma Informed” school, gaining national attention due to a dramatic drop in out of school suspensions, increased graduation rates and the number of students going on to post-secondary education. These dramatic changes at Lincoln caught the attention of Jamie Redford, who spent a year filming the documentary, Paper Tigers, which tells the Lincoln story. The documentary was released at the May 2015 Seattle International Film Festival and received positive reviews.

Jim is currently working as a trauma-informed coach / consultant and is based in Walla Walla, WA. His travels as consultant, keynote speaker, presenter and trainer have taken him all over the United States.

Jim is married, has three daughters and six granddaughters. In his spare time, Jim enjoys fishing, hunting, but most of all spending time with family.

Keynote Panel Discussion – A stone was cast, and a healing culture of resilience emerged

CRI’s community-wide response to trauma’s impact through capacity development and resilience building resulted in James Redford’s film Paper Tigers, the story of Lincoln H.S. and the transformative practices designed to support students. What is the story at Lincoln HS today? How did The Health Center, After-School Program and other departments support students? How was CRI’s KISS- Knowledge, Insight, Strategies and Structure used? Learn how the ripple effect grew in shaping the culture of resilience.

CRI’s Founder, Theresa Barila, discusses the ripple effect of resilience with a panel of speakers who “cast the first stone.” Join Theresa, researchers Dario Longhi and Marsha Brown, educators Brent Cummings and Marci Knauft, and healthcare advocate Tim Schroeder for a roundtable discussion.

Theresa Barila is the founder of the Community Resilience Initiative.

Keynote Panel Discussion – The Ripple Effect: Stories of Change Sparked by Paper Tigers

When Paper Tigers was released, it didn’t just tell a powerful story, it sparked a movement. In this heartfelt and inspiring panel, Rick Griffin, Master Trainer for CRI, shares the behind-the-scenes story of how the documentary and CRI’s work became intertwined, setting off a ripple effect that continues to grow.

Rick will take you on a journey, starting with CRI’s impact on the film and on his own path and leading into the lives and work of a few remarkable friends who are carrying the message forward. From schools and nonprofits to state agencies, these leaders are living proof that one story can change many.

Come hear how Paper Tigers continues to inspire action, transform systems, and ignite new waves of trauma-informed change across the country. This is more than a panel—it’s a celebration of the lives changed and the work still unfolding.

Rick Griffin is the Master Trainer for the Community Resilience Initiative. Panelists include Kara Fry, Garry Castle, and Daniel Goya.

Closing Keynote

Suzette Fromm-Reed is an expert on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) providing consultation and lectures on this topic to international audiences. Her recent publications and presentations cover ACEs in the community and in higher educational settings with a focus on resilient settings. She views herself as a community psychologist who is committed to bridging academic and practice drawing from a variety of disciplines (e.g., public heath, sociology and psychology). Prior to NLU, she worked with non-profit agencies at both the national and local level on issues related to children and families. Much of her research examined how collective efficacy and social capital may play a role in buffering against child maltreatment and how social marketing may be applied to this and similar topics. Currently, her research primarily focuses on community and organizational mobilization around ACEs.

Suzette Fromm Reed, PhD, is a community psychologist and Associate Professor at National Louis University.