Our Story
At a Community Public Health conference in 2007, Dr. Robert Anda challenged individuals by saying, “Go home and make something happen”. Teri Barila did just that – with the help of Annett Bovent and Mark Brown, CRI was born. Together with local community members, CRI started as a grassroots movement to inform its local community about the negative health effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) if left unaddressed.
Over a decade later, CRI is now a nonprofit organization conducting trauma-informed training online and in person, across the continent. CRI is recognized as a leader in trauma-informed training and offers several levels of training based on Knowledge, Insight, Strategies and Structures (K.I.S.S.), its blueprint for building community capacity.
Our Core Values
Connection
Relationships are the number one protective factor. Humans are social and crave to belong and be loved.
Culture
Culture is diverse and many communities are multicultural and we believe culture has to be fluid.
Diversity
We believe diverse communities are resilient communities. Variation is the norm.
Knowledge
Knowledge is power and enables people to make informed decisions based on the current science.
Resilience
Resilience is a skill that must be modeled, taught and practiced. Everyone has the capacity to build resilience.
Sustainability
Sustainability is paramount to transforming systems for healthy and equitable communities.
Wellbeing
Every person has the right to thrive, be happy, and be healthy.
Our Team
Theresa Barila
Founder
Theresa Barila (she/her) is the founder of the Community Resilience Initiative (CRI). Teri earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from American University and a Masters of Science in Fisheries Management from the University of Maryland. Teri spent 20 years as a Research Biologist with the Federal Salmon and Steelhead recovery program in the Pacific Northwest. Her experience in that field helped her bridge science and practice when she changed careers and moved into community engagement work 22 years ago.
Recognized internationally for her work with CRI, Teri frequently travels, training communities to develop their own blueprint so that “Resilience Trumps ACEs.” Teri is involved extensively in training, consulting, writing, and researching in trauma, resilience, and community capacity building. Her work has attracted attention in various venues, in part due to the focus Teri places on grassroots organizational development and the focus on the hope of resilience.
Teri is mom to two children, a son and daughter, and was pleased to add the title grandmother in 2018. Experiencing a special needs child’s world has significantly shaped Teri’s thinking on systems, education, resilience, and advocacy for children.
Penny Capko
Executive Director
Penny Capko has been partnering with Community Resilience Initiative since 2016. She has experience as a CRI trainer, board member and president of the board. Penny received her Master of Education, with Administrative Credential through Washington State University. Her extensive experience as a teacher and administrator across the state of Washington has provided her opportunities to support children and families in diverse communities. She has trained teachers and community partners about ACEs, self-care and resilience strategies. One of her greatest joys is working with community partners to build more resilient communities.
Rick Griffin
Master Trainer
Rick (he/him) is the former Executive Director for CRI and our current Master Trainer. With more than twenty years of experience in non-profit administration, Rick has first-hand experience with building organizations that use a trauma-informed approach in both internal operations and service delivery. Under Rick’s guidance, CRI has become a leading voice in the field of trauma and resilience. His dedication to resilience, and his commitment to creating a citizenry conversant in the science of trauma, are an inspiration to all who know him.
Becky Turner
Director of Community Engagement
Becky Turner (she/her) joined the CRI team as Director of Community Engagement in September 2022. A lifelong resident of the Walla Walla Valley, Becky has experience as a public-school teacher and in the local nonprofit sector. Previously, as Executive Director of a reentry-based nonprofit, she and her team provided essential services to individuals post-incarceration. An active volunteer in the Walla Walla community, Becky is a member of the local Reach Out coalition to prevent suicide.
With a deep knowledge of nonprofit management, Becky seamlessly assists with many areas of CRI’s operations. Her expertise in community engagement has expanded CRI’s concept of community to encompass individuals nationwide and globally. In her role, she engages with a worldwide community, collaborating with individuals and organizations across multiple continents to build a global network of resilience and support. Outside of her professional commitments, Becky enjoys gardening and weekly Sunday dinners with her extended family, where she is known for her dessert-making skills.
Contracted Trainers
Teresa Posakony
Emerging Wisdom
Teresa is a leader, innovator, seasoned trainer, and consultant in the Self-Healing and Resilient Communities movement. She has worked in partnership with the CRI since 2007 to advance N.E.A.R. Science solutions in organizations and communities globally. Teresa’s research is at the intersection of neuroscience, anatomy, energy medicine, and somatic (body) intelligence.
The body keeps the score and takes on the impacts of traumatic experience and stress. Teresa shares simple game changing practices you can use to rebalance your nervous system and get back into learning, life, healthier relationships, and better teamwork.
Karen Vielle
KVL Mindful Living Solutions
Karen Vielle is the owner of KVL Mindful Living Solutions in Spokane, WA.
After working 23 years in public education as a School Psychologist and 20 years as a yoga instructor, in 2002 became certified as a Mindfulness Coach through the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program.
With her background in the science of human learning and behavior, as well as Eastern philosophies and yoga, and a life-long love of walking and nature, she brings a uniquely holistic approach to providing you with the tools to develop more gratitude, mindfulness, and simplicity in your everyday life.
Board Members
Vacant Position
President
The CRI Board of Directors currently has a vacancy for the President position. Interested in joining our Board? Reach out to our Executive Director for more information!
We will update this page soon.
John Kiepe
Treasurer
John Kiepe hails from Spokane, WA and has significant experience in the world of finance, including serving on several other nonprofit boards.
We will update this page soon with more information about Mr. Kiepe.
Amber Sosa
Secretary
Amber brings to the Board her lived experience within the Child Welfare system and an unwavering passion for children and families. She strongly believes that it is her duty to help strengthen the next generation of children and families and reduce rates of childhood trauma.
After graduating from the University of Washington with a Master of Social Work, Amber pursued her goal of advancing the well-being of families by working as a grant writer and director of an outreach program in the Pacific Northwest. As a student, she volunteered and interned for organizations like the Mockingbird Society, Treehouse, the Institute for Family Development, and the Department for Children, Youth and Families.
Amber was a congressional intern for the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. In 2017, she received the University of Washington Social Service Impact Award.
After growing up and working mainly in the Pacific Northwest, Amber recently moved to Northern California.
Ashley Manfred
M. ED.
Ashley Manfred first became involved working with at-risk youth and students with disabilities through a volunteer program when she was in high school. After extensive work with this population, she put a degree in Public Relations to use working at the Spokane Guilds’ School in fundraising and event planning. She soon realized that her calling was in providing direct services to youth. After completing a Master of Initial Teaching at Gonzaga University, she began teaching high school special education. In recent years, students with a history of trauma and high ACEs scores have become an area of particular importance, as these students often face some of the most significant barriers to learning and success. She has been an active volunteer with several community organizations, most notably the Junior League of Spokane. An active member for 10 years, she served 5 years on the Board in roles including President Elect and President. She is a CRI Trauma Informed Trainer and has shared this work with many individuals in her building, district, and community.
Carolyn Dillard Mitchell
Director
Please join CRI in welcoming one of our newest Board Members, Carolyn Dillard Mitchell. She joined the CRI Board of Directors in February 2025.
We will update this page soon with more information about Mrs. Dillard Mitchell.
Dwayne Delaney
Director
Paige Huff
Director
Paige Huff (she/her) began volunteering as a marketing consultant with CRI in January 2024, after her dear friend and Whitman College roommate, Kelly Jedd McKenzie (former CRI Board President), reached out looking for marketing advice. Paige was elated to put her 10+ years of corporate marketing and communications experience to good use for a cause close to her heart. Attending CRI’s 2024 annual conference in Virginia solidified her belief that CRI’s emotionally intelligent and trauma-informed community is where she belongs. She looks forward to deepening her commitment to CRI as a Board member, intending to become a future Trauma-Informed Trainer.
Both Seattle natives, Paige and her husband are privileged to call Portland, OR home and are kept busy by their two bustling Australian Shepherds. They enjoy everything mother nature offers their herd and will typically be found hiking, biking, swimming, or kayaking in the surrounding areas and mountains. Paige earned her bachelor’s degree in Gender Studies from Whitman College and a master’s in Marketing Communication from Emerson College. Her experience spans companies including Microsoft, Zoom, Stripe, Adobe, VTech, Qnovo, and more.
Heather Keyes
MSW
Heather Williams Keyes is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Social Work Manager in Lynchburg, Virginia. She has over 20 years of experience as a social worker working with individuals across the life span. Heather graduated from Longwood University with a bachelor’s
degree in social work. She then went on to receive her master’s in social work at Radford University. She has worked in a variety of settings during her career to include outpatient, inpatient, emergency services, substance use treatment, foster care, healthcare facilities. She is currently in the role of Director of Behavioral Health at a Federally Qualified Health Center look-a-like in Lynchburg, Virginia. In this role and a previous role of the same setting, she has developed programs for integrated care and supported medical professionals in bridging the gap between physical health and emotional health.
She is passionate about holistic care and supporting patients to see the connection between their brain and their body. She is the Trauma Informed Champion in her current role. In this capacity, she has helped leadership develop trauma informed practices in the clinic. She is also the owner of Resiliency Counseling and Consulting, LLC where she works with individuals, families, students and local businesses to address burnout, undermotivation, emotional and physical health to be successful in living a resilient life. She has served on boards for Emergency Services at the state level task with process and flow for state-wide initiatives. She is currently on the board of her local Continuum of Care which supports the homeless response services in Lynchburg, Virginia and the surrounding counties. She received the Behavioral Health Team of the Year award in 2017 from the Virginia Healthcare Foundation. She lives in Lynchburg, Virginia with her husband, three sons, 2 dogs and a cat. She has the pleasure of being a bonus mom and has a total of 8 children and five grandchildren. She enjoys the outdoors/nature, reading and cooking.
Kristyn Rhynard
MSW., LSW
Kristyn Rhynard (she/her) is a Private Practice Trauma Therapist outside Cleveland, Ohio. Kristyn’s involvement with CRI started in 2016 when she was living in Walla Walla, interning as a Master’s student with Catholic Charities. It was there she was introduced to Paper Tigers and the Trauma-Informed Movement after attending the 2016 Trauma-Informed Conference hosted at Whitman College. Her time with CRI spearheaded a passion for trauma and resiliency education that continued alongside her career. After completing her Masters in Social Work, Kristyn and her family moved to Cleveland, Ohio where she has focused her career serving in Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Advocacy, Children Who Witness Violence Intervention Programming and At-Risk Youth Mentoring. Currently, Kristyn serves children and adults healing from PTSD and complex trauma through body-based intervention and holistic wellness education. She looks forward to partnering with CRI’s team to support its mission and continue its vision for sharing trauma-informed education and community resiliency in the midwest.
Chris Jones
Director
Please join CRI in welcoming one of our newest Board Members, Chris Jones. She joined the CRI Board of Directors in February 2025.
We will update this page soon with more information about Mrs. Jones.
