Welcome to Start By Listening! We are excited to have you on this journey with us toward healing and transformation.  Start By Listening is a podcast about sexual harm, trauma and advocacy.  Season Three - Hodge Podge - We are taking SBL to the community and speaking with various groups and people on the traumas they encounter in their part of the community and asking how they may want their organization to address trauma survivors in the future. This season, we will be delivering exceptional conversations and creative ideas while creating a safe space for connection and thoughtful experiences. We are going beyond sexual harm and really asking, "What does trauma look like and what does this experience look like for the Western Kentucky communities we serve?" We will be talking with various community members, and delving into difficult conversations where trauma intersects our communities and people. Season Three finds us growing and changing how we do our work. Our goal is to drop 2-3 podcasts per month on Fridays and you will find most of our episodes on YouTube as well! Yes, New Beginnings has a YouTube channel.

In this episode, New Beginnings podcasters Jennifer, The Friendly Therapist, and Shelby, Victim Advocate have a very authentic conversation with Summer Bell, District Mental Health Coordinator for the Owensboro Public School System. In this episode we had a beautiful conversation about the impact of COVID on our education system, poverty and how this shows up in the nervous system of kiddos and the education system. You will find this conversation with Summer to be informative, real and most importantly beautiful. The work Summer and her team does for Owensboro Public Schools is over and beyond...they truly love what they do and how they get to intervene and change the lives of kiddos and their families.

Summer Bell, LCSW LCADC

Practicing social worker for 22 years, 16 of those being in the school system. Currently serving as the District Mental Health Coordinator for Owensboro Public Schools in Owensboro, KY.  I also have my part-time therapy practice and am an adjunct professor in the social work department at Brescia University. I am married and have three children. 

YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS THIS EPISODE. Remember to subscribe to our Podcast - Start By Listening - found on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, Deezer and more!

Also subscribe to our New Beginnings YouTube channel!! - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxT9OQkPpCPSAgcUhhqUkmQ

Start By Listening will drop on Fridays, 2-3x monthly, bringing you an interesting and intriguing look into the work we do, while educating about trauma and healing. If you would like to reach out and contact Jennifer or Shelby, please email at SBL@nbowensboro.org. Finally, a few shout outs. If you liked our jingle jingle, hop on over to www.uriahwilde.com and talk with Seth Hedges. He created the beautiful music for our podcast. Thank you SETH! Another special thank you to Rodney Newton, he helped us learn how to put this Podcast together and create a beautiful thing. Thank you RODNEY!!!

To find local resources for sexual abuse please visit www.RAINN.org or call the National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673, 24/7/365