Vallejo shows `Resilience' at Empress
Panelists include moderators Jameelah Hanif, Peggy Cohen-Thompson
Watch Me Grow Inc. founder and longtime child family advocate Jameelah Hanif is urging people in Vallejo to have more empathy, compassion, togetherness and most of all, resilience. She's helping bring the latter to the Empress Theatre on Wednesday.
The theater will be host to a screening of the film “Resilience — the biology of stress and the science of hope.” The film will be followed by a discussion from panelists including moderators Hanif and Peggy Cohen-Thompson, as well as Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams, Solano County Supervisor Erin Hannigan, Vallejo City Councilmember Pippin Dew, Solano County Probation's Crystal Riley, Behavorial Specialist Dr. Zoee Bartholomew, principal Ernani Santos and community leader Orlando Graham. Impact Vallejo Youth Council members Riley Grayden and Leilani Vallejos will also be panelists.
A high percentage of people in
the world have experienced at least one ACE — Adverse Childhood Experience. According to the event's web page, the more ACEs experienced, the higher risk for negative health outcomes and engaging in risky behaviors, as well as a feeling of feeling tense and threatened.
The organization says most Vallejo children have experienced a pile of ACEs every day.
“The main takeaway I want people to have when they leave the is to know more about the biology of stress, because we're all impacted by it as a community,” Hanif said. “The whole main focus is to impact the youth, because they're our future. We want violence prevention and we want people to understand prevention strategies for violence.”
Hanif said she was inspired to have the in-person event after watching a virtual event hosted by Hannigan and Wanda Williams.
“We talked about trauma a lot and how every single person has experienced it,” Hanif said. “I reached out to Pippen Dew and said, `You know, we need to screen the film `Resilience' and show it to the public.' She said she had been thinking the exact same thing.”
Hanif originally wanted to screen the film on a Friday, but settled for a screening on a Wednesday at the Empress. Doors open at 5 p.m., and Hanif is hopeful for a good turnout.
“This panel is very diverse and coming together as a community for this is huge,” Hanif said. “We'll have government officials, school officials, and the youth themselves. The main goal is to get the youth what they want and what they need.”
Hannigan, a part of numerous events surrounding the film, says the topic is very important.
“It's an educational piece on the effects of ACEs,” Hannigan said. “What some doctors in San Diego discovered was that many people were losing weight but then gaining it right back and many times it was because of childhood trauma, which would often lead to obesity, diabetes and heart disease. There is a 10-question test that basically asks, `What happened to you?' The questions will focus on whether or not you witnessed people around you that were addicted to drugs, victims of domestic violence or sexual assault or if you were constantly around incarcerated people.
“What this film teaches you is how to build resilience in the face of trauma,” Hannigan continued. “It always helps to have a trusted adult in your life — someone that you can turn to that has your best interests in mind.”
Hanif, who grew up going to a recreation center in Oakland, while attending school in Emeryville and Santa Rosa, said there are currently no quality after-school, mentorship programs in Vallejo.
“The sports center complex out on Mare Island is no longer there. The Boys & Girls Club in Vallejo is no longer there,” Hanif said. “We need to find some space for us to have youth, mentoring programs for kids where they can feel safe and develop life skills that will make them successful as adults.”
Hanif said she is looking forward the most to hearing from the youth council.
“This gives them a voice on a panel that involves a lot of important people,” Hanif said.
Food will be served for free at the event as well. For more information on the event visit happeningnext.com/event/in-person-resilience-documentary-screening-andamp-panel-discussion-eid4snvpgmbm41.