On Thursday, Oct. 27, the Junior League of Greenwich will partner with the Greenwich PTA Council to host Kaitlin Roig-DeBellis, author of Choosing Hope, a memoir of survival in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy. Mrs. Roig-DeBellis was a first grade teacher during the heartbreaking events at the Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14, 2012 and saved her students by hiding them in a single-stall bathroom.
Roig-DeBellis will speak about her memoir, and how she has overcome the difficult events of that day. Since the shooting, she has started a nonprofit organization called Classes4Classes whereby students learn that they are all connected through generosity. She has also toured the country giving inspirational speeches to encourage kindness, compassion, and how to grow from tragedy.
After her speech, Roig-DeBellis will be joined by local Greenwich psychotherapist Clarena L. McBeth, LMHC, LMC and Kimberly Lisak, Director of Adolescent Services at Kids in Crisis in an intimate facilitated discussion about navigating children’s exposure to current events that are all too often unnerving and traumatic. The panel will recommend strategies for talking to children of different age groups to help avoid children from feeling overwhelmed, and to ease parents’ concern over these types of events as well.
Sue Rogers, President of the Junior League of Greenwich, states, “The Junior League of Greenwich is proud to bring to our community this very timely and important presentation. It is an unfortunate fact that these types of events have become more frequent. The need to support our children in helping them to understand and cope with senseless tragedies has never been more critical. Kaitlin’s presence and participation are certain to make this event both compelling and insightful.”
Michael Trogni, President of the Greenwich PTA Council, also feels that this event is important to the community. “Tragic events, regardless of whether they directly impact us, require parenting skills none of us thought we would ever need. The Greenwich PTA Council urges the Greenwich community to attend this meaningful presentation.”
The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Greenwich High School PAC Center located at 10 Hillside Rd. Admission is free.
For more information, please call 203-869-1979 or visit jlgreenwich.org
