Community Conversations
Destigmatizing grief and addiction, one conversation at a time.
Moderated by award winning journalists and featuring the voices of Eluna families and mental health professionals, our Community Conversation series explores topics relating to grief and addiction, the effects of these issues on our communities, and what each of us can do to help.
Supporting Youth Grieving a Military Related Death
Our expert panel provides valuable insights and share resources to foster supportive environments for families, educators, counselors, and community members dedicated to helping children navigate their grief.
Eluna Community Conversation: Grief Through the Lens of Black Communities
The Grief Through the Lens series continues on June 23rd, 2022 exploring grief responses and traditions among Black communities with moderator
Eluna Community Conversation: Grief Through the Lens of LGBTQ+ Youth & Communities
In this Grief Through the Lens series, our esteemed panelists invited us to expand the definition of grief by honoring intergenerational
Eluna Community Conversation: Supporting Youth Impacted by Addiction in Rural Communities
Thank you to our moderator, panelists, and the many participants who joined this critical conversation on September 19th, 2024. Military grief often
Eluna Community Conversation: Supporting Youth Grieving an Overdose Death
In this conversation, Eluna’s respected panelists of clinicians & caregivers addressed barriers & stigma associated with addiction and overdose loss, and
Eluna Community Conversation: Breaking the Cycle of Addiction Through Mentoring
On Thursday, April 7th at 2 PM ET, Eluna hosted a one-hour virtual panel focused on how mentoring can help children
Eluna Community Conversation Resources: Support for Survivors of Suicide
Resources for Survivors of Suicide Thank you to all that were able to attend the Community Conversation on Tuesday, May 18th.
Moderators
TaRhonda Thomas
Reporter at Channel 6-ABC
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
Journalist
Srishti Prabha (They/Them)
K-12 Education Reporter at CapRadio - NPR, The Sacramento Observer
CD Davidson-Hiers (she/her)
Journalist and Writer
Kavitha Cardoza
Washington D.C.-based journalist
Jennifer Lewis-Hall
Journalist and Producer at PHL-17
Joy Soto
Assistant Director, Penn Alumni Regional Clubs
Stephanie Heitkemper, MA MFT, LPC, RPT, FT
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and the owner of Resilient Minds Counseling
Laura Ling
Journalist and author
Past Participants
"I truly appreciated the authentic conversation and vulnerability shared by the panel. Hearing their stories and experiences, as well as their suggestions for working with this bereaved population was extremely powerful and beneficial. One phrase that really caught me was the importance of creating a “brave space” rather than a “safe space”. "
“A key takeaway for me was the importance and effectiveness of community-based models in providing care and support to children, adults, and families impacted by alcoholism or addiction.”
“I learned valuable approaches and activities to start conversations that I plan to use in the grief support groups I lead.”