Pillars Conference 2022

13TH ANNUAL

MAXIMIZE CONFLICT CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION TRANSFORMATION August 11-15, 2022

PRE-REGISTER

FOR 2023

Index Pillars Conference Message

1

Pillars Conference Speakers

2

Conference Day 1 Schedule

3-4

Conference Day 2 Schedule

5-6

Conference Day 3 Schedule

7-8

Conference Day 4 Schedule

9-10

Keynote Speaker: Krisel McSweeney, JD

11

Keynote Speaker: Aundrea Paxton, PsyD

12

Keynote Speaker: Keny Felix, PhD

13

Keynote Speaker: Ruth Meints, MMus

14

Keynote Speaker: Katya Kross, BA

15

Pillars Conference Themes

16

Pillars of the Community Awards

17-20

Pillars Hotel Owner: Michael Landry

21-22

Partners & Sponsors

Maximize Conflict Transformation

23

MESSAGE

Maximize Conflict Transformation Welcome to the 2022 Annual Pillars Conference. This year’s theme is “Maximize Conflict Transformation.” Some people approach “conflict” as an event, issue, or hidden issue that we must resolve or manage. However, conflict is not simply something to overcome. This year’s conference combines the concept of “conflict” with transformation. We propose that conflict is “normal in human relationships, and conflict is a motor of change.

At the same time, transformation provides a clear and important vision because it brings into focus the horizon toward which we journey – the building of healthy relationships and communities, locally and globally.”

(Lederach) As you review this booklet, note the images of the olive branch and the dove, which have symbolized peace for centuries. One of the earliest symbolic uses of the dove depicts it as a messenger carrying an olive leaf bringing the good news of peace at the end of a cataclysmic disaster. Our goal is to provide a peaceful and effective forum for you as leaders to strengthen your sense of global purpose, personal well-being, and individual resilience. As we adjust to the realities of wars, conflicts, and global pandemic, we hope the 13th Pillars Conference achieves its objective. In so doing, we hope to help you maximize conflict transformation!

Lulrick Balzora, PhD

Dean of Social Behavioral Sciences & Human Services Broward College

Pillars Speakers Krisel McSweeney, JD Attorney, McSweeney Law Firm

Her sessions will explore the relationship between conflict resolution and transformation. While resolution seeks a conclusion, transformation directs us towards change and growth.

Keny Felix, PhD

Associate Professor ,Liberty University

His sessions will examine the definitions of conflict resolution, conflict management, and conflict transformation, as well as consider growth and change when encountering types of conflicts.

Aundrea Paxton, PsyD Clinical Psychologist, Take Heart Counseling

Her sessions will explore how to maximize conflict transformation through pursuing repair in the midst of ruptures and how to create a map to get to that repair.

Ruth Meints, MMus

Executive Director, Omaha Conservatory of Music

Her session will explore how to maximize transformation, using the Six Hats model in parallel thinking from different perspectives, in order to fuel innovation, inclusivity in team dynamics and efficient problem solving.

Katya Kross, BA

Law Student, Saint Thomas University

Her session will examine how to maximize conflict transformation as a young adult from the perspective of a recent undergraduate and graduate student.

DAY 1 THURSDAY AUGUST 11, 2022 - VIRTUAL -

Schedule

THURSDAY AUGUST 11, 2022 - VIRTUAL -

TIME

SESSION

6:30 pm

Welcome & Introduction

6:40 pm

Student Presentations

7:00 pm

Ingrid Jones, LMHC

Brain Machine Interface: Hector Larco (Ecuador), David Balzora (US)

Defining Conflict Transformation Keny Felix, PhD

7:45 pm

Lenses of Conflict Transformation Perspective #1 Aundrea Paxton, PsyD Perspective #2 Keny Felix, PhD Perspective #3 Katya Kross, BA Perspective #4 Laura Rambarose, MS

8:30 pm

Daily Wrap-Up

Maximize Conflict Transformation

DAY 2 FRIDAY AUGUST 12, 2022 - VIRTUAL -

Schedule FRIDAY AUGUST 12, 2022 - VIRTUAL -

TIME

SESSION

6:30 pm

Welcome & Introduction

6:40 pm

Student Presentations

Fortin Jean-Pierre, MBA

Oral History Project: Remer Chavez (Bolivia), Graciela Murnik (US)

7:00 pm

Conflict & Change

7:45 pm

Lenses of Conflict Transformation

8:30 pm

Daily Wrap-Up

Keny Felix, PhD

Perspective #1 Aundrea Paxton, PsyD Perspective #2 Keny Felix, PhD Perspective #3 Ingrid Jones, LMHC Perspective #4 Lulrick Balzora, PhD

Maximize Conflict Transformation

DAY 3 SATURDAY AUGUST 13, 2022

Schedule

SATURDAY AUGUST 13, 2022

TIME

SESSION

8:30 am - 10:00 am

Morning Program

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Connecting Resolution & Transformation

Lunch

Krisel McSweeney, JD

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Dinner

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Evening Program

Breakfast

Live Streamed

Leaders Forum with Krisel McSweeney, Keny Felix, Katya Kross

Welcome & Introduction

Ingrid Jones, LMHC

Opening Remarks

Gregory Adam Haile, JD Broward College President

6:45 pm - 7:00 pm

Student Presentations

7:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Fireside Chat: Stories of Conflict Transformation

Project Stay Gold: Celia Montalvo (Ecuador), Diego Alcantara (Peru)

Ruth Meints, Aundrea Paxton, Katya Kross, Marty Kibiswa

8:30 pm

Daily Wrap-Up

Maximize Conflict Transformation

DAY 4 SUNDAY AUGUST 14, 2022

Schedule

SUNDAY AUGUST 14, 2022

TIME

SESSION

8:30 am - 10:00 am

Morning Program

Breakfast

Aundrea Paxton, PsyD

10:00 am - 11:30 am Morning Program Ruth Meints, MMus

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Lunch

Connecting Resolution & Transformation Krisel McSweeney, JD

5:30 pm-7:00pm Live Streamed

Pillars Awards - in-person & Virtual Hosts Fortin Jean-Pierre & Ingrid Jones

Professional Enhancement Program Presentations - Dialogues on Race & Social Values Project:

Daniela Vazquez (Bolivia), Joubens Jules (US). Romina Andrade (Ecuador), Joselyne Rojas (Ecuador), Romina Falconi (Peru)

Awards

-Student Pillar of the Community -Alumni Pillar of the Community -Faculty Pillar of the Community -Service Pillar of the Community

7:00pm-9:00 pm

Dinner Daily Wrap-Up

Maximize Conflict Transformation

Transform Conflict with

Keynote Speaker

Krisel McSweeney, JD Attorney, McSweeney Law Firm

Krisel McSweeney, founder of McSweeney Law Firm, is a knowledgeable, fierce, and compassionate attorney who puts her clients’ needs and best interests first. Attorney McSweeney is a Broward College alumna. She received her B.S. in Hospitality Management and graduated Magna Cum Laude from St. Thomas University College of Law with her Juris Doctor degree and was admitted to the practice of law in the State of Florida in 2014.

Her motivation stems from her passion to help those in need. She started her legal career by representing undocumented minors in immigration matters at a non-profit organization. She then joined a private practice representing mainly Represented unaccompanied alien minors in immigration proceedings who were victims of sex trafficking, labor trafficking, abuse, or neglect. Ms. McSweeney currently serves as the chairwoman of the Executive Advisory Board of the Elite Foundation, an organization committed to preventing human trafficking and serving the needs of victims of human trafficking.

Nurture Transformation with

Keynote Speaker

Aundrea Paxton, PsyD Clinical Psychologist, Take Heart Counseling

Aundrea is a clinical psychologist and owner of Take Heart Counseling (takeheartcounseling.org). She focuses on helping courageous people navigate life changes and relationship challenges so they can thrive. Prior to full-time private practice, she worked as a staff psychologist and adjunct professor at Biola University, where she supervised first practicum and advanced practicum students in the university’s counseling center.

Before that, she was a registered psychologist at The Guidance Center in Long Beach, California, providing individual and family therapy to children, adolescents and their family members. She also worked at the same facility as a pre-doctoral intern.

Dr. Paxton earned a doctor of psychology degree and a master’s degree in clinical psychology, both from the Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from George Washington University. She lives in Tigard with her husband, Kerry, and daughter Tiffany.

Define Transformation with

Keynote Speaker

Keny Felix, PhD

Psychology Professor, Broward College

Keny is a Florida licensed mental health counselor, and he is also licensed a professional counselor in Georgia. He utilizes his training and experience as a psychotherapist, counselor educator, and minister. He also assists individuals, couples, families and groups discover effective solutions to life's challenges.

While he primarily offers counseling services in the greater South Florida area, he also provides remote/tele-mental health services to individuals in Georgia.

Dr. Felix received his Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) from the University of Miami and my Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Psychology and Counseling from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He also has a Master of Theology (Th.M.) from NOBTS. He recently ended his tenure as Dean of the School of Counseling and Assistant Professor of Counseling at Richmont Graduate University (formerly the Psychological Studies Institute) in Atlanta. Richmont is a fully accredited, Christian graduate university, providing master's-level training in professional counseling, marriage and family therapy, and ministry.

Dr. Felix is a professional member of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS). Prior to joining Richmont he served as an adjunct professor with Florida Memorial University in Miami, FL, and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, South Florida Extension Center. His pastoral experience includes serving on staff in churches in New Orleans and Haitian churches Miami, in addition to conducting training workshops and seminars for pastors and church leaders in various regions.

Innovate Transformation with

Keynote Speaker

Ruth Meints, MMus

Executive Director, Omaha Conservatory of Music

Ruth Meints has been the Executive Director of the Omaha Conservatory of Music (OCM) since 2005 and authored the String Sprouts curriculum launched in 2013. String Sprouts enrolls over one thousand preschoolers from underserved areas and provides an instrument for all five years of instruction at no cost to the families. She currently teaches violin and viola at OCM and conducts various workshops around the country in violin/viola pedagogy and music education, integrating current neuroscience findings into music teaching. While at OCM, she has developed many music education programs, such as OCM’s Summer Institutes, Winter Festival Orchestra, a full music program at the St. Augustine Indian Mission School, as well as the Inside the Mind of the Artist recital and master class series. Her teaching experience has included head of the string department at Azusa Pacific University and faculty at Biola University in the Los Angeles area, as well as faculty at San Jose Talent Education, Omaha Talent Education, and Artist-Faculty at the Omaha Conservatory of Music. In 2016, Ruth was given the Governor's Arts Award for excellence in arts education sponsored by Nebraska Arts Council and Nebraska Cultural Endowment. In 2019, she also presented a TedXOmaha talk entitled "Music, Preschoolers, and Poverty."

Ruth received her Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and her Master of Music degree with an emphasis in Suzuki pedagogy from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville with John Kendall, pioneer in bringing the Suzuki philosophy to the United States.

Maximize Transformation with

Keynote Speaker

Katya Kross, BA

Law Student, Saint Thomas University

Katya Kross (formerly Koptenko) was born in Moscow, Russia and immigrated to Miami, Florida in 2010.

In 2018, at the age of 18, Katya graduated from Broward College with an Associate of Arts. While at Broward College, she served as President to the Political Science Group and Lead Intern in the Professional Enhancement Program. Katya had the honor of receiving the 2018 Student Pillar of the Community Award. She moved on to studying International Relations at American University in Washington, DC for a year. In 2020, she completed her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at University of South Florida. While finishing her undergraduate studies, Katya had the privilege of interning at the Tampa City Council and leading her university’s chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society. In 2021, Katya acquired her Private Pilot License. She is now pursuing her Instrument Pilot Rating and intends to eventually obtain Commercial Pilot License.

In addition, Katya is in her third year of her Juris Doctor degree at St. Thomas University College of Law where she is on a full tuition Presidential Scholarship.

Presently, Katya is ranked at the top 20% of her class. She is also a member of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity and a two-time board member for Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society. Her first summer in law school, Katya was selected for the highly competitive opportunity to clerk at the City of Miami Attorney’s Office.

She aspires to practice aviation law upon graduation and hopes to make a positive social impact through her work

2010 Maximize through "LEADERSHIP" Maximize through 2011 "SERVICE"

Maximize through 2013 "DISCIPLINE OF FOCUS"

2012 Maximize through "MINIMIZING EXCUSES" 2014 Maximize through "REVIEWING YOUR VISION"

Maximize through 2015 "TRUTH TELLING"

2016 Maximize through "THE ART OF SIMPLICITY" Maximize through 2017 "THE ART OF NEGOTIATION"

Maximize by 2019 "MASTERING SOFT SKILLS"

2018 Maximize by "LEADING CHANGE"

2020 Maximize through "PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT" Maximize through 2021 "TEAMWORK & DIVERSITY"

2022 Maximize through "CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION" Maximize through 2023 "NETWORKING"

2024 Maximize through "MANAGING RISK" Maximize through 2025 "PURPOSEFUL LIVING"

AWARDS

STUDENT | ALUMNI | FACULTY | COMMUNITY

This award honors individuals or organizations for outstanding service to their community. These service efforts take many forms, including volunteer time, charitable giving and for doing visionary work to solve pressing challenges, build opportunity and equity, and create a brighter future for Broward College.

STUDENT PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY AWARD

David Balzora

Broward College Student

David is the recipient of the All-Florida Academic Team Award and Academic Engagement Seahawk Award. He is the senior lead intern for the Professional Enhancement Program. He is an exemplary servant leader and a true pillar of the community.

Daniela Vasquez Broward College Student

Daniela is the project leader for the Dialogues on Race Initiative, an interactive, facilitated process that opens lines of communication among students in the US, Central America, and South America. She is a very impressive student who is a pillar of the local and global community.

ALUMNI PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY AWARD

Fedilia Guzman Broward College Alumna

Fedilia is a founding member of the Professional Enhancement Program. She is committed to preventing human trafficking and serving the needs of victims of human trafficking. She is the program coordinator of the Elite Foundation, serving as an outstanding source of strength for many in the community.

Katya Kross

Broward College Alumna

Katya is mentor in the Professional Enhancement Program, serving as a source of inspiration and motivation to Broward College students. She is a Presidential Scholarship recipient at St. Thomas College of Law. She is very active in the community and serves as a clerk at the City of Miami’s Attorney’s Office. Her dedication to community service and leadership is second to none.

FACULTY PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY AWARD

Keny Felix, PhD

Broward College Psychology Professor

Dr. Felix provides counseling services to individuals, couples, and families. He is very active in the community, serving on the Board of Directors of the Bougainvilla House, a family therapy center that provides behavioral health and substance use programs for families. Dr. Felix is a member of the American Counseling Association, Christian Association for Psychological Studies, and the Licensed Professional Counselors Association of Georgia. He actively presents at state and national conferences.

PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

Rahjanni Iusi, MSW

Mental Health Therapist, Banyan Treatment Centers

Ms. Rahjanni Iusi is a forward oriented leader, an engaging public speaker, an emphatic champion of the foster care system, and an army veteran with four tours of combat duty in Afghanistan. She has served as a Senior leader and supervisor in out Professional Enhancement Program, where she helped expand the program to the international centers providing highly personalized mentorship and internship experiences to students. She currently serves as a mental health therapist at Banyan Treatment Centers where she is a lead advocate in the area of suicide prevention, with a focus on post traumatic stress disorder in the veteran community.

PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY AWARD

Krisel McSweeney, JD Attorney, McSweeney Law Firm

Ms. Krisel McSweeney started a law firm which is a trauma informed personal injury law firm that provides simplified legal advice and strong legal representation. She started her legal career by representing undocumented minors in immigration matters at a non-profit organization. She then joined a private practice representing mainly unaccompanied alien minors in immigration proceedings who were victims of sex trafficking, labor trafficking, abuse, or neglect. Ms. McSweeney currently serves as the chairwoman of the Executive Advisory Board of the Elite Foundation, an organization committed to preventing human trafficking and serving the needs of victims of human trafficking.

Owner & Pillar of the Community

Michael Landry, BA, LLB , GradD Landry Trebbi Investments, CEO

Mr. Michael G. Landry is a respected business leader and education advocate in Broward County. He holds a degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Born in Canada, he graduated from Carleton University in Ottawa with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics.

His first job out of college was as a teacher and basketball coach at St. Patrick’s High School in Ottawa. Three years later, he worked for a firm specializing in physicians’ investments, and then he worked with John Templeton. His many organizational affiliations include membership in the Association for Investment Management and Research, and founding member of the International Society of Financial Analysts, for which he also served as director.

The investment business involved a lot of travel, which led to his interest in small boutique hotels, such as the award-winning hotel, The Pillars at New River Sound, which merited the Jerry Johnston Award as the highest-rated hotel in Broward County’s Superior Small Lodging Program. For the past 10 years, since the Pillars Conference was founded, he has generously offered his beautiful resort as the official site of the conference.

Mr. Landry serves on the boards of the Community Foundation of Broward, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Broward Workshop, Jack and Jill.

And he is an honorary member of the Broward College Foundation Board of Directors because of his exemplary service. At Broward College, he has assisted students just like you with the establishment the George and Jean Trebbi Endowed Scholarship, named in honor of his wife’s parents, as well as the Michael Landry American Dream Scholarship.

The Pillars Hotel is ideally situated right on the Intracoastal Waterway. It offers a casually elegant and charming experience in the prime of the most renowned Florida beach and yachting town. Guests are treated to an exceptional level of individual service and luxury reminiscent of the finest European boutique inns.

Key features of the hotel include nightly gourmet dining in The Secret Garden restaurant, alfresco waterside fine dining watching luxury yachts go by, elegant luxury rooms including 5 suites and an ideal location which is only 150 meters from the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean. In addition, The Pillars Hotel hosts a private whistle stop for the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi service.

THANKS TO OUR

SPONSORS:

PRE-REGISTER

FOR 2023