Do you envision a world where differences are the norm and a healthy brain is just as important as a healthy body? So do we! Join us at the 2020 Help Hope Healing Conference on August 6 & 7, 2020. This year’s conference will be virtual and features exciting, engaging, and interactive programs designed to increase awareness and skills, bring about a change in our culture, and eradicate the stigmas associated with suicide and mental health challenges.

As always, this conference is designed to provide valuable information and training to help caring people, like you, become informed and equipped to help individuals and families in our communities recover from mental health challenges like addiction, depression, grief, and suicide so that they can thrive in healthy and productive futures.

August 6, 2020 (Thursday):

Kevin Hines

Kevin Hines is a storyteller at heart. He is a best selling author of the book Cracked, Not Broken, global public speaker, and award winning documentary filmmaker of the film Suicide the Ripple Effect. In the Year 2000, Kevin attempted to take his life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. Many factors contributed to his miraculous survival including a sea lion which kept him afloat until the Coast Guard arrived. Kevin now travels the world sharing his story of hope, healing, and recovery while teaching people of all ages the art of wellness & the ability to survive pain with true resilience. Currently, Kevin is in pre-production of his new Docu Series The Journey, and is working on a comic book version of his life in cosmic & supernatural form called Hope Dealers. His fight has been long and arduous, but he is determined to remain committed to life until its natural end. His motto: #BeHereTomorrow and every day after.

Margaret Hines

Margaret Hines is the CEO of The Kevin & Margaret Hines Foundation, which she founded to drive transformative social impact by champion lived expertise in the mental/brain health and suicide prevention sectors through social entrepreneurship, revolutionizing the advocacy movement & fostering strong and healthy partnerships. Margaret comes to the Behavioral Health & Wellness space with over ten years of experience in Private Equity and Venture Capital and has a proven track record of building strong partnerships and understanding the value of collaboration. She is passionate about working with social entrepreneurs within the wellness and brain health space. Margaret graduated from University California, Berkeley with a B.S. in Economics. She sits on the Advisory Board of the Crisis Text Line and serves on the US Department of Defense Suicide Prevention Office’s Lived Experience Committee.

At the 2020 Help Hope Healing Conference, Margaret will join her husband, Kevin Hines, to share the trials, joy and magic of their relationship. They will discuss their techniques for self-care and couple-care and Margaret will share her tips and tricks for keeping her home a happy and healthy place. As a spouse of someone with severe mental illness, she will share the honest and painful story of a love that grew through the cracks and created its own strong foundation.

Brandi Benson

Brandi Benson is an American Speaker, Author, and the Founder of Resume-Advantage. A former US Army Soldier, she is now the author of the acclaimed book The Enemy Inside Me and has been featured on radio, TV, and in magazines, including ABC, NBC, CNN, Fox, CW, and the New York Journal. In 2009, after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, Ewing Sarcoma, Brandi fought to overcome her diagnosis, heal after her treatments, and reclaimed her life through therapy, physical activities, and other healthy-living practices. She created the Brandi L. Benson Wellness Initiative, dedicated to spreading awareness of good mental health and wellness practices for victims of trauma. Brandi lives and works in Savannah, Georgia and is a board member for the Future minds Literacy program and the Ella Foundation.

At the 2020 Help Hope Healing Conference, Brandi will present her signature topic, “Overcoming the Enemy Inside You”, which transforms audiences by encouraging them to pursue different avenues of physical and mental therapy in order to take charge of their healing and wellness. She provides a blueprint of strategies and resources that survivors, their loved ones and anyone struggling with “an enemy” in whatever form, can use to improve their overall mental health and decrease the likelihood of mental decline.

Ashley Hunt

Ashley Hunt is an anti-sexual violence advocate, speaker, trauma healing program creator, and neuromuscular kinesiologist. She is owner of the wellness company, Nfinite Strength/Pancea and has co-authored Art of Wellness and Suicide: The Ripple Effect with Kevin Hines. Before the age of 20, Ashley experienced multiple traumas, including the loss of her mother in high school, verbal abuse, and a sexual assault. She is passionate and mission driven to help people heal. She believes in the power of storytelling and the positive impact that connecting to one another has on vulnerability and hope. Ashley uses her story of turning pain into purpose to inspire others to do the same.

At the 2020 Help Hope Healing Conference, Ashley will present her signature topic, “Chaos to Clarity”, which gives an overview of her early life experience with trauma including her mom’s addiction, emotional and physical abuse, and loss. She will discuss the impact that multiple traumas had on her life, decisions, and well-being. Ashley will share how counseling, support, faith, self-love, and empathy lead her to a new understanding of herself and the world around her and how she went from living in chaos to feeling a level of clarity she didn’t think possible. Ashley will also share the wellness routine she uses today stay well.

August 7, 2020 (Friday):

Jermaine Galloway— “The Tall Cop”

Officer Jermaine Galloway, known as the “Tall Cop”, is a nationally and internationally recognized presenter, five time national award winner, international award winner and resource for those involved with prevention, education, treatment and enforcement. Officer Galloway began his law enforcement career in 1997 and has more than 18 years experience in alcohol and drug education, enforcement and prevention. While in law enforcement, Officer Galloway was a member of the DUI task force, a CSI, community policing unit and a field-training officer. As a full time trainer, the “Tall Cop” dedicates thousands of hours to community scans, research and substance abuse identification in various communities across the country and well known for his (constantly) evolving drug trends trainings. Officer Galloway created two non-profit organizations, was a past Vice President of an alcohol and drug free prevention coalition, a former member of the Idaho statewide impaired driving task force and a past board member of the National Liquor Law Enforcement Association (NLLEA). Officer Galloway’s writing has been published in print and online in various publications including American Police Beat Magazine and Campus Safety Magazine. He has been interviewed on ABC Dallas affiliate WFAA and highlighted in a national video produced by Human Relations Media about the harms of “Spice – the Synthetic Marijuana”. The Tall Cop calls the great state of Texas, home, as he travels and trains nationally and internationally. At the 2020 Help Hope Healing Conference, Officer Galloway will present his signature topic, “”You Can’t Stop What You Don’t Know”. This workshop covers the new and popular trends in current drug culture and provides information on alcohol and drug clothing, alcoholic energy drinks, alcopops, alcohol and drug concealment methods and containers, drug paraphernalia, drug related music and groups, logos, stickers, new technology, youth party tendencies, party games, non-traditional alcoholic beverages, social networking sites, synthetic drugs, OTC drugs, inhalants, concentrates, E-cigarettes, and popular party drugs. Officer Galloway’s session is a call-to-action for communities and individuals involved in prevention, education, treatment or enforcement to know what is going on in our communities in order to effectively prevent youth and adult substance abuse.

Jacob Moore

Jacob Moore is the founder of NoStigmas and creator of the 5 Bridges to Wellness system. He has been internationally recognized for his speaking, writing, and advocacy work in mental health and suicide prevention. As a childhood suicide loss survivor, Jacob’s work is focused on trauma, holistic wellness design, and thriving despite mental illness. In addition to being an avid user of both nature and dog therapy, Jacob practices meditation, yoga, and martial arts to support his mental wellness.

At the 2020 Help Hope Healing Conference, Jacob will present his signature session “5 Ways to Increase Your Agency’s Reach”. This session provides strategies for leveraging the tools you currently have in order to maximize new opportunities for your organization. He will explore 5 key areas of growth:

• Branding—Creating and maintaining a strong brand identity
• Content—How to make engaging content people love
• Programs—Leveraging partner-created programming
• Partnership—Investing in collaborations to expand
• Outreach—Effectively connect to increase reach

Through engaging discussion and activities, participants will learn actionable takeaways to help amplify their agency messages and great work.

Registration:

The 2020 Help Hope Healing Conference will be offered as a virtual training. There will be no charge for this year’s conference.

All attendees must register via the Eventbrite link in order to receive links to the virtual sessions, complete evaluations, and receive a certificate for attendance.

This event is provided in part by a grant from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Region III West Wellness Council.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis situation, please call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).