SEMINAR: Addressing the Impact
and Trauma of Migration (AITM)
The seminars and resources are for those who have experienced migration stressors and adversity directly or indirectly.
NEXT SEMINAR: May 14-16, 2025 Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg VA.
Migration presents challenges. Forced migration faced by many today - refugees, immigrants, asylum seekers and displaced persons - is especially challenging as they experience the stress, loss and pain of leaving home and integration into a new reality. Migration also impacts those left behind as well as the receiving communities. Furthermore, teachers, social workers, resettlement specialists, mental/physical health care workers, law enforcement and others serving displaced persons often experience indirect (or secondary) trauma.
Addressing the Impact and Trauma of Migration (AITM) seminars and resources are for those who have experienced migration stressors and adversity directly or indirectly. Understanding the impact of migration and having tools to respond are key to the wellbeing of everyone. Instead of burnout, disillusionment and harmful coping practices, tools are available for both groups to address trauma, repair relationships and build resilience.
The core content of this seminar is based on the STAR (Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience) concepts and framework developed by The Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP) at Eastern Mennonite University www.emu.edu/star
SEMINAR Workbook-
Addressing the Impact
and Trauma of Migration
Available in English or Spanish on Amazon.
English workbooks will be available at the seminar.
For more information contact: elaine.barge@emu.edu
Meet your Co-Facilitator: Elaine (Elena) Zook Barge
Elaine (Elena) Zook Barge is a trauma and resilience educator and consultant for individuals and organizations dealing with stress and adversity. She has facilitated Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR) learning since the program was first developed in 2002 at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU). Having worked in community development and peacebuilding in Central America in the 1980’s and 90’s and having coached and trained professionals and laypersons worldwide, she is experienced in providing support and tools for those in high-stress situations. Elena is committed to increasing trauma and resilience-informed services locally, nationally and internationally. She holds a Master of Arts in Conflict Transformation (2003) and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition/Community Development (1984) from EMU.
Meet your Co-Facilitator: Saulo Padilla
Saulo Padilla Since 2008, Saulo has worked with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), providing experiential learning opportunities at the Mexico-U.S. border, coordinating national immigration law training for non-profits and advocating to reform the U.S. broken immigration system. He became a STAR practitioner in 2019. His interest in addressing the trauma of migration comes from his own experience as the son of a political refugee and being an immigrant. Saulo has co-facilitated AITM seminars with Elaine Zook Barge across the U.S. and presented migration related trauma and resilience workshops internationally. He is a graduate from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS), Elkhart, IN., with a Master's of Arts in Theology and Ethics (2008), and from Goshen College with a BA in History and Theology (2005).