On today's episode, Agnes and I discuss her personal story of growing up in a home with addiction and trauma, the impact that this left on her and her journey of healing, hope and helping others find their way through similar stories. Agnes Chen is a Registered Nurse at the Calgary not- for-profit Calgary Urban project society (Cups),who has 15 years of professional experience in the public service sector working to enhance the well-being and resilience of her clients and community, many of who struggle with mental illness, addictions, and poverty. As an active member of the Trauma Informed Care Collective, she is also passionate about promoting empathy and co-creating resilient and trauma-informed communities.  Her personal experience of growing up in a home where the chaos of mental illness and alcohol addiction existed, allowed her to not only personally experience the all encompassing negative effects addictions can have on a family unit over multiple generations, but also the need for more empathy and understanding towards those struggling with its effects. After struggling personally with depression, she started a grassroots initiative called Starling Community where she is passionate about growing our city with an empathetic understanding of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the need for a community that believes in and supports the POTENTIAL in every single child (child-in-them) putting the cycle of RESILIENCE, instead of trauma, on repeat. Because supported kids become resilient communities who are ABLE to support kids! —————Brain Story: https://www.albertafamilywellness.org/trainingBecoming Trauma Awarehttps://calgarycac.ca/education/being-trauma-aware/ACEs study: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/acestudy/index.htmlTrauma Informed Care Collective Website:https://ticcollective.ca️Instagram: starling_communityTwitter: @starlingsmetoweWebsite: www.starlings.ca