Building a Village of Connection and Community for Our Kids’ Well-Being and Mental Health with Lauren Ross (Episode #50)

Lauren RossDr. Lynn Hellerstein of Vision Beyond Sight speaks with Lauren Ross, certified Dare to Lead Facilitator with the Brené Brown Education and Research Group, founder of Project Village, licensed clinical social worker, and leader in the field of school mental health. Lauren talks about building connection and community online and in schools for parents and kids’ well-being and mental health, teaching social and emotional skills to students and how we can be good digital citizens. She also discussed her online group Project Village, a community space for sharing resources, support and inspiration that helped people stay strong through the pandemic and beyond.

Click here and tune in to the show now to explore:

  • How connection and community are essential to our well-being and mental health
  • The story of Project Village that started as an online support group during the pandemic
  • What we can learn about being leaders in the online space 
  • How to be good digital citizens
  • Teaching social and emotional skills to kids

About Lauren Ross:

Lauren Ross is a licensed clinical social worker and leader in the field of school mental health. With over 22 years of experience in public education and clinical settings, Lauren is passionate about creating spaces of belonging, support and resilience for youth and families. Lauren currently works at Cherry Creek School District where she serves as a leader of the mental health team, with over 170 school psychologists and social workers.

In 2019, Lauren trained under Brené Brown to become a Certified Dare to Lead Facilitator. She has brought this training to the public education and nonprofit sectors to build courageous leadership skills with the amazing humans doing hard and important work. In 2022, she shared the story of Project Village on the stage of TEDxCherryCreekWomen, encouraging all of us to show up in social media space with greater courage, compassion, connection and community.

Lauren lives in Denver, Colorado, with her amazing musical husband David, as well as their two children (Jade and Maya) and their schnoodle (Oreo). Visit her website at Project Village for more information.

Connect with Lauren Ross and Project Village:

LinkedIn | Instagram

Project Village: Website | Facebook  

Watch Lauren's story of Project Village on the stage of TEDxCherryCreekWomen on YouTube last Nov. 13, 2022.

Invite Lauren for speaking engagements and keynotes through her website.

“Just like we teach our kids literacy, mathematics and social studies, we really have to be intentional and direct with how we teach social and emotional skills. Some of those skills involve: How do I manage hard feelings? We all have emotions; how do I name my emotions so I can tame them? How do I develop self-regulation or coping strategies when I’m having big feelings? And how do I get along with others? What are my conflict-resolution skills?” - Lauren Ross 

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Dr. Lynn Hellerstein, Developmental Optometrist, co-owner of Hellerstein & Brenner Vision Center, P.C., award-winning author and international speaker, holds powerful and inspiring conversations with her guests in the areas of health, wellness, education, sports and psychology. They share their inspirational stories of healing and transformation through their vision expansion. Vision Beyond Sight Podcast will help you see with clarity, gain courage and confidence. Welcome to Vision Beyond Sight!

Dr. Lynn’s books are available at Amazon.com and www.lynnhellerstein.com/shop.

Dr. Lynn is available for speaking engagements and consulting. For more information, visit www.lynnhellerstein.com.

To learn more about vision therapy or to find a doctor providing vision therapy in your area, visit COVD.org.

To learn more about vision and the impact in concussion/brain injury, visit Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association.

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About Dr. Lynn

A pioneer in vision therapy and developmental optometry, for more than 30 years, Dr. Lynn Hellerstein has helped thousands of children and adults improve their vision and transform their lives — at home, in the classroom, and most recently on the playing field. Her breakthrough methods unlock barriers to learning and “rewire” around brain injuries, and vision perception or processing deficits. But you don’t have to have a vision problem to benefit: her brain training strategies may be the missing magic if you’re an athlete trying to nail a tricky shot or stay cool in competition. If it’s a skill you can visualize, Dr. Hellerstein can help train your eyes — and mind’s eye — on success.

Award-winning and #1 bestselling author, Dr. Lynn has published numerous professional peer reviewed articles, chapters and four books.

See It. Say It. Do It! (2009) - How to see/recognize your goal, declare your intention, and taking action to achieve your vision.

See It. Say It. Do It! Organize It! (2011) - How to create a step by step process to make achieving your goal a reality.

50 Tips To Improve Your Sports Performance (2013) - How to improve your sports performance today by enhancing eye-mind-body coordination skills, achieving the mental edge, and preventing injuries.

Expand Your Vision (2021) - Discover the power of the seeing brain…the creator of your true vision. Gain Clarity, Courage, and Confidence. In this #1 Amazon best-selling innovative newest book, the power of visualizing and believing in the process to break through internal barriers and create new possibilities for achieving your goal is explored. Visualization can be used to increase creativity, to reduce stress and anxiety, and to build confidence in all of the things that they do.