Events
Unmasking Sexual Abuse Forum 2025: Understanding, Healing, and Empowering Through Justice and Resources
Join us on April 25, 2025, at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Student Union for the Unmasking Sexual Abuse Forum 2025—a dynamic day of dialogue, learning, and action for survivors, professionals, and community leaders. This high-impact event addresses sexual abuse, trauma healing, and justice while fostering community collaboration and education.
In-Depth Panel Discussions
The Science of Trauma and Healing:
Delve into the neurological and psychological impacts of trauma with insights from Dr. Elliott Beaton and Melanie Foreman. Dr. Beaton is a tenured Associate Professor at the University of New Orleans and Graduate Coordinator for the Ph.D. program who directs the Stress, Cognition, and Affective Neuroscience (SCAN) Laboratory. His cutting-edge research focuses on stress, cognition, affective processes, and brain health—with special emphasis on neurodevelopmental disorders and early trauma. Melanie Foreman, a licensed trauma specialist and Child and Youth Intervention Specialist with Hearts of Hope, brings extensive expertise in therapeutic modalities such as EMDR and TF-CBT. This panel is moderated by psychologist and neuroscientist Tatiana Begault.
Prosecuting Sexual Crimes:
Gain critical insights into the legal process and law enforcement’s role from a panel led by moderator Alex Peyton, Senior Advisor for Actus Wealth Strategies and Executive Director/Co-Host of Resilience in the Shadows Podcast. Hear from award-winning trial attorney Kristi Schubert, Special Agent Gene Guidry—a dedicated Special Agent Investigator with the Department of Justice and Louisiana Attorney General in Baton Rouge since 2019—and Assistant Attorney General Erica McLellan Moore, Section Chief of the Sexual Predator Apprehension Team at the Louisiana Department of Justice, brings over 10 years of experience prosecuting sex crimes and more than 15 years in post-conviction sex offender registration and notification.
Focused Breakout Sessions
Tailored sessions offer practical guidance on child abuse prevention, legal navigation, and trauma recovery:
Navigating the Legal System
Personal injury litigation attorney Johnny Denenea breaks down the legal essentials for survivors and community stakeholders.
Supporting Families & Educators: Resources for Child Abuse Prevention
Gain valuable insights from Heather Denenea, Program Director at Children’s Advocacy Center Hope House in Covington, LA. As an accredited Child Advocacy Center under the National Children’s Alliance, CAC Hope House has conducted over 370 forensic interviews to support child abuse prevention.
Grooming Prevention
Learn vital strategies with Kristi Schubert, award-winning trial attorney, and victims advocate.
Tools for Trauma Recovery
Join Melanie Foreman as she discusses effective approaches to healing and recovery.
Panel 3: Tools for Empowerment and Survivor Support
This panel is dedicated to empowering survivors and supporting their journey toward healing and justice while strengthening community collaboration. Moderated by Letitia Peyton—Co-Founder of TentMakers Of Louisiana, Executive Director, and Co-Host of Resilience in the Shadows Podcast—the session features:
Lacey Pitre, Hearts of Hope CAC/Forensics Program Manager. Lacey Pitre joined Hearts of Hope Children’s Advocacy Center in 2018 as a forensic interviewer and family advocate, and now oversees forensic programs across three offices, ensuring developmentally, culturally, and legally sound standards for children and families.
Kristen Martin, a seasoned victim assistance leader with the Louisiana Department of Justice. Appointed as Victim Witness Coordinator in 1997, she has been a trusted liaison between victims and prosecutors, championing the rights of those affected by sexual abuse.
Survivor advocate and musician Tim Burns, whose personal journey enriches the conversation on healing and justice.
Additional Information & Sponsorship Opportunities
In addition to these enriching discussions, the forum offers structured networking opportunities, resource tables, and interactive Q&A sessions—all designed to spark actionable change and build lasting community connections.
We are also accepting sponsors and partners interested in hosting an exhibit or information table. For questions or more information, please call Letitia Peyton at 337-308-9120 or email [email protected].
Your support is vital. By contributing through our GiveButter page, you help amplify these critical conversations, extend our reach to those in need, and build a future where healing, justice, and community collaboration go hand in hand. Stand with us, learn from leading experts, and be part of a movement that is unmasking sexual abuse once and for all.
Learn more and donate today at givebutter.com/UnmaskingSexualAbuseForum2025.
Resilience Rising Gala
A Night of Stories and Strength is an evening dedicated to celebrating the transformative power of resilience and the human spirit. This semi-formal Gala, Featuring keynote speaker Moira Greyland Nelson, promises an inspiring showcase of courage and renewal. You can visit our website often for updated Gala details.
Hope and Healing Trauma Recovery Workshop
Trauma recovery is a major problem in our society that does not receive the attention, funding, research or priority it deserves. The effects of unresolved trauma make a major contribution to many societal problems.
—Dr. Colin Ross
Treatment Goals of the Trauma Model
This model focuses on exercise that fosters the development of self-awareness and processes the trauma on a feeling level with an emphasis on regulating those feelings. The model also teaches the importance of learning about the effects of trauma and why it continues. Finally, the program can be adapted for a religious context to include prayer.
Hope and Healing Trauma Recovery Workshop
The TentMakers seeks to make a difference by bringing Trauma Recovery Associates to the Acadiana area for the Hope and Healing Trauma Recovery Workshop in The Trauma Recovery Program. Trauma Recovery Associates comprises mental health professionals with experience in treating adult survivors of childhood abuse and neglect. This Workshop introduces licensed mental health professionals and other professionals to the core concepts of the internationally recognized Trauma Model proposed by Dr. Colin Ross, MD.
Our last Hope and Healing Trauma Recovery Workshop took place in Opelousas, Louisiana, at First Baptist Church, 3835 Interstate 49 South Service Rd, Opelousas, LA 70570, on October 19, 2022.
Continuing Education for the Hope and Healing Workshop
Accredited Sexual Assault Centers in Louisiana
Social Workers: This course is approved by the Michigan Social Work Continuing Education Collaborative, Course approval #041714-01.
NBCC has approved Trauma Recover Associates as an Approved Continuing Education Provider ACEP No. 6746. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Trauma Recovery Associates is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Our Sponsors
The Ruth Institute
Lamothe Law Firm
Cajun Country Cottages
