Join Center for Child Counseling at the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute for an impactful evening reflecting our ongoing commitment to preventing and healing childhood adversity. Presented in partnership with the LaFrance Project, the event features a screening of the acclaimed documentary Resilience, insights from Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, and a thought-provoking panel discussion with community experts.

About the Film

Resilience uncovers one of the most important public health discoveries of our time: the science of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). The film explores how toxic stress can alter brain architecture, increase the risk of chronic disease, and shape the trajectory of children’s lives. Just as importantly, it shines a light on proven solutions that communities are using to break cycles of adversity and build resilience.

Resilience reflects the science that has guided Center for Child Counseling’s Fighting ACEs Initiative for the past decade—revealing how early adversity affects health and development, and how informed, connected communities can create lasting change. The film reinforces a powerful message at the heart of our work: resilience grows when awareness, prevention, and supportive relationships come together.

Why Attend

This evening is more than a film screening. It is an invitation to:

• Deepen your understanding of how early adversity shapes health and development.
• Hear inspiring local solutions making real change in our community.
• Connect with others committed to ensuring every child grows up safe, supported, and full of hope.



Date: March 25, 2026, 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Location: FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute 5353 Parkside Drive Jupiter, Florida 33458

Together, we can turn science into action and create a brighter future for children.

Thank you for your interest in the Resilience screening and community conversation. Due to high demand, registration is currently full. Please complete the form below to join the waitlist, and we will reach out if a spot opens up.

Brainy Days is a month-long celebration of the brain with free, public events that highlight the power of neuroscience to improve lives. Presented by the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute with university and community partners, the series showcases groundbreaking research, promotes brain wellness, and fosters conversations about how neuroscience can benefit us all.

Meet Our Speakers

Lisa LaFrance, Emcee

Lisa is a champion for innovation in the nonprofit sector, challenging the status quo and advocating for collaboration, transparency, and transformational change within our community. This drive to reimagine the giving ecosystem inspired the creation of the LaFrance Project to connect like-minded donors with high-impact nonprofits. In 2019, she joined the Impact the Palm Beaches giving circle and played an active role, first as a Grant Review Committee member and chair, and later as President during the 2023–2024 season, growing membership from 149 to 396.  

Before relocating to Palm Beach in 2014, Lisa spent more than two decades as an investment professional. She helped launch Bogle Investment Management, a quantitative hedge fund, in 1999. Today, her extensive investment background and social-sector leadership continue to shape her vision for nonprofit innovation and impact. Lisa is a donor and member of Center for Child Counseling's Circle of Giving.

Renée E. Layman

Renée E. Layman, LMHC, President & Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Child Counseling, has almost thirty years of experience in mental health. In her various leadership roles, Renée has been a passionate advocate for child and family health, bringing high-quality prevention, trauma-informed services, and innovative solutions to address the most pressing issues facing vulnerable children and families in Palm Beach County. Most recently, she completed the HOPE Champion certification through Tufts Medical, focusing on the power of Positive Childhood Experiences.

In recognition of her work, Renée received the Hats Off Nonprofit Executive of the Year Award in 2017, the 2021 Women in Leadership Award (WILA) from Executive Women of the Palm Beaches, and Leadership Palm Beach County’s 2021 President’s Award.

Meet Our Panelists

Randy Blakely, Ph.D.

Dr. Randy Blakely holds the David J. S. Nicholson Distinguished Professorship in Neuroscience and is Professor of Biomedical Science in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University. He is the founding Executive Director of the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute and serves as the Director of the Neuroscience Graduate Program at FAU.

He has published more than 350 research papers in high-impact journals, including Science, Nature, Neuron and PNAS. Blakely’s discoveries have resulted in more than a dozen patents, leading to his induction into the U.S. National Academy of Inventors, as well as the American Academy for the Advancement of Science. In 2022, Blakely received the Neuroscience Educator Award from the Society for Neuroscience, the world’s largest organization supporting neuroscience research and education in the world. Dr. Blakely was one of the first speakers at Center for Child Counseling's Lead the Fight event a decade ago.

Eugenia Millender, Ph.D., RN, PMH-APRN, FAAN, FAANP

Eugenia Flores Millender, PhD, RN, PMH-APRN, FAAN, FAANP, is a nationally and internationally recognized nurse scientist, educator, and leader dedicated to transforming mental health care and expanding access to innovative, integrated solutions. She is co-founder and co-director of the Center of Population Sciences for Health Empowerment, Assistant Dean for Research, and Marie Cowart Endowed Professor (Tenured) at Florida State University (FSU) College of Nursing.

Dr. Millender integrates her clinical expertise and research to examine how stress, trauma, and adversity shape long-term psychological and physical health. Her program of research is distinguished by community-driven strategies that accelerate the translation of discoveries into meaningful, real-world impact, improving mental health outcomes for all populations. As Board Chair at Center for Child Counseling, she is helping drive innovative, data-driven solutions to address some of our most pressing mental health issues.

Keith Oswald

As Chief of Student Health and Wellness for the nation’s tenth-largest school district, Keith Oswald is dedicated to advancing excellence and equity in education for all children.  A veteran educator, Mr. Oswald began his career in Palm Beach County as a teacher at Barton Elementary School. His passion for improving student outcomes led him to serve in a variety of leadership roles, including Chief Academic Officer and Deputy Superintendent, before being appointed Chief of Student Health and Wellness in 2021.  



In his current role, Mr. Oswald serves as a strategic partner to the Superintendent, leading initiatives that promote student well-being, safety, and success. His work encompasses athletics, mental and physical health services, and school safety  —ensuring that every student has the support needed to thrive both inside and outside the classroom. Beyond his district responsibilities, Mr. Oswald is actively involved with several nonprofit organizations, reflecting his lifelong commitment to service and community engagement. 

Mary Quinlan

Mary Quinlan serves as the Chief Deputy Court Administrator for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Ms. Quinlan plays a key role in overseeing the administrative operations of the Family, Probate, and Juvenile Divisions of the Court.  She has led the development and implementation of numerous specialty courts and innovative initiatives with a focus on juvenile dependency, mental health, and substance misuse.

With more than twenty-five years of experience, Ms. Quinlan has worked extensively at the intersection of behavioral health, family systems, and the courts, collaborating across multidisciplinary partners to address the complex needs of court-involved individuals and families. Mary is an integral part of Palm Beach County's Early Childhood Court, along with a team from Center for Child Counseling's Child First Program, and an array of community partners.

Shannon Fox-Levine, MD 

Shannon Fox-Levine, MD, has been a pediatrician in Palm Beach County since 2003 at Palm Beach Pediatrics, now Bluebird Kids Health, where she is the South Florida Medical Director. Dr. Fox-Levine received her medical degree from the University of Maryland at Baltimore and completed her pediatric training at NYU/Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan. She has always had a special interest in development and behavior in children.  

As the Medical Director at Center for Child Counseling and President of the Palm Beach County Pediatric Society, one of her long-term goals is to bridge the gap in the continuity of care of children with mental health issues between therapists and the county's pediatricians. She is a passionate advocate in our community and is involved in improving pediatricians' screening for children's mental health issues, serving as a leader in this effort. 

This year marks a special milestone—ten years of our Fighting ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Initiative. Launched in 2016 with the support of the Quantum Foundation, this initiative has championed a public health approach to preventing and healing the effects of early adversity and trauma at the individual, family, community, and system levels.

At its heart, the work is about building caregiver and community capacity to foster strong, buffering relationships that create Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs)—the proven antidote to ACEs. And we are doing this important work alongside YOU.

A decade ago, we came together to screen the film Resilience, sparking conversations that inspired action. Now, ten years later, we gather once again to watch the same film, celebrate the tremendous impact we’ve made in Palm Beach County, and cast a bold vision for the decade ahead.

Read more about our Fighting ACEs Initiative by visiting our website.

We are deeply grateful to our partner, The LaFrance Project, for making this conversation and screening of Resilience possible. This meaningful conversation would not be possible without their generosity. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please visit our website.