PRESS RELEASE: Showing Up With Hope at Oconomowoc Arts Center
May 19, 2023 (OCONOMOWOC, WI) — Inspiring Comfort announces that it will be hosting “Showing Up With Hope”, a free community mental health event and a heartfelt night of storytelling and hope at the Oconomowoc Arts Center.
The event, taking place at 7 pm in the Cabaret Theatre, will feature inspiring Ted-style Talks on stories of healing and connection, as well as learning how to show care to others. Jen Marr, critically acclaimed author of Showing Up, Speaker, and Founder & CEO of Inspiring Comfort will host and speak at the event.
Jen Marr is the author of Showing Up: A Comprehensive Guide to Comfort & Connection and a speaker as well as Founder & CEO of Inspiring Comfort, LLC. Ten years ago, Jen had a front row seat to the Sandy Hook tragedy and to the Boston Marathon bombing. Seeing first-hand the need for ongoing support for those who are struggling, she realized there is a massive gap between people who are struggling and people who want to help, but don’t know how.
Since then, Jen has been immersed in trauma research and developing programs that address this gap. Her work in the field of human connection and Supportive Care has made indelible impact on the lives of countless people: certifying 150+ national trainers in her programming, presenting work to tens of thousands globally, and working within organizations such as the White House, Suicide Prevention Lifeline, HCA Healthcare, and more.
She returns to her hometown of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin to tell her story and share the evidence-based skills of learning how to care for others: developed from years of field work and research in crisis response, human care, and mental health. Jen Marr is recognized as a Top Leadership Development Voice by LinkedIn and has been featured in Forbes, Chicago Tribune, BBC Radio, and NBC News.
Jen Marr will be joined by nationally acclaimed guest speakers and Certified Trainers, who are in town for Inspiring Comfort’s annual Summer Summit — an annual conference and gathering for their team of national trainers, who are trained to cultivate a culture of supportive care across communities, organizations, and networks.
Leslie Weirich, Speaker: Finding Hope After Suicide
After losing her son Austin to suicide, Leslie Weirich started searching for solutions of hope — especially for young men. From military bases to college campuses, Leslie will share why we all need human care and connection and how we can all be agents of change.
Eric Schoonveld, Speaker: Let’s Get Real
A close call in a bike accident sent accomplished attorney Eric Schoonveld on a journey to find purpose and gratitude through difficult times — and finding true authenticity and connection with others through supportive care.
Phillip Tyler, Speaker: Moving Forward After Losing A Son
Losing a loved one, a son, or a child, can leave you unsure if you can heal. Through his own tragedy of losing his son, Phillip Tyler will speak on the power of vulnerability and a handwritten note, and how both can transform us.
Kelly Shannon: “Zillenials” & The New Reality of Mental Health
Born on the cusp of two generations — millenials and Gen-Z — Kelly Shannon will outline the critical state of mental health in younger generations, and the importance of building a common language to bridge the gap.
Delaine Mazich & Jen Marr: Weaving Comfort Over 10 Years
A conversation with Jen Marr and Delaine Mazich on how two strangers who had suffered loss — one from Sandy Hook and one from Fentanyl — were able to connect and begin a beautiful relationship spanning over ten years.
A live Q&A with all the speakers and a book signing will follow the event.
Inspiring Comfort is deeply grateful to the community of Oconomowoc for the opportunity to host their Summer Summit and is excited for the opportunity to connect with the community and spark critical conversations on mental health and human care and connection.
ABOUT INSPIRING COMFORT
Inspiring Comfort LLC is a social good company founded on the belief that today’s increasingly isolated, socially disconnected, and hurting world demands that we do a better job of caring for one another.
The organization trains workplaces, organizations, communities, and individuals to show up, lead with heart, and cultivate a culture of empathy, supportive care, and connection.
ABOUT JEN MARR
Jen Marr is a Speaker, Author, and Founder and CEO of Inspiring Comfort. She has utilized her 30 years of experience in business, leadership development, and the healthcare industry to research, develop, and offer solutions to our current mental health crisis.
Jen's groundbreaking, innovative work in mental health, crisis response, and social well-being brings a new perspective to a field currently dominated by self-care solutions and emotion-based training. She addresses the current Empathy to Action Gap through what she calls “The Awkward Zone”. Her research pilot funded through the NY State Office of Mental Health is the first to examine the impact of a compassionate and prosocial behavior intervention on depressive symptoms and loneliness in youth.
This movement is taking root in notable organizations including the White House Leadership Development Program, the National Suicide Lifeline, Georgetown University, HCA Healthcare, Blue Cross & Blue Shield, KPMG, Northeastern University, US Department of Labor, USAID, The New York Office of Mental Health, and the American Association of Suicidology.