Trauma Informed Community Development | Paul Abernathy | TEDxPittsburgh

From his service during the Iraq War, Paul Abernathy first learned about trauma. In returning to the community in Pittsburgh, he saw a broader definition of trauma that required a broader effort at healing. His talk outlines the systematic work to rebuild communities block by block with trauma informed community development. A passionate speaker on the subject, Abernathy's ideas are meant to spread beyond the local zip code and perhaps could offer assistance to areas affected by war, poverty, and oppression.

Paul Abernathy is the Director of FOCUS Pittsburgh, an Orthodox Christian urban outreach ministry and branch of FOCUS North America. In addition to graduating from St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary and earning a Master's of Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh, Paul has served as a Non–Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Army and is a combat veteran of the Iraq War.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx