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NESA COMMUNITY FORUM

Staying Grounded in Uncertain Times: Tools for Connection, Care & Resilience

For NESA School Educators, Parents & Community Members

WITH ELLEN MAHONEY & STEVEN KARAISKOS

THIS EVENT HAS PASSED
PART TWO WILL TAKE PLACE ON APRIL 8 – DETAILS COMING SOON

DATE

MARCH 11, 2026, 4PM
COST

NO COST WEBINAR
ELIGIBILITY

OPEN TO ALL SCHOOLS

Join NESA for an online Community Forum designed to support our communities during a time of uncertainty and rapid change.

Circumstances are evolving quickly. Some families may be preparing to depart as travel routes open. Others may be waiting for clarity or unable to leave at this time. Each country – and each family – faces its own realities. 

This forum offers a supportive space for adults – educators, parents, and community members – to pause together, share perspective, and gain practical strategies for self-regulation, staying connected, and supporting children and young people during crisis and transition.

The session will be convened by Madeleine Hewitt, Executive Director of NESA, who will be joined by two respected voices in wellbeing and trauma-informed practice: Ellen Mahoney, Founder and CEO of Sea Change Mentoring, and Dr. Steven Karaiskos, a trauma and crisis specialist.

What the Forum Will Offer

Participants will explore practical and compassionate approaches to navigating uncertainty, including:

  • Tools for self-regulation during stress and uncertainty
  • Ways to stay connected with others when circumstances feel fragmented
  • Strategies to support children and adolescents experiencing instability
  • A space for shared reflection and solidarity

This will be a calm, supportive, and practical conversation focused on what helps communities remain steady and humane when the world around them feels unsettled.

Who Should Attend

This forum is open to NESA Community Members including:

  • Parents and caregivers
  • Educators and school staff
  • Community members supporting young people
  • Anyone seeking constructive ways to navigate the current moment

OUR SHARED INTENTION

While every country and community is experiencing this moment differently, one truth remains constant: connection and care help people navigate uncertainty.

NESA hopes this gathering will provide a space where adults can find perspective, practical tools, and reassurance that none of us are navigating this moment alone.

DATE & TIME

The webinar will take place on Wednesday, March 11, from 4:00-5:00pm GMT+2 (Athens, Greece time).

Ellen Mahoney
Ellen Mahoney

CEO & FOUNDER, SEA CHANGE MENTORING

ELLEN MAHONEY is an alumna of international schools and the founder of Sea Change Mentoring, created in 2013 to promote relationship-based learning and wellbeing within international educational settings. As a Third Culture Kid and a former high school teacher and counselor, Ellen applies her cultural fluency and professional experience to cultivate trust and drive in school communities around the world. She serves as a Council of International Schools (CIS) Affiliated Consultant, supporting schools in their wellbeing and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) efforts. Ellen has contributed significantly to youth development literature, co-authoring works on university transitions, suicide prevention, and international school transitions. 

Ellen has extensive experience at the intersection of child development and digital life, having served as the former Director of Program Quality at the blended learning and mentoring organization, iMentor. She was invited by the National Mentoring Partnership (MENTOR) to contribute her expertise to the national guide on evidence-based practices for digital mentoring, part of the national standards for youth mentoring organizations across the United States. Ellen also played a crucial role in helping international schools worldwide ensure that students, parents, and faculty remained connected and well-supported as schools rapidly transitioned online at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ellen is based in Hong Kong but works across all regions. 


Steven Karaiskos
Steven Karaiskos

CRISIS TEAM FACILITATOR, SEA CHANGE MENTORING

Dr. STEVEN KARAISKOS is an educator and emotion scientist with over 25 years of experience supporting the emotional well-being of students, educators, and communities. A longtime advocate for suicide prevention and grief awareness, he serves as Director of Postvention & Community Programs at The Kita Center. Steven began his career in early childhood education, has taught through the university level, trains educators in SEL and relational practices, and lives in Wells, Maine.

Registration

This free webinar is open to all schools. Register directly through Zoom.