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NESA COMMUNITY FORUM

Navigating Change Together: Strengthening Connection, Care, and Resilience

For NESA School Educators, Parents & Community Members

WITH ELLEN MAHONEY & STEVEN KARAISKOS

DATE

APRIL 8, 2026, 4PM GMT+3
COST

NO COST WEBINAR
ELIGIBILITY

OPEN TO ALL SCHOOLS

Join NESA for a follow-up online Community Forum focused on deepening strategies for connection, wellbeing, and resilience amid ongoing uncertainty.

Since our March session, circumstances continue to evolve: some families have evacuated, while others remain in the NESA Region, where ongoing conflict continues to create uncertainty and stress. This forum offers all NESA School Community Members a chance to stay connected, process emotions, and learn together. Join this supportive space to reflect, share, and explore practical approaches for staying grounded in these challenging circumstances.

Executive Director Maddy Hewitt will again convene the NESA Community inviting Steven Karaiskos, trauma and crisis specialist, and Ellen Mahoney, founder of Sea Change Mentoring, to guide the conversation. This session will emphasize interaction and dialogue, giving participants extended time for questions and discussion tailored to their current experiences.

What the Forum Will Offer

Participants will:

  • Explore strategies to maintain emotional regulation and personal wellbeing during prolonged uncertainty
  • Learn practical ways to foster stronger connections in families, schools, and communities
  • Engage in extended Q&A and dialogue with experts to address real-life challenges
  • Share experiences and build solidarity with others navigating similar circumstances

OUTCOMES

By the end of the forum, participants will:

  • Have a deeper understanding of stress, trauma, and resilience in highly mobile and conflict-affected communities
  • Experience strengthened connection with peers across the region, fostering a sense of shared support
  • Identify actionable steps they can take in their daily lives, schools, and families to create steadiness in uncertain times
  • Benefit from direct answers and guidance from expert facilitators, tailored to their specific questions

Who Should Attend

This session is open to all community members – parents, caregivers, educators, and anyone supporting young people – seeking practical strategies, reassurance, and connection in a rapidly changing world.

DATE & TIME

The webinar will take place on Wednesday, April 8, from 4:00-5:00pm GMT+3 (Athens, Greece time).
 

IMPORTANT: Due to Daylight Saving Time, the forum start time in your location may have changed since the previous session.

View your local start time here » 

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.