Be Part of the Brave Schools Book Tour

Dr. Isaiah Pickens is hitting the road to launch his new book — and more importantly, to spark a national conversation centered on brave ideas for building compassionate schools through mental health.

The Brave Schools Book Tour isn’t just about a book — it’s about community, connection, and reimagining what’s possible in education. Through live events, powerful storytelling, and meaningful dialogue, Dr. Pickens will engage educators, leaders, and changemakers on how we move beyond burnout, trauma, and broken systems toward schools rooted in equity, well-being, and relational leadership.

Join us for a stop near you — or RSVP to be part of a virtual event — and help us build a braver future for schools.
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📌 Virtual Webinar – February Kick-Off Event
Brave Schools Start From Within:
How to Build Sustainable Trauma-Informed Teams for the 21st Century
Presenter: Dr. Isaiah Pickens
Event: Free Brave Schools Virtual Webinar
Location: Online (Zoom)
Date: February 18, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM EST
Educators and school systems, and mental health teams are navigating an era of constant disruption — from student mental health needs and educator burnout to community trauma and rapid social change. Schools often respond with short-term fixes, but what they need now is sustainable, in-house capacity to support well-being.

In this webinar, Dr. Isaiah Pickens introduces a trauma-informed, culturally responsive model designed to help schools build internal teams who can lead and sustain this work over time. With real-world insights and strategies from Journey Community Schools, participants will explore a path toward long-term resilience, equity, and educator empowerment.

Participants will leave with:
  • A roadmap for building in-house, trauma-informed leadership teams
  • Strategies to reduce burnout, improve relational trust, and support student engagement
  • An introduction to the Brave Schools Culture Coach model for sustainable school-wide practices

    FEATURING GUEST PANELISTS FROM JOURNEY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
📍 Washington, D.C. – George Washington University
Main Event: Brave Schools Book Launch Event
Date: April 22, 2026
Time: 6:30–9:00 PM ET
Location: Amphitheater, GWU
Join Dr. Isaiah Pickens for the official launch of his forthcoming book, Trauma-Informed and Culturally Responsive Practices in Schools: Building a Climate of Compassion (Guilford Press, 2026). The event will feature highlights from the book, a candid discussion on educator and student well-being, and reflections on building more compassionate, resilient school communities.
📍 Chicago, IL – NASP Annual Convention
Brave Schools in the 21st Century:
A Trauma-Informed, Culturally Responsive Roadmap for Mental Health Teams
Presenter: Dr. Isaiah Pickens
Event: NASP Annual Convention
Location: Chicago, IL
Date: February 27, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM CST
Students and educators are showing signs of trauma in real time — escalating conflict, withdrawal, chronic absenteeism, anxiety, and burnout — as schools navigate diversifying communities, AI disruption, and ongoing fears of violence.

In this session, Dr. Isaiah Pickens explores how school systems can move beyond reactive approaches and build a relationship-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive (TICR) climate.

Participants will leave with:
  • A practical transformation roadmap for school mental health teams
  • Strategies for strengthening relational trust and well-being
  • Insights from Dr. Pickens’ forthcoming book on Brave Schools

Important note: Attendance for this session requires registration for the NASP Annual Convention.
📍 Los Angeles, CA
The Brave Schools Book Tour is coming to Los Angeles!

In this special LA stop, Dr. Isaiah Pickens will lead a dynamic session on “Traumatic Success” — redefining what it means to succeed in the face of adversity. Grounded in Chapter One of his book, this conversation will examine how trauma impacts educators and school systems, why educator well-being must be foundational, and how healing-centered leadership creates sustainable success.
Date: April 4, 2026
Time: 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM PST
Location: Marina del Rey Marriott, Marina del Rey, CA 
📍 New York City, NY
We’re headed to the East Coast for a powerful NYC conversation on the identity of success. In this dynamic stop of the Brave Schools Book Tour, Dr. Isaiah Pickens will explore how our most important social identities shape the way we experience, process, and overcome trauma.

From school shootings and natural disasters to the lasting impact of historical racial trauma, this session will challenge leaders to rethink what success truly means in the face of adversity — and how courageous, identity-aware leadership creates pathways toward healing and transformation.

Join us in New York as we deepen the conversation and move from awareness to action.
Date: April 28, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM EST
Location: Fordham University at Lincoln Center, New York, NY

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