HIGHLIGHTS

The 2007 Independent Living Program Institute is pleased to present workshops on Permanency, Housing, Education, Employment, Mentoring, and Innovative Programs.

This year’s featured Keynote presenters include:

Charlie Appelstein
Charlie Appelstein, M.S.W., is a nationally prominent youth care specialist and author whose primary focus is working with children and youth with serious emotional and behavioral problems. Mr. Appelstein is the President of Appelstein Training Resources, LLC, who trains and consults throughout the U.S. and internationally with treatment facilities, foster care programs, parent groups, schools, and detention centers. He has authored three youth care books, including The Gus Chronicles: Reflections from an Abused Kid and No Such Thing as a Bad Kid: Understanding and Responding to the Behavior of Troubled Children and Youth. Mr. Appelstein is considered by some to be the best trainer for direct work with troubled youth in the nation.

Jaiya John
Jaiya John, Ph.D., is the Founder and Executive Director of Soul Water Rising, an educational organization devoted to improving human relations, overcoming prejudice, and fostering personal growth. Dr. John has traveled the nation as a professional speaker, consultant, poet author and youth mentor. This work is truly his mission, ministry, and life. He authored the award-winning memoir, Black Baby White Hands: A View from the Crib. Dr. John was a Professor of Social Psychology at Howard University and served as Associate Director for the National Center on Permanency for African American Children from 1999 to 2001. Dr. John studied Psychology at Lewis & Clark College and earned his doctorate from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in Social Psychology with a focus on Identity Development.

Terry Sand
Terry Sand, is an improvisational expert, television personality and keynote speaker. Ms. Sand has been featured in the PBS documentary The Promise of Play; Winner of San Francisco’s All-Pro Comedy Award in 1984; Recipient of the Cabaret Gold Award in 1986; Founding member of several successful improv comedy groups, including Femprov, Fisheads and Partime Laugh Company; and was selected by The National Speakers Association to present the first improvisational comedy program at their national convention. For over 20 years she has taught adults how to apply the transformational experience of studying improvisational comedy to boost their productivity and “out of the cubicle thinking.” Notable companies including Oracle, Charles Schwab, Panasonic, and AT&T have repeatedly booked Ms. Sand so that she could bring her creative approach to improving communication and collaboration skills to their workplaces.