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MEDIA
My work – as a certified parent coach, a mental health activist, a community leader, a speaker, and a writer focused on helping parents realize the power they have to foster healthy family relationships – is featured in national, state, and local media.
"Are You Raising Kids in Captivity, then Expecting Them to Survive in the Wild?" (Let Grow)
Vanessa’s Letter to the Editor “Come to the Volunteer Fair — It’s Good for Your Mental Health” (9/19/24 Good Morning Wilton)
At the heart of Wilton’s unplugged initiative is Vanessa Elias, as featured in “Back to School, Back to Connection: Spotlight on Wilton, Connecticut” (Unplug Collaborative blog)
Parenting coach and mental health activist Vanessa Elias has helped spearhead the push to ban cellphones in Wilton, Conn. schools (8/22/24 Good Morning Wilton)
Block Party USA Announces 2024 Back-to-School Challenge! Now…until September 30, 2024! (8/14/24)
Building Stronger Neighborhoods, One Block Party at a Time – Block Party USA brings neighbors together for the common good, through good old-fashioned fun. Here’s how you can, too. (7/10/24 The Epoch Times)
OK to Delay community event featuring middle schoolers, parents, and Vanessa Elias discussing delaying smartphones and social media. (6/3/24 Greenwich, CT Public Library)
Thrive with a Guide sponsored Claudia Erickson, BSW MPH and Unplug Collaborative co-founder, to deliver keynote for 2024 Mental Health Action Month. (5/2/24 Wilton Library)
"Parents, Schools and Technology: Conquering Mean Behavior Together" hosted by Wilton Public Schools, Wilton Youth Council, Insight Counseling, Thrive With A Guide, & Newport Academy. (3/7/24 Wilton High School)
Weaving in 400 Seconds – Vanessa shares how she is weaving community in her area and beyond, and how she got to where she is today. (3/5/24 Weave: The Social Fabric Project at the Aspen Institute)
Speaker Vanessa Elias on "Raising Healthy, Capable, and Resilient Middle Schoolers" sponsored by the PTAs of Coleytown and Bedford Middle Schools (2/29/24 Bedford Middle School, Westport, CT)
Vanessa Elias facilitates roundtable discussion about mattering and our achievement culture, hosted by Weston Human Services. (1/29/24 and 2/5/24 Weston Library)
Are you the family's Chief Holiday Officer, and burned out? Vanessa offers tips to make December fun again on Midlife Mavericks podcast with Alison Jacobson. (11/26/23 Episode 114: Secrets to Managing Stress During the Holidays with Vanessa Elias)
Vanessa Elias is a co-facilitator of “Roundtable Discussion on Mattering,” leading a conversation on what mattering means to those in the room and how to view self-worth independent from achievement. (11/9/23 Comstock Community Center)
Vanessa on parenting teens through young adults, and self-compassion and finding joy, on Midlife Mavericks podcast with Alison Jacobson (11/5/23 Episode 111: Parenting Through a Mental Health Crisis with Vanessa Elias)
Senate Bill 1133, which increases childhood independence in CT, was signed into law. Vanessa Elias, co-founder of the Free Play Matters Task Force, has campaigned for this cause since its inception. (7/20/23 Good Morning Wilton)
Vanessa Elias commends four Girl Scouts for bringing LGBTQ+ awareness to Wilton through their Silver Award project. (7/8/23 Wilton Bulletin)
Vanessa Elias and Lenore Skenazy host a virtual conversation, “Chasing Childhood: The Follow-Up.” (5/11/23)
Vanessa Elias at “Let’s Talk Mental Health” panel discussion: bringing sensitive topics into the light, such as suicide, doesn’t cause them to happen or put ideas into people’s heads. (5/9/23 Good Morning Wilton)
Vanessa Elias was a featured guest on the Fresh Leaf Forever podcast with Vai Kumar to discuss “Teen Mental Health and Its Impact on a Sustainable Future.” (3/13/23)
Vanessa Elias was honored to present at the CT Region 1 conference: "Mental Health in a Post-Covid World: How to Ensure Emotional Health and Resilience in our Youth/Teens." (3/2/23)
Vanessa Elias shares resources in "Wilton Mental Health Resource List: Where to Go, Who to Talk To, What’s Available in Wilton" (3/2/23 Good Morning Wilton)
Vanessa Elias writes "Can Powerful Lyrics Effect Change in Teens? Jax’s 'Victoria Secret' Anthem Succeeds" (11/8/22 Your Teen Magazine)
Vanessa Elias was the featured guest on The Bespoke Parenting Podcast with Julie Gunlock (10/11/22)
Op-Ed by Vanessa Elias: "Domestic Violence: Not What You May Think, It Impacts the Whole Family — and Happens Right Here in Wilton" (10/6/22 Good Morning Wilton)
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