Gabriela Zapata-alma, LCSW, CADC
Gabriela is the Director of Policy and Practice for Domestic Violence and Substance Use at the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma & Mental Health, as well as faculty at The University of Chicago, where they coordinate the Advanced Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor certification program. Gabriela brings over 15 years of experience supporting survivors of domestic violence and other trauma, as well as people impacted by housing instability, HIV/AIDS, substance use disorders, and mental health conditions; providing bilingual (Spanish and English) counseling, training, advocacy, and consultation; and leading programs using trauma-informed approaches, Motivational Interviewing, harm reduction, gender-responsive care, Housing First, and third-wave behavioral interventions. Gabriela has been recognized with numerous awards, including Health & Medicine Policy Research Group’s 2018 Health Award, and the 2017 Rising Star Award from the Illinois chapter of National Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC). Gabriela provides clinical supervision and trauma-focused counseling services locally, as well as training and technical assistance related to serving marginalized communities impacted by trauma and other social determinants of health nationally and internationally.
Yelena Pearson
Yelena (she/her and they/them) is a research and outreach assistant for Northwestern's Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing. She received her Bachelor’s in Psychology from DePaul University with concentrations in Human Development and Community Research. During and after her undergraduate studies, she worked on multiple research projects focused on mentoring effectiveness for children dealing with environmental-based trauma, ingroup/outgroup dynamics and related impacts on socialization and mental health, and the effects of high-stress environments for adolescents living in under-resourced areas. Their recent work investigates psychoemotional factors that impact college adjustment and attrition rates for students of color. Their personal work and research interests include community and intergenerational trauma, and recovery through a combination of mental healthcare, community advocacy, and reclamation of cultural spiritual practices.
Christopher w. link, a.m.
Mr. Christopher W. Link, A.M., is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) and has focused and specialized in the practice and art of providing trainings in Motivational Interviewing (MI) across a range of organizational settings over the last 13 years. While at the Department of Veteran Affairs, Mr. Link was a regional trainer for VISN 12. After this, he moved on to work for a start-up, a mental wellness app, as the Associate Director of Training, where he designed and implemented one of the first text-based MI training programs. Currently, Mr. Link teaches at the University of Chicago’s school of social work—Social Service Administration (SSA). Here he teaches MI and clinical research courses. Additionally, he also provides MI trainings for individuals and organizations throughout the Chicagoland area through his business—Traversing Change LLC. Mr. Link can be contacted at Christopher.W.Link@gmail.com