Author: Ashley Anderson, Tribal Youth Resource Center T/TA Specialist
This year’s 2024 Tribal Law and Policy Institute’s (TLPI) Implementation and Enhancement Trainings were held at the Sheraton Phoenix September 18- 20, 2024. Each day was greeted with an optional morning exercise including yoga and sunrise prayer, a plenary session, and four tracks for participants to choose from, with an aggregate of 36 sessions to choose from.
The excitement of gathering in person brought each of us overwhelming excitement and joy; The TLPI team had the opportunity to see each other, some for the very first time, but our connection to each other and to our work made it as if we’d been in this space many times before.
On day one, standing outside the plenary session, I spotted familiar faces—both previous and current grantees. It was a reunion of shared purpose and memories, both with a “how are you?” and a hug. We laughed, quickly caught up, and later shared lunches, diving into conversations that felt as natural as catching up with an old friend. Our in-person time was special and allowed us to touch on meaningful topics that had been requested in previous months.
The energy throughout the event was reviving with culture, connection, activities, and door prizes. A total of 418 participants were in attendance. Notably, more than half of all participants in the concurrent Youth Healing to Wellness Court (YHWC) training were current YHWC grantees with an impressive average of 68 people per YHWC session.
Meeting formally with current and future grantees was a valuable opportunity to dive deep into aspects of their courts and programs, navigating challenges and creating strength-based solutions. In person, we could truly be trauma-informed in a way that isn’t the same on Zoom. There was a sense of closeness that allowed us to build rapport and trust, fostering collective resilience.
Spending time together face-to-face brought a renewed sense of purpose, reminding us all why we are committed to this work and to each other.
Leaving the event, I felt uplifted, with a strengthened connection to my team and those I serve. I can’t wait to see you again.
For more information about the conference and information for next year, visit: www.EnhancementTraining.org
