Trauma Informed Instruction | 2025 Design Better Learning Series (Partner, Virtual)
Virtual Training
Event Details
2025 Design Better Learning Series
A 3-part series for nonprofit & social sector educators who want to create more inclusive, engaging, and effective learning experiences.
Design Better Learning is the 6th annual fall series for nonprofit and social sector educators who want to create more inclusive, engaging, and effective learning experiences. Now more than ever, we need learning that meets the moment—learning that helps people not just understand, but take action. The people in our workshop and webinars have carved out time to learn because they care about doing their work well. We owe them well-designed experiences that lead to lasting change. This series offers practical, adult learning research-informed strategies to help you deliver learning that truly makes a difference.
“Those of us teaching others also need time to deepen our own practice. Consider this series ‘capacity building for capacity builders.’ It’s an opportunity to strengthen our skills as educators—so we can better support the people and causes at the heart of our communities.”—Nancy Bacon, Series Producer
All sessions take place from 10:00am - 11:30am Pacific | 1:00pm - 2:30pm Eastern
Trauma Informed Instruction
September 30, 2025
In today’s nonprofit and public sectors, professionals are being asked to do more with less. This occurs often under immense pressure and amidst ongoing uncertainty. This session on Trauma Informed Instruction draws on the latest neuroscience to explore how threat responses in the brain can interfere with learning, and what instructors can do to change that.
This session introduces the ECTcellent Approach, a framework designed to elevate instruction by fostering emotional safety, reducing cognitive overload, and building learner resilience. Participants will explore the brain’s natural defense systems, learn how perceived threats disrupt attention and memory, and discover how to structure inclusive learning experiences that increase connection, reduce anxiety, and improve retention.
Rooted in experience with trauma and resilience, this session offers practical, compassionate strategies for instructional design that supports thriving, not just surviving. Whether you lead workshops, manage teams, or deliver training, you’ll leave better equipped to create learning spaces where adults feel safe enough to engage, supported enough to stretch, and connected enough to grow.
Meet your Trainer
Rick Griffin is the Master Trainer for Community Resilience Initiative (CRI), the nation’s first community resilience network. Rick holds a master’s degree in education and uses his education to develop innovative content and deliver engaging presentations. He speaks to thousands of groups from all over the country and is widely recognized for his work with trauma-informed practices.
As the former Executive Director of a trauma-informed therapeutic residential program for struggling teens, Rick has first-hand experience with developing and implementing strategies and structures that foster resilience. His experience allows him to consult seamlessly with schools, businesses, and community organizations.
Mr. Griffin continues to be on the leading edge of training design. He has developed several outstanding trauma- and resilience-based programs and has also authored several engaging eBooks. Rick recently launched his newest endeavor, Neuro Leadership Academy, an innovative enterprise committed to using neuroscience to facilitate personal and professional development.
2025 Design Better Learning Series
Trauma Informed Instruction | September 30, 2025
From Boring to Bold: Visual Design Skills for Trainers | October 28, 2025
Stories That Stick: How Real-World Scenarios Spark Change | November 13, 2025
Tuition
$150 for the full series. Includes pre- and post-communication designed to extend learning and all tools related to each session.
$70 for individual sessions
NAM Members use code NAM10 during registration for 10% off tuition
Series Details
You are encouraged to register for the full series to experience the full collection of knowledge and tools; you may register for just one of the sessions if you prefer.
All sessions will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recordings and have access for 3 months. If you are unable to attend the session, we encourage you to register anyway so you receive all of the related materials. Because the sessions will be recorded, we are unable to offer refunds.
Closed captioning will be available in all sessions in the series. We will do our best to accommodate any other accessibility needs expressed through the registration system.
The Design Better Learning Series is moderated by Nancy Bacon, a teacher, instructional designer, and learning strategist who has worked for over 25 years in the nonprofit sector. Nancy began her career in international education, leading an ESL school in Boston and teaching social studies in the Philippines. She worked for ten years leading nonprofit fundraising and capacity building efforts alongside a community of Afro-Brazilian women in Salvador, Brazil. Nancy created the award-winning learning program at Seattle's World Affairs Council, as well as the state-wide nonprofit learning program at the Nonprofit Association of Washington. In 2022, Nancy co-founded the Nonprofit Learning Center to expand access to high quality on-demand nonprofit learning. Nancy collaborates with diverse communities and organizations to design and deliver relevant outcome-based learning tools and experiences. Nancy co-hosts the Nonprofit Radio Show with Sarah Brooks, offering free, practical nonprofit learning for rural and small nonprofits.