Laura’s compelling narrative intertwines loss, healing, and the awe of natural encounters. Explore how profound moments with nature and people inspire hope and foster a deeper understanding of life’s mysteries. A veteran educator with 25 years of teaching experience, Laura is a full professor of English at Brookdale Community College and has taught at Stockton and Ramapo. Specializing in trauma-informed, emotionally literate curricula, she emphasizes intra- and interpersonal development to help students find meaning and purpose. Her teaching spans writing, research, critical theory, and creative writing, focusing on self-discovery through language. An inaugural fellow in Brookdale’s Center for Transformative Learning, she founded CONNECTIONS, a peer support network for educators. A candidate for the Doctorate in Medical Humanities at Drew University, her research explores care ethics and inherited trauma. Her poetry collections include The Resurrection Jar, Women & Other Hostages, and The Wild Night Dress. A three-time NJ State Arts Council Fellow, she has received fellowships from Bread Loaf and Virginia Center for the Arts. She also edited A Sense of Regard and The Room and the World. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Laura’s compelling narrative intertwines loss, healing, and the awe of natural encounters. Explore how profound moments with nature and people inspire hope and foster a deeper understanding of life’s mysteries. A veteran educator with 25 years of teaching experience, Laura is a full professor of English at Brookdale Community College and has taught at Stockton and Ramapo. Specializing in trauma-informed, emotionally literate curricula, she emphasizes intra- and interpersonal development to help students find meaning and purpose. Her teaching spans writing, research, critical theory, and creative writing, focusing on self-discovery through language. An inaugural fellow in Brookdale’s Center for Transformative Learning, she founded CONNECTIONS, a peer support network for educators. A candidate for the Doctorate in Medical Humanities at Drew University, her research explores care ethics and inherited trauma. Her poetry collections include The Resurrection Jar, Women & Other Hostages, and The Wild Night Dress. A three-time NJ State Arts Council Fellow, she has received fellowships from Bread Loaf and Virginia Center for the Arts. She also edited A Sense of Regard and The Room and the World. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Washington, D.C. – Today, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) led 34 of his Democratic...