02/03/2026
Strength isn’t just a physical stance—it’s a psychological shield. 🛡️💪
Two weeks ago, at the IAC Summit, at the students track, we didn’t just talk about resilience; we lived it.
From the mat to the stage, the energy was electric. We started with , where Travers and the team pushed us to find our physical center under pressure. But as we know at SHIELD Resource & Support Center, physical safety is only half the battle.
We dove deep into emotional resilience with a panel that I am still processing. To my colleagues and friends Michaelis Shaikh at and Lewin-Zmood . and Dr. Shelly Steinwurtzel at : thank you for your brilliance.
A few moments that will stay with me:
✨ Arno Michaelis on “under the influence of hate”describing how addiction to hate can be broken.
✨ Mubin Shaikh sharing his incredible journey from the front lines of radicalization to becoming a life-saver who crosses the mines to bring others back.
✨ The raw, necessary work of SHIELD handling over 270 cases and counting, proving that our resource and support center is the 24/7 heartbeat of this community.
To my “midnight colleagues”—the ones I can call at 12:00 AM on a Saturday knowing you’ll answer for our students and our community—I hope we’re still friends after the summit’s hard work 😉
We are building more than a program. We are building a fortress.