After moving from a conservative Midwestern suburb to New York City to pursue an acting career, Kelly Cervantes never could have imagined what life had in store for her—or how much she would fundamentally change along the way.

Now, in her memoir The Luckiest, Kelly shares the experiences that shaped who she is today—the pain of unrealized dreams, navigating her husband Miguel's Broadway spotlight, fighting for their child's life, finding purpose after loss, and rebuilding her life and marriage.

Throughout her wildly unpredictable journey, she has reflected on the role luck has played in her life, both good and bad. "Are we lucky if we escape life with soft skin and minimal layers," she asks. "Or are we lucky to have the battle scars that show a life of survival and meaning?"

As we begin 2026, Elaine Miller-Karas, the host of Resiliency Within, airs an encore podcast with Aziza Hasan, Executive Director, and Andrea Hodos, Associate Director of New Ground, a nonprofit dedicated to bridging divides and convening constructive conversations around challenging social issues.

New Ground envisions what is possible in a world deeply divided which is as pertinent today as it was when first aired. They will share their wisdom on how New Ground envisions an America where Muslims and Jews are empowered to create lasting partnerships and engage in authentic communication and mutual cooperation.

This vibrant model of engagement – not bound by history, theology, or politics – affirms that conflict is inevitable and yet not intractable. NewGround empowers Muslims, Jews, and allies to bridge divisions and leverage shared values to strengthen our communities' well-being and our fragile democracy.

NewGround is a community-building organization that creates, connects, and empowers Jewish and Muslim Change-makers in America.

Through a professional fellowship, high school leadership council, and public programming, NewGround transforms Muslim-Jewish relations and advances a shared agenda for change. They will share what we need to do differently to bring about lasting change.

Carla Cavlcanti and Kim Aasland will share how they help their respective churches live beyond their walls. They both believe in being a compassionate presence woven into the daily life of the neighborhoods they serve. There is the belief that "A truly missional church steps outside its sanctuary and into the streets, homes, and gathering places where people live, work, and struggle." They are called not only to preach love but to embody it—through presence, partnership, and practical support.

During a disaster, this calling becomes even more urgent. Churches are often among the first to respond, offering safety, resources, and emotional and spiritual care when the ground beneath a community has literally or figuratively shifted. They both have had the opportunity to stand with survivors in their grief, their uncertainty, and their rebuilding—to be a source of stability, compassion, and hope. Loving people well in a disaster means listening deeply, showing up consistently, and offering whatever they can: food, space, comfort, care, connection, and the assurance that no one walks this road alone. We welcome them to Resiliency Within where they will share their reflections as we approach the holiday season.

Carla Cavalcanti is a Community Pastor at Vintage Church Pasadena, devoted to loving people toward Jesus and cultivating meaningful community. A Liberty University graduate with a background in Theater Production, she brings a behind-the-scenes dedication to making things happen.

Originally from the East Coast, Carla has lived in California for six years. A survivor of the Eaton Fire—after losing her Altadena home—she stepped into a central leadership role in Vintage's fire-relief efforts and brings deep empathy, strength, and firsthand understanding to those she supports.

Fierce, extroverted, and community-minded, Carla is a natural connector, a devoted dog mom to Winston, and someone who thrives in authentic conversation. She values relationships deeply and considers it an honor to walk alongside people with compassion, presence, and hope.

Kim Aasland is an Altadena resident, Eaton Fire survivor, and the Fire Response Coordinator at Epicentre Church. Her life has been defined by movement, resilience, and a deep commitment to community. Raised across the Arctic Circle, Turkey, Nigeria, and Italy, Kim developed a global perspective shaped by constant adaptation.

She holds a BA in Sociology/Anthropology from Carleton College and an MA in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota. Kim spent sixteen years in Kazakhstan teaching history and religion while raising her four children. Now rooted in California, she has served as both a history teacher and school administrator.

In her role at Epicentre Church, Kim is dedicated to supporting fire survivors and helping her community heal and rebuild with compassion and strength.

For four decades, Ellen Bassuk has navigated the worlds of psychiatry, advocacy, and motherhood—shaped by her son Daniel Schoonover's lifelong struggle with mental illness, especially schizophrenia.

Between Two Worlds is their deeply personal memoir, chronicling Daniel's journey through a broken health care system, an ill-equipped educational system, and the parenting challenges that came with it.

Ellen Bassuk and Daniel Schoonover, mother and son, will share their journey together.

From early childhood, Daniel's developmental milestones were atypical, leading to hospitalizations, rejections from institutions unable to see beyond diagnoses, and even expulsions from school. As a single mother and medical professional, Bassuk fought to protect her son from systems that prioritized efficiency over humanity, forging an alternative path that allowed Daniel to reclaim his life.

Drawn from hospital and school reports, first-hand accounts, as well as a graphic description of Daniel's inner experience, Between Two Worlds offers an unflinching look at the impact of systems that marginalize vulnerable people.

Bassuk calls for a transformation in mental health care—one that embraces recovery principles and person-centered approaches focused on relationships, empathy, and individual needs.

Now close to forty years old, Daniel has found independence, purpose, and community. Their story is a beacon of hope and a call to action—urging a shift from institutionalization to connection, from labels to lived experience, and from stigma to compassion.

Between Two Worlds is a powerful memoir for individuals, parents, families, caregivers, professionals, and advocates seeking hope, guidance, and reform in the face of mental illness and systemic injustice.

Dr. Peggy Ward and Sister Peace join Resiliency Within to share the wisdom and poems of Dr. Larry Ward.

In this conversation, Dr. Peggy Rowe-Ward reflects on the life and legacy of Dr. Larry Ward and his first poetry collection, Morning Night. She explores how Larry understood poetry—reading it, writing it, and living it—as a powerful form of spiritual practice.

As a true great sound and one of the few Black Dharma teachers in his tradition, Larry was a trailblazer who bridged Buddhist and Christian lineages and broke through cultural and spiritual barriers with depth, humor, and clarity.

This session invites listeners into the spirit of Morning Night and the way Larry's words continue to guide us home. His book, Morning Night, was his first published collection of poems, where he explored race, nature , and spirit, woven with messages of hope, justice, and belonging. Sister Peace will lend her voice to his eloquent poetry.

Dr. Larry Ward transitioned from this life in August 2025. His grounded presence and deep insight helped many people worldwide through challenging moments with compassion and clarity, planting seeds of understanding.

Dr. Peggy Rowe Ward, Larry's wife, was in partnership in love and work—two luminous teachers whose shared vision blossomed through their work at the Lotus Institute. Having also trained at the Trauma Resource Institute, Larry's understanding of both trauma healing and mindfulness made him a bridge between worlds—the spiritual and the scientific, the personal and the collective. His life was a testament to compassion in action, and his teachings continue to ripple outward, touching countless hearts with the deep sound of love and wisdom.

His poems reflect his deep connection to the wonder within all of us. You can learn more about his work under the leadership of Dr. Peggy Rowe Ward. https://www.thelotusinstitute.org.

Elaine Miller-Karas, LCSW, will discuss the second edition of her book, Building Resiliency to Trauma, with Dr. Michael Sapp, the CEO of the Trauma Resource Institute.

During and after a traumatic experience, survivors experience a cascade of physical, emotional, cognitive, behavioral, relational, and spiritual responses that can make them feel unbalanced and threatened.

The second edition of Building Resilience to Trauma explains common responses from a biological perspective, reframing the human experience from one of shame and pathology to one of hope and biology.

Using two evidence-informed models of intervention that are trauma-informed and resiliency-informed—the Community Resiliency Model (CRM) and the Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM)—chapters distill complex neuroscience into understandable concepts and lay out a path for fostering short- and long-term healing.

CRM develops natural leaders who share wellness skills throughout communities as primary prevention, and TRM focuses on training mental health professionals to reprocess traumatic experiences.

Studies have demonstrated that the models' use leads to significant reductions in depression and anxiety, and both models also increase well-being. The models restore balance after traumatic experiences and can be used as tools to cultivate well-being across cultures and abilities throughout the lifespan.

In this episode, Dr. Clarissa Castillo-Ramsey shares her work as the Creative Voice + Community Connections Director for ALTA Arts Collective, a volunteer-led organization of artists, educators, and community leaders dedicated to providing opportunities for healing, expression, and togetherness in the wake of the #EatonFire.

🔊 Listen on…

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Clarissa is an Altadena resident since 2002, abstract artist, transformational life coach, and organizational psychologist, whose work centers on self-discovery, creativity, and wellness.

Through her company, Clarissa Ramsey Studio, Clarissa serves clients in groups, 1-on-1, and through her capstone online events. Her summits and programs, including Creative Care Summit, Painting Your Path™ to Self-Expression, and The Art of Becoming have helped over 4,500 creatives and professionals step into their full potential.

ALTA's mission is to build an inclusive and welcoming artistic community that values camaraderie, collaboration, and creativity. We believe in the power of art to connect people and enrich lives.

Clarissa helps lead projects such as the Community Canvas Project and Strong Through Art programs—initiatives that bring artists and the community together to rebuild, reconnect, and imagine new possibilities through the transformative power of creativity.