Corry Higher Education Council

Presented by the Jefferson Educational Society - Turning Pain Into Purpose: Building a Movement for Authentic Wellness & Empowerment. Speaker: Dr. Curtis Lee Taylor.

America's mental health crisis is widely acknowledged. Less discussed is the growing strain within the mental health workforce itself. Burnout, supervision bottlenecks, financial pressures, and structural constraints are narrowing access to care at a time when demand continues to rise.

In this presentation, for his JES Raimy Fellows Program research project, Dr. Curtis Taylor explores a different framing: What if the core issue is not commitment—but capacity? Drawing from lived experience as a counselor, educator, and nonprofit founder, he examines how chronic stress narrows decision-making bandwidth over time and how systems can unintentionally reproduce burnout rather than prevent it.

Through the lens of Trauma-Informed Empowerment and the work of Authentic Wellness & Empowerment in Erie, this session outlines a practical, systems-level approach focused on building human capacity that lasts—for clients, clinicians, and communities alike.

JES Satellite Programming is sponsored by Erie Insurance.

The program will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, from 6p-7:30p at the Corry Hi-Ed. The program is free to attend, but registration is required by visiting www.jeserie.org/events or by calling 814-459-8000.