Hi, my name is Emma Palumbo. I am a gender fluid individual who goes by they/she and I am a current counselling intern with ATEN.

I am originally from so called Toronto and am a white settler on Turtle Island. I was raised in a large Italian family who immigrated to this land in the 1950’s. I was raised by many people in my family, but I spent a lot of time with my grandmother or Nonna who taught me many of the values I still hold today – compassion, empathy, generosity and mutual aid. I moved to Mi’kma’ki or Nova Scotia almost three years ago to begin a new chapter in my life – I lived on the North Shore, the Annapolis Valley and I now reside in Kjipuktuk, also know as Halifax and am currently completing my Master of Education in Counselling Psychology at Acadia University.

I have been engaged in social justice, community organizing and mutual aid for over half my life and I now enter this field of counselling from a place of learning and commitment to continued growth. I have a degree in social work with a background in food justice as well as peer grief counselling. I am a trauma survivor and I think that healing is an ongoing process that happens in relation to others and often in community. I am also a cook, a gardener, and a farmer - most of what I do in life is related to food and land.

I am passionate about sitting with others as a witness to their journey of moving through pain, grief, trauma, and challenges but also working together to imagine possibilities for joy, hope, resilience, strength and love. Stories are also important to me and a way that I make sense of myself and the world. Stories inform how I approach counselling practice and relationships.

Some of my interests include: cooking with and for others and sharing meals together, delivering cookies to anyone and everyone, uninhibited dancing, being in the woods, playing music (I play the bass!), listening to records, swimming and hanging out with my weird dog.

We are excited to announce our first online auction fundraiser happening December 5 - 12, 2021!

Our online auction will present original artworks from Nova Scotian artists featured in our 2022 Kindfulness Calendar, and donated arts and crafts, gift certificates, goods and services from local businesses and organizations. All funds raised from the auction will go toward ATEN operational expenses, and purchasing books and resources for clients.

The auction will run from December 5, 2021 at 11:59PM until December 12 at 11:59PM. To bid on an item, comment under the item description with a bid amount.

Items won can be picked up at the After Trauma Empowerment Network (date TBD). Or mailed for the cost of postage.

Click here to go to the ATEN Online Auction Fundraiser

We are gratefully overwhelmed with the support and generosity we have witnessed and received in donations for our first auction! 

We would like to wholeheartedly acknowledge and thank the following individuals and businesses who donated items to our auction. We could not have done this without your generosity and support!

Jane Fulton Harris
Lucella Langille (Avon)
Ultramar (Truro)
Stacy Veno (VENOluxe)
Chris Isenor
Becky Hines
Leanna MacLeod
Jennifer Hubley (MAM's Craft Jewerly)
Meagan Hubley (MAM's Craft Jewerly)
Nicola MacLean (Earth Elements Boutique)
Luke Boyd (Classified)
Juli Langille (Pure-n-Natural Bath & Body)
LeaAnn Julian
Shirley MacDonnell
Katelynne Cagliostro
Bob Richards
Patrick McWade
Lynne Smith
Paula Arensault
Margo Johnson
Danielle Lefort
Amanda Bent
Kevin Sibley
Leno's Stop Shop
Stephen Brake
Shawn Leonard
Sharon Findley-MacPhee
Regained Relics
Enfield Family Dental
Shubenacadie Wild Life Park
Wanda Farnell
East Hants Chiropratic Clinic
Rosalie Robinson
Crafty Owl
Joni Rutledge
Miller Concepts

2020-2021 – A Year in Review

· Provided counselling, support and services to 117 individuals
· Hosted Nova Scotia Strong Quilt Fundraiser
· Consulted with Nova Scotia Community Health Boards
· Received staff funding for one year from Federal Government
· Received project funding for MAAT (Music & Art After Trauma) from Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia
· Received over 330 signatures of support on petition
· Listed as resource on 211 and Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline
· Purchased eight Tablets for lending program with clients facing computer barriers
· Purchased gas cards for clients facing transportation/financial barriers
· Received donations from several community organizations and barriers for Christmas Gift baskets for four youth
· Lobbied government to officially proclaim Trauma Awareness Day on May 20 in Nova Scotia
· Provided counselling and support to individuals affected by the mass shooting in April 2020
· Developed and launched ATEN website
· Created ATEN YouTube channel
· Created ATEN Facebook and Twitter accounts
· Facilitated four presentations/workshops to over 200 people
· Provided tele-counselling and video counselling during Covid shut down times
· Became partner with Shuebnacadie Guardian Pharmacy Bloom Program
· Became a registered non-profit with Registry of Join Stocks Companies on September 8, 2020
· Facilitated weekly peer support group for women
· Facilitated weekly empowerment group for young girls who have experienced trauma, violence and abuse
Displayed African Queen Quilt at RBC Elmsdale for African History Month

We are excited to share with you that as of July 1, 2021 we will be located at 5 Mill Village Road, Shubenacadie Professional Building, Suite 205 (second floor). Contact info here.

We are sad to leave our "home base office" where it all began, and we will always hold a special place in our hearts for our little office. 

We would like to acknowledge and thank the following artists who took the time to create and donate a beautiful piece of artwork for our 2022 Kindfulness Calendar. We extend our sincerest gratitude for their valuable support and contribution to our first calendar fundraiser project.
​
Artist: Ben Mosher
Title: Try Trying Again

Name: Katelynne Cagliostro
Title: My Body is My Home

Name:  Bob Richards
Title: The Release

Name: Patrick McWade
Title: WRITE DANCE LAUGH LOVE

Name: Lynne Smith
Title: just breathe

Name: Margo Johnson 
Title: A Little Blue

Name: Diana O'Connell
Title: Memory From My Inner Child

Name: Danielle LeFort
Title: Strength

Name: Kevin Sibley
Title: Dark Cloud, Bright Sky

Name: Paula Arsenault
Title: birds sing

Name: Alissa Seymour
Title: Untitled

Name: Amanda Bent 
Title: Untitled

You can view the selected and donated artwork by visiting MAAT Session # 12 - June 16, 2021

We look forward to sharing our first Kindfulness Calendar with you in the Fall. 

We are thrilled to announce that Nova Scotia Premier Iain Rankin has officially proclaimed May 20, 2021 as Trauma Awareness Day in the province of Nova Scotia. This announcement is timely given the incredible difficulties faced by Nova Scotians over the past year due to COVID, the mass murder in April 2020 and other tragic events. We are Nova Scotia Strong!

Trauma Awareness Day is an opportunity to work together to raise awareness and help create environments where Nova Scotians can feel safe and empowered in their life, relationships, family and community.

​We welcome this opportunity to raise awareness and understanding about trauma. We will be hosting a special MAAT session on Thursday May 20th at 6pm (check our Facebook page for Zoom link) discussing trauma. If you would like to receive the Zoom link please send us an email at info@atenns.ca

​Click on the links below to learn more about:

• Trauma
• Trauma information sheet
• Empowerment
• Our services
• Resource links
• How to help/support someone
• Our YouTube channel
• Our contact info​

​The After Trauma Empowerment Network (ATEN) is a non-profit organization in Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia. Our mandate is to empower and improve the quality of life for individuals, families and communities affected by trauma through therapeutic counselling, emotional support, education and resources.
​
Our vision is: To improve the lives, well-being and functioning of individuals, families and communities affected by trauma so we can live in a world where individuals affected by trauma live an empowered life to reach their fullest potential.

​What we do:

• We provide our services and supports free of charge to all genders,
• We offer a Safe Space to all genders, backgrounds and cultures,
• 85% of our client base has experienced sexualized violence, trauma and abuse (including sexual trafficking and exploitation),
• We provide support and accompaniment to police, hospital and/or court,
• The age range for individuals accessing our services range from 13 to 74 years old,
• We offer a weekly youth group to vulnerable youth who have experienced trauma,
• We offer a weekly online discussion forum called MAAT (Music & Art After Trauma) where we discuss a topic relating to trauma, mental health and wellness combined with a music and/or art component,
• Individuals accessing our services and appointments has tripled over the past year,
• We provide educational presentations and capacity building sessions around trauma, mental health, wellness, healthy relationships, trauma-informed practices/care and more,
• We have a YouTube channel where we are building a database of video resources,
• We do not have any core funding from provincial or federal government for operational expenses (we are working on trying to establish this)

​What we need:

• As a result of outgrowing our current office space, we need to relocate to a larger office space which means our rent expense will increase,
• Since we do not have core funding for our operational expenses (rent, phone, internet, insurance, office supplies), we are making a plea to individuals, community members and businesses to help support us by making a financial donation,
• We are hoping to raise funds to assist with our operational expenses for one year (approximately $10 000)

 
With your kind and generous support, we can achieve this goal!
 
Please help and empower us so we can continue to empower others! We need your financial support and donation to allow us to continue to offer our essential service to individuals, families and communities.
 
Please help us spread the word and share this with your networks.

Much heartfelt thanks and gratitude!

Donations can be made on our Go Fund Me page
 
Email: info@atenns.ca
Facebook: After Trauma Empowerment Network (ATEN)
YouTube: After Trauma Empowerment Network (ATEN)

Announcement & Invitation

The After Trauma Empowerment Network (ATEN) is thrilled to announce that they will be hosting their FIRST online MAAT (Music & Art After Trauma) session on April 7th at 6pm via Zoom!

Project MAAT is a weekly online edutainment forum hosted by ATEN featuring education on trauma, mental health and other related topics combined with a music and/or art element.

The anticipated impact of this project is to make a positive difference in the lives of those individuals, families and communities living with the negative impact of trauma and mental illness.

Zoom meeting links will be posted on our Facebook page (After Trauma Empowerment Network (ATEN)). However, if you are interested in receiving the MAAT Zoom link each week via email, we invite you to please fill out the subscription form at the end of this message or send an email to info@atenns.ca with your name to be included on our email subscription list.

We are also seeking diverse artists (of various mediums) and musicians to join us for a guest appearance on MAAT. If you would be interested in joining us for a session, we invite you to contact us by email at info@atenns.ca with the subject line “Guest” along with your name, contact info and a little bit about yourself.

We would like to extend our thanks and gratitude to the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia for their generous funding and support for Project MAAT.

To learn more about ATEN visit www.atenns.ca.

We look forward to hearing from you.
​
Have an empowered day!

We are so excited to announce that ATEN was approved for full funding for Project MAAT (Music & Art After Trauma) by the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia!

We are overwhelmed with honor and excitement to have the support and trust from the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia in our ability to facilitate and succeed with this important project. We are immensely grateful to the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia staff and donors for making this possible and helping change the way people think.

Project MAAT is an hour-long online program hosted by Margaret Mauger and Vida Woodworth that features educational discussions about trauma, mental health and other related topics, combined with a music and art component.

MAAT was created to be an outlet, resource and support to individuals who have experienced trauma and for those who support them. We aim to offer a safe space for people to learn about sensitive and sometimes difficult topics while gaining the therapeutic benefits of music and art.

​More details to come...