Thistle Farms 2- Day Education Workshop: August 18-19, 2025

Welcome to the Circle!

In response to increasing demand to share more information about our housing-first community and social enterprise model, Thistle Farms is now offering a handful of expanded two day workshops. These extended immersion days will offer the ability to learn about the residential program, the social enterprise, or both. With the ability to devote more time to important details and relationship building we hope to better serve women around the world. For those wanting to replicate our model, or just dive deeper into the nuts and bolts, the workshops offer a forum for sharing best practices for organizations to help women recover and heal from trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. Participants will join our morning meditation circle, tour the facility, meet the staff, participate in a Q&A with our program team, and hear from our founder Becca Stevens and CEO Tasha Kennard.

DAY 1 Residential - Monday

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Registration & Breakfast

9:00 AM - 9:30 AM Welcome & Meditation

9:30 AM - 10:15 AM Founder Overview - Becca Stevens

10:15 AM - 10:45 AM Break with Becca

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Residential Tour

12:15 PM - 1:00 PM Lunch

1:00 PM - 1:45 PM Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) - Carmen Elkins

1:45 PM - 2:45 PM Residential Overview - Shelia Simpkins

3:00 PM- 3:45 PM Workforce Development - Holli Anglin & Amalia Gawlikowski

3:45 PM - 4:00 PM Q&A - Dismissal

DAY 2 Justice Enterprise - Tuesday

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM CEO Overview/Board Development - Tasha Kennard

10:30 AM- 11:05 AM CFO Overview - Scott Ryder

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM Body and Home Tour

12:15 PM - 1:00 PM Lunch

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM People & Culture – Courtney Sobieralski

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM Development - Claire Coleman

3:00 PM - 3:45 PM The Art of Storytelling - Amanda Clelland

3:45 PM - 4:00 PM Q&A/ Group Photo/ Dismissal

Preparing for the Workshop:

Prior to your visit, we encourage you to read the following books:

1) Want to take notes in a Love Heals journal? Select yours here. The journals are leather with Love Heals stamped on the front. They are made by women in Honduras from Thistle Farms Global partner Mission Lazarus.

2) , written collaboratively by Becca Stevens and the community of Thistle Farms, includes 24 spiritual principles for healing that are the foundation of the organization.

3) , written by Becca Stevens, weaves together the beginnings of Thistle Farms with stories from her own journey as well as 20 women in the community. Becca tells how the women she began helping 20 years ago have been the biggest source of her own healing.

4. - written by Becca Stevens, In Love Heals, you'll find principles that have transformed lives. Drawn from the Christian tradition and Becca Steven's work as an Episcopal priest for the past 30 years, each chapter brings encouragement and practical steps for anyone going through a difficult season or searching for a deeper faith.

Both books are available for sale at thistlefarms.org.

NEARBY ACCOMMODATIONS:

1808 West End Avenue Nashville, TN 37203(615) 340-9333

5612 Lenox Avenue Nashville, TN 372091-888-465-4329

2613 West End Avenue Nashville, TN 37203(615) 327-4707

1811 Broadway Nashville, TN 37203(615) 320-8899

1008 19th Avenue South Nashville, TN 37212(615) 340-7500

CANCELLATION and REFUND POLICY: A full refund is available until t7 days prior to the workshop. After that date, all registration fees are non-refundable as we will have finalized our headcount for catering and materials.

Host or Publisher Thistle Farms