FOS11 Speaks Out

Families of September 11 (FOS11) Board members and staff are available to speak on a variety of topics related to 9/11 and its aftermath. These include: civic involvement and advocacy, mental health and public trauma, children's recovery and resiliency, and memorializing 9/11. Through participation in conferences, speaking engagements, and panels as well as interaction with members of the media, FOS11 leaders seek to support victims of terror as well as initiatives which may slow or stop the spread of terrorism and improve security.

FOS11 Board members have testified at Congressional hearings on subjects ranging from mental health and trauma to the 9/11 Commission and its recommendations and have participated in conferences and panel discussions on school curriculum and memorializing 9/11. FOS11 cosponsored a series of town hall meetings, entitled Hope Not Hate, at universities across the country exploring the subject of relations between the U.S. and the Muslim community. Our speakers are also experienced and articulate representatives to the media.

The organization has been recognized for its advocacy, most recently as recipients of the Civil Justice Foundation's 2004 "Community Champion Award" and the Search for Common Ground's 2005 "Award for International Understanding."

If you are interested in scheduling an interview and/or having a representative from FOS11 participate in an event, please call (212) 575-1878 or email info@familiesofseptember11.org.

Don Goodrich, FOS11 Board Chairman

Topics:

Victim Compensation Fund, Victims' Rights, 9/11 Commission, International Outreach

Background:

International Commission of Jurists Testimony Law Interview about VCF Final Report of the Families of September 11 on the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund of 2001, Coauthor Testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee Meeting on the 9/11 Recommendations FOS11 Open Letter to Republican National and Democratic National Committees Regarding Symbols of September 11 Afghanistan School Project, Sponsor Testimony before the House Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations, Committee on Government Reform

Carie Lemack, FOS11 President

Topics:	Public Policy, 9/11 Commission, Media Treatment of September 11, Civic Involvement in National Security, Safety and Preparedness Reforms
Awards:	The MetroWest Daily News Woman of the Year, 2004
Background:	Family Steering Committee, Member Hope Not Hate, Panelist Radio and Television News Director's Association Annual Meeting 2003, Speaker Forum: After Intelligence Reform (Harvard University), Panelist Protecting Our Security and Our Rights: Privacy and Civil Liberties Under the 9/11 Commission Legislation, Speaker Testimony to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, "Ensuring Full Implementation of the 9/11 Commission’s Recommendations" Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Hearing Transportation Security Administration Federal Security Director 2006 conference, Keynote Speaker Canadian Air Transport Security Authority “Sharing the Vision” Tour 2006, Participant

Elinor L. Stout, FOS11 Secretary

Topics:	9/11 Commission Recommendations, International Outreach, Understanding and Cooperation
Background:	Hope Note Hate, Panelist "For Bereaved Mother, World is a Bigger Place", Boston Globe article

Donna A. Gaffney, APRN, BC, DNSc, FAAN, FOS11 Advisory Board Member

Topics:	Trauma and traumatic loss, grief and bereavement, disaster and disaster mental health, support groups for children and teens, media and children
Awards:	Prudential Fellowship for Children and The News at the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University Fellow, Annie B. Casey Center for Children and families, School of Journalism, University of Maryland, MD, Mapping the Maze of Children's Health Fellow, American Academy of Nursing
Background:	Teaching positions at Columbia University, Seton Hall University and the International Trauma Studies Program, Advisory Board Good Grief, Summit, NJ. Author: The Seasons of Grief, Helping Children Grow Through Loss, 911: The Book of Help: A Guide for Parents and Professionals. Chicago: Cricket Publications. Gaffney, D: Families, Schools and Disaster: The mental health consequences of catastrophic events. Journal of family and community health. Winter 2007-2008. Gaffney, D: Healing Children after September 11: The Impact of Traumatic Loss  (Spring, 2007) Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy. Online Journal. Gaffney, D: The Aftermath of Disaster: Children in Crisis. Journal of Clinical Psychology/In Session. 62, 8. 1001-1016. Gaffney, D: Science Centers as Sanctuary. Journal of Museum Education. Association of Science-Technology Centers, Washington, DC. Gaffney, D: Interviewing Children, How to Capture Their Words and Tell Their Stories. The Children's Beat, Reporting on Social Issues in America. Adelphi, MD: Casey Journalism Center for Children and Families, University of Maryland College of Journalism. Gaffney, D: (1997) Interviewing Children, A Guide for Journalists. Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism Website.

David B. Edwards, FOS11 Director

Topics:	Afghan history, religion and culture
Awards:	National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship Andrew Mellon Foundation Fellowship National Science Foundation Fellowship Fulbright Fellow 2002 Carnegie Scholar by the Carnegie Corporation of New York
Background:	Carl W. Vogt '58 Professor of Anthropology at Williams College Director of the Williams Afghan Media Project Author: Before Taliban: Genealogies of the Afghan Jihad, University of California Press, 2002 Author: Heroes of the Age: Moral Fault Lines on the Afghan Frontier, University of California Press, 1996 co-director and producer of the film, Kabul Transit

MaryEllen Salamone, FOS11 Advisory Board Member

Topics:	Media Coverage of 9/11, Children and 9/11, School Preparedness and Response
Background:	Teaching 9/11, Judge for "Best Practices in Education" Award FOS11 Statement 9/11 Media Coverage in 2005 -- January 12, 2005 FOS11 Open Letter to Schools -- September 6, 2005 NJ Governor's Council on Emergency Response and Trauma Preparedness, Member

David J. Schonfeld, MD, FOS11 Advisory Board Member

Topics:	Pediatric Bereavement, School Crisis Preparedness and Response, Supporting Children and Families in Times of Crisis, Talking with Children About Death and Serious Illness, Memorialization and Commemoration
Awards:	FIRST Award, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Martha F. Leonard Child Advocate Award of the Hezekiah Beardsley Connecticut Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics Appointed to National Children's Study Advisory Committee NICHD E. Maurice Wakeman Award of the Hezekiah Beardsley Connecticut Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics Special Achievement Award of the American Academy of Pediatrics (for Distinguished Service and Dedication to the Mission of the Academy)
Background:	National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Director American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) national Task Force on Terrorism from 2001-2004, Member Committee on Pediatric Research for the American Academy of Pediatrics, Chair Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, President Presentation at Peds 21: Pediatrics for the 21st Century: Disaster Preparedness, Response and Recovery Issues for Children and Pediatricians; Meet-the-Expert session; and Interactive group forum session, 2006 National Conference and Exhibition, American Academy of Pediatrics, Atlanta, GA – October 06 Foltin GL, Schonfeld DJ, Shannon, MW, editors.  Pediatric Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness:  A Resource for pediatricians.  AHRQ Publication No. 06-0056-EF.  Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.  October 2006. Schonfeld D, Lichtenstein R, Pruett MK, Speese-Linehan D: How to Prepare for and Respond to a Crisis (2nd edition).  Alexandria, VA, ASCD, 2002. Schonfeld D:  Helping children deal with terrorism.  In Osborn L, DeWitt T, First L, and Zenel J (eds.):  Pediatrics.  Philadelphia, PA, Elsevier Mosby, 2005, pp. 1600-1602. Schonfeld D: Are we ready and willing to address the mental health needs of children? Implications from September 11th. Pediatrics 2004;113(5; part 1):1400-1. Schonfeld D: Supporting children after terrorist events: Potential roles for pediatricians. Pediatric Annals 2003; 32:3:182-187. Schonfeld D: Supporting adolescents in times of national crisis: potential roles for adolescent healthcare providers. Journal of Adolescent Health 2002;30:302-307.

Nikki Stern, Early FOS11 Board Member and Executive Director 2004 - 2005

Topics:

Communications consultant, conflict resolution, international issues

Background:

Author of 1womansvu: collection of essays and writings at 1womansvu Participated in Club de Madrid's international conference on "Democracy, Terrorism and Security" Member of the working group on citizens and democracy at "Terrorism, Security and America's Purpose," sponsored by the New America Foundation Panelist on "America's Role in the World," conference at Pace University in New York, "Aftershock" Presented at the symposium co-sponsored by the New School University and the Center of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona comparing the impacts of the attacks 9/11 and 3/11 and in Barcelona on "America's Image in the World"