Neurodiversity Awareness for Christian Leaders – Jan. 25

About The Event:

Diverse Minds in One Body: Neurodiversity Awareness and Tools for Christian Leaders

Facilitated by Gaetano Mazzuca

Given the importance of opening our church doors to all, it is crucial for faith communities like ours to embrace and accommodate individuals with neurocomplexities. We must be intentional in ensuring that they feel welcome, valued, and supported in their spiritual journeys. Social norms, which are intended to create a warm and welcoming environment, can sometimes create an exhausting or even physically distressing atmosphere for the neurodivergent. With higher rates of depression, anxiety, fear, and loneliness among this community, they need Christ and His church—but often struggle to find their place within it. This presentation-style workshop is intended to be an equipping time – with practical toolkits on how to empower greeting volunteers, staff, and pastors in supporting neurodivergent congregants and guests.

January 25, 2025, (9am-12pm) Event # 16267

$25        Registration deadline: January 21, 2025

Gaetano Mazzuca is a sought-after speaker on the topic of neurodiversity in the workplace and designing environments that are inclusive of neurodiverse peoples. His experience and training is not as psychologist, but in building the bridges between neurotypical (“normal”) society and those that struggle to connect in. Gaetano himself is autistic and shares what a lifetime of experience of being in the church, in the office, in society as an neurocomplex person means. He creates safe spaces to ask questions without shame or blame, or concern about offense – it’s about the dialogue to help us all move forward and for those that cannot speak easily.