Pause with Purpose

September 17, 2026

7:30am – 1:00pm
Monroeville Convention Center

Join Staunton Farm Foundation for Pause with Purpose, a restorative half-day designed for the dedicated staff of our nonprofit grantee partners across our 10-county region.

Step away from the demands of the day and make space to recharge, reconnect, and refocus. Enjoy yoga, a sound bath, massage therapy, health screenings, financial guidance, resource tables, and other opportunities designed to support the people who spend their days supporting others.

Event Agenda

  • 7:30am – Yoga* (45 minutes)
  • 8:00am – Registration and Continental breakfast
  • 9:00am – Welcome and Introduction to Keynote presented by Monique Jackson, Executive Director, Staunton Farm Foundation.
  • 9:10am – Keynote: Sustaining the Provider: Compassion Fatigue & Workforce Retention presented by Sharise Nance, LCSW, CCTP, Vitamin C Healing Consulting & Training Services.
  • 10:45am – Wellness Fair featuring health screenings, financial resources, and more.
    • Sound Bath Session 1*: 10:45-11:30 (45 minutes)
    • Sound Bath Session 2*: 11:45-12:30 (45 minutes)
  • 11:00am – FULL: Financial Planning Breakout Session (45-minutes)
  • 11:30am-12:45pm – Lunch
  • 12:45pm – Closing by Monique Jackson, Executive Director, Staunton Farm Foundation.

*A quick note before you arrive: If you plan to participate in yoga or the sound bath, please bring a yoga mat and a towel or blanket for your comfort. Mats, towels, and blankets will not be provided on-site.

Please note: Space is limited for this event. If you register and later need to cancel, please email office@stauntonfarm.org so we can make the spot available.

Register online

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The Things We Get Used To

Lately, I’ve been thinking about what we get used to.

Not because it’s healthy—but because it’s familiar.

We get used to carrying heavy caseloads. We get used to interrupted lunches, difficult conversations, staffing shortages, and constant change. We get used to answering “How are you?” with “I’m fine,” even when we’re running on empty.

Over time, what once felt overwhelming simply starts to feel… normal.

And that’s what concerns me.

When stress becomes familiar, we stop questioning it. We begin to believe that feeling emotionally exhausted is just part of doing meaningful work. We tell ourselves we’ll slow down after this project, after this crisis, after things settle down.

But what if they never do?

One of the questions I’ll be asking during my keynote at Staunton Farm Foundation’s Pause with Purpose provider conference is this:

What have you gotten used to that deserves another look?

Not every challenge can be eliminated. The work we do will always ask something of us. But there is a difference between doing demanding work and believing we must sacrifice ourselves to do it well.

I’m looking forward to spending time with providers from across our region as we explore practical ways to recognize compassion fatigue, navigate stress more intentionally, and find healthier, more sustainable ways to carry the work.

I hope you’ll join me.

Sharise Nance, LCSW | CCTP