Hope Starts Here 2023

Event Agenda
Saturday, November 18, 2023

9:00-10:00 AM – Check In

• Welcome food and beverages

• Visit local resource and vendor/activity tables

10:00 AM - ​WELCOME

Barb Smith, Executive Director of the Barb Smith Suicide Resource & Response Network

10:30 AM - PANEL OF HOPE
A panel of survivors of suicide loss share their grief journey and some experiences that were helpful and others that were not so helpful.

11:30 AM - ART ACTIVITIES

12:00 PM - LUNCH PROVIDED ON SITE

1:00 PM - KEYNOTE SPEAKERKevin Briggs and Kevin Berthia

Our guest speakers Kevin Briggs and Kevin Berthia are traveling from California.  The duo will share their lived experiences leaving participants with a better understanding of the "why" of suicide.

Kevin Briggs was the Guardian (police officer) of the Golden Gate Bridge that helped move people from a place of hopelessness to a place of safety. Kevin’s quote, “sometimes the longest journey we can take is just 18 inches...from our head to our heart.”  Kevin Berthia is a young man who survived a near attempt as Kevin Briggs spent 92 minutes talking to Berthia as he stood on the ledge of the bridge. He will share his perspective from a person who struggles with thoughts of suicide.

2:00 PM - CLOSING CEREMONIES – Barb Smith