Please note: From May 2012 through June 2022, the Institute sought to provide resourcing to leaders and organizations experiencing forms of collective trauma. This website serves as a historical mark, is no longer being updated, and the following resources and links may become outdated for any reason at any point. ​

​Press Room

Mourners Unite at Vigil to Remember Victims of Conception Dive Boat Disaster
September 6, 2019
The 34 victims of the Conception commercial dive boat fire were remembered Friday evening at a vigil near the Santa Barbara waterfront...
Healing the Healers Film Series Targets Community Trauma Workers
May 30, 2019
In an initial screening on May 28, ICTG and the Gaede Institute brought together faith and community leaders representing neighborhoods and organizations impacted by the Thomas Fire, Montecito debris flow, Hill and Woolsey fires, Borderline Bar shooting, and Las Vegas/Rt 91 concert shooting...
North County hotels offer discounts to evacuees
February 13, 2019
Evacuating is, of course, stressful, but it can also be incredibly expensive, according to Kate Wiebe, executive director of the Institute of Collective Trauma and Growth in Santa Barbara...
Raising Our Light: An Evening Of Remembrance in Montecito
January 9, 2019
An emotional ceremony took place in Montecito on the anniversary of the mudslide that killed 23 people and destroyed homes and flooded the 101 freeway on January 9, 2018...
Raising Our Light: An Evening Of Remembrance in Montecito
January 9, 2019
On Wednesday, January 9th, 2019 from 6:30-8:30 pm, all community members are invited to a walk of remembrance starting at Lower Manning Park with a short program leading into a candlelit processional down San Ysidro Road...
A Love of the Sea and a Community Bond, Honoring the Victims of the Conception Dive Boat Tragedy
September 6, 2019
A somber week in Santa Barbara culminating with a vigil Friday night at Chase Palm Park, as the community comes together to grieve...
Gayle D. Beebe will present Westmont medal to Rev. Dr. Katherine Wiebe
April 16, 2019
College president Gayle D. Beebe will present Westmont medals to Rev. Dr. Katherine Wiebe and Lindsay and Laurie Parton... 
Recovery and healing: Supporting congregations after trauma
February 4, 2019
When the walls come crashing in – the awful day of the tornado, the flood, the accident, the shooting – at first everyone surges into overdrive, into survival mode. Then comes everything else... 
Huge Turnout as Community Marks Anniversary of Jan. 9 Debris Flows in Montecito
January 9, 2019
Candlelight march, bells ceremony and music part of remembering devastating event and 23 who lost their lives...
KSBY Covers Raising Our Light
January 9, 2019
KSBY Covers Raising Our Light
January 9, 2019
ICTG Welcomes Renee Carmichael as Communications Director
July 29, 2019
Nonprofit leaders are always on the lookout for those remarkable individuals who don’t just share... 
Special honors during Women's History Month in Santa Barbara County
March 19, 2019
Special honors have been handed out to outstanding women in Santa Barbara County. As part of Women's History Month, each supervisorial district...
Montecito Remembers 1/9 with Candlelit Procession
January 9, 2019
A year ago last night, Montecito was crushed. The community had lost loved ones, friends, neighbors, pets, and homes. Last night, on the one-year anniversary of the deadly debris flow, Montecito showed it had not lost hope. More than a thousand people of all ages filled Lower Manning Park...
KCAL 9 Covers Raising Our Light
January 9, 2019
KCOY 9 Covers Raising Our Light
January 9, 2019
KTLA Covers Raising Our Light
January 9, 2019
KSBY Covers Raising Our Light
January 9, 2019

2018

Marvel Hitson Joins ICTG as Trauma Chaplain
March 20, 2018
ICTG welcomes Marvel Hitson to the team to serve as Trauma Chaplain. Marvel brings nearly twenty years of chaplaincy and multilingual grief counseling experience...
Community Forms Long-Term Recovery Team; Group to address ongoing, evolving needs in Montecito
A new community-based volunteer group has been formed to provide ongoing support and assistance...
ICTG Rebrands and Continues to Expand
April 30, 2018
ICTG is rebranding and expanding in recognition of its focus on whole community care and support to leaders of all kinds...
Cottage Health, Santa Barbara Mission Help Community Take First Steps to Post-Disaster Healing
February 24, 2018
With the community still reeling from the twin blows of the Thomas Fire and the deadly Montecito flash flooding and mudflows, Cottage Health and the Santa Barbara Mission hosted a forum Saturday to provide tools and guidance...

2017

Presbyterian churches in Ventura California face new wildfire threats
December 6, 2017
Wildfires are raging again in parts of California leaving more than 45,000 acres burned, destroying homes and forcing major evacuations. Apartment complexes, homes and a hospital are among the structures in the path of the fast-moving flames. “It’s obviously in the very early stages right now and there is little containment of the fire,” said Katie Wiebe...
Crossing the Aisle to Teach Healing in Response to Trauma
January 25, 2017
ICTG Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Kate Wiebe shares some insights to the critical work and support she offers congregation leaders dealing with crisis and about the importance of community and “crossing the aisle” to work together in the wake of disaster and trauma...
How Coming Together to Sing Fosters Community
August 31, 2017
After addressing the press and the American people on one of the darkest days in United States history, Sept. 11, 2001, Congress showed a rare expression of unity when it spontaneously burst into “God Bless America” on the steps of the Capitol...
ICTG Welcomes Melissa Marley Bonnichsen to the Board of Directors
January 25, 2017
ICTG welcomes Melissa Marley Bonnichsen, Director of Social Concerns Seminars at University of Notre Dame’s Center for Social Concerns, to the Board of Directors...
Anabaptist Vision and Discipleship Series Equips Participants with Tools and Responses for Trauma and Recovery
February 20, 2017
“The unthinkable does happen to us and to our families and to those around us.”
These were some of the opening words of Hesston College’s interim president, Ben Sprunger, at the kick off session for the annual Anabaptist Vision and Discipleship Series (AVDS) conference hosted on the Hesston College campus...
ICTG Welcomes Dave Ardell as Treasurer and Newest Board Member
January 25, 2017
The ICTG team welcomes Dave Ardell as Treasurer and newest member of the Board of Directors...

2016

Anabaptist Conference to Focus on Resilience and Healing, featuring ICTG Dir. Kate Wiebe
December 19, 2016
A Hesston College conference will tackle the difficult and painful reality of dealing with trauma in its many forms in church and community settings... 
Local SB nonprofit becomes member of National VOAD
May 26, 2016
Institute for Congregational Trauma and Growth (ICTG) has been named an official member of National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD)...
​Seminar Provides Advice on Violence, Trauma
Featured speaker Kate Wiebe, executive director of the Institute for Congregational Trauma and Growth, said that it could be important to give kids an avenue to let off some steam...
John Tucker Joins the ICTG Board of Directors
November 10, 2016
John Tucker, Vice President and Investment Consultant for First National Bank, joins ICTG’s Board of Directors. John brings over a decade of emergency response experience, including twelve years as Fire Chief of the Altavista Fire Company...
ICTG becomes member of National VOAD
May 26, 2016
Institute for Congregational Trauma and Growth (ICTG) has been named an official member of National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD)...
ICTG Appoints Harvey Howell as Senior Advisor for Congregations, FEMA, and VOAD Relations
May 2, 2016
ICTG Appoints Harvey Howell as Senior Advisor for Congregations, FEMA, and VOAD Relations...
Red Cross Names ICTG Board Director Rev. Canon Mort Ward Advisor of Disaster Spiritual Care for Central California​
May 9, 2016
Red Cross has named ICTG Board Director Rev. Canon Mort Ward as Advisor of Disaster Spiritual Care (DSC) for Central California...
Natural Disasters and Their Impact on Children
For children and youth, disasters can take both an emotional and a physical toll, different from how those disasters would affect adults. Young people are not “mini-adults” and their emotional development..