NEW BRITAIN - The Ana Grace Project recently held its largest professional development conference to date, for the Consolidated School District of New Britain. Roughly 1,200 staff members of the Consolidated School District, 100 staff members from Klingberg Family Centers, and invited community guests attended the conference led and organized by The Ana Grace Project on Tuesday, November 8.More information is at .anagraceproject.org

The Ana Grace Project is a nonprofit led by Nelba Mérquez-Greene, mother of Ana Grace, who was murdered in the Sandy Hook School tragedy.

The collaborative conference was the result of a partnership among Consolidated School District of New Britain, The Ana Grace Project, the Safe Schools and Healthy Students Grant, and Klingberg Family Centers, according to a release from the Ana Grace Project.

The conference focused on the social and emotional development of children for the prevention of violence and healthy living. Two world-renowned speakers - Bruce Perry, MD, PhD, author of The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog, and Dr Stuart Ablon, developer of Think:Kids, a collaborative problem solving approach - delivered the message to the teachers and administrators in attendance. Dr Perry, of the ChildTrauma Academy in Houston, discussed trauma, its impact on the brain and how positive school relationships can change the life of a student, according to the release. The afternoon session focused on rethinking challenging students. Dr Ablon, from Massachusetts General Hospital, led the discussion.

Ms Mérquez-Greene said the Ana Grace Project has created a partnership with the Consolidated School District of New Britain, which has a Safe Schools and Healthy Students initiative through a Department of Education grant, which Ms Mérquez-Greene says enables the district to support the work of the Ana Grace Project in a way that honors Ana.

"It was amazing. It couldn't have gone any better," said Ms Mérquez-Greene, following the event.

Consolidated School District of New Britain Superintendent of Schools Nancy Sarra welcomed all to the event. Ms Mérquez-Greene's husband, Jimmy Greene, a saxophonist and 2015 Grammy nominee, then performed. His performance, Ms Mérquez-Greene said, "brought the focus back to how we all got there."

The event was also "forward focused," she said, sharing information on interventions teachers can use to help themselves and their students.

Other moments during the conference included an "attitude of gratitude" period that had student letters shared to highlight "how awesome" their educators are, the Ana Grace Project donating to support a local New Britain family, and an announcement that the Bacon family was donating copies of the Good Dogs, Great Listeners, The Story of Charlotte, Lily and the Litter and the book The Dogs of Newtown to New Britain first graders and second graders, respectively. Charlotte Bacon was also among the children killed at Sandy Hook School.

Ms Mérquez-Greene said the day felt like a celebration of Ana's spirit and a celebration of learning. "It was just beautiful," she said.

A crew from 60 Minutes also attended and filmed portions of the day to include in future coverage on Newtown families, according to Ms Mérquez-Greene.

At one moment during the day's presentations, Ms Mérquez-Greene and Mr Greene went to the back of the audience and took in all of the presentation. Ms Mérquez-Greene said it was a surreal moment when she felt everything they had set out to achieve with the Ana Grace Project happened. The original goal, she said, was to honor God, remember Ana, and be good role models for their son.

"We heard nothing but positive feedback from those that came," said Ms Mérquez-Greene.

Participants were given copies of a poster "180 Ways That Love Wins At School" created by Newtown Middle School seventh grade Jeremy Voegeli. Since the presentation, Ms Mérquez-Greene said she has received feedback, sometimes in the form of photos, of people hanging the posters.

Ms Mérquez-Greene also said the Ana Grace Project welcomes support.