On Friday, April 4, Coastal Children’s Advocacy Center (CCAC) will host Stand Up. Speak Out. 2025. CCAC’s third annual child abuse awareness symposium, this event will feature informative presentations, open and honest discussions and a call to action to stand up and speak out against child abuse. 

“We are excited to present the Stand Up. Speak Out. Conference once again this year,” said Executive Director Rose Grant-Robinson, CCAC. “As we continue to grow the conference, we wish to foster conversations and a heightened understanding of the signs of child abuse and how it impacts both children and families.”

This year’s keynote speaker will be Kevin McNeil, presenting the topic "Summoned: Why This Is More Than Just a Job.” Using the metaphor of being summoned to court, retired detective McNeil will deliver a motivating and compelling keynote presentation to individuals that care for abuse victims. McNeil is a Victim Advocate, author and Founder/CEO of Kevin D. McNeil Consulting and the nonprofit The Twe12ve Project, Inc. These organizations serve as a bridge to educate the world on the effects of trauma and abuse upon individuals, families and communities. McNeil is a renowned speaker who shares lessons from his own life experiences that transform, motivate and inspire an individual’s mindset and potential.

After 20 years of service, McNeil retired from the DeKalb County Police Department of Georgia. He served eight years as a police officer and twelve years as a Special Victims Unit detective. His training and attention to detail helped him solve several high-profile serial rape cases in the Atlanta area. His mission is to “create communities where abuse and trauma survivors heal, thrive and succeed."

Kelly Kinnish, PhD, Director of the National Center on Child Trafficking in the School of Public Health at Georgia State University, will present "Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Youth: Recognizing Risk and Enhancing Resilience." This presentation will address strategies to better recognize vulnerable youth, understand the impacts of trauma and respond in ways to mitigate harm and promote resilience. Kinnish has over 30 years’ experience working with maltreated and at-risk children and families in clinical, research and administrative capacities with specific interest and expertise in child trauma and trafficking.

Vira Salzburn is a Ukrainian-American living in Savannah, Georgia and serving as the Executive Director of Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council. Salzburn’s presentation, “Mindfulness and Self-Compassion: Empowering Providers in Trauma Care,” will cover the evidence-based practice of Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), which uses guided exercises to foster resilience, emotional regulation and well-being in providers facing the demands of this critical work. Salzburn earned a Master of Science degree in Management, Organizational Behavior & Leadership from Troy University, a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree in Humanities from Auburn University at Montgomery and a graduate certificate in Topics in Human Behavior from Harvard University.

Stand Up. Speak Out. 2025 will be held from 8 a.m.– 2:30 p.m. on Friday, April 4 at the Armstrong Center, located at 13040 Abercorn Street in Savannah. Registration is $40 per person and is available at standupspeakoutccac.squarespace.com/register-now. A catered lunch is included. All Stand Up. Speak Out. attendees will receive a complimentary certificate of attendance, and continuing education credits (CEUs) are available for an additional fee.