Recorded at 2023 Paving the Way for Educational Success Conference, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Hear Rene Denfeld's inspiring journey as a teen experiencing homelessness, longtime foster and adoptive parent, author, speaker, justice worker, and keynote presenter at 2023 Paving the Way to Educational Success Conference. Her book, “The Butterfly Girl”, draws upon her own experiences as a young girl living on the streets and offers valuable insights on how to nurture healing and trauma in children. In this journey, Rene shares the impact that writing has had on her own healing and how it can heal trauma and spark hope for children experiencing homelessness and foster care Through her work and personal history, Rene serves as a beacon of hope, providing strategies and support to help children overcome adversity. Rene also gives us a sneak peek into her new book.

Please read the transcript.

Resources:

• Pennsylvania Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness at Center for Schools and Communities
• Rene Denfield
• Sign up for email updates

About Our Guest

Rene Denfeld is the author of the acclaimed novels The “Child Finder,” “The Enchanted,” “The Butterfly Girl,” and the forthcoming “Sleeping Giants.” Her literary thrillers explore themes of survival, resiliency, and redemption, and have earned glowing New York Times book reviews, and multiple prestigious literary awards. Margaret Atwood has proclaimed her work “astonishing” and called “The Butterfly Girl” a “heartbreaking, finger-gnawing, yet ultimately hopeful novel.” Rene was the chief investigator at a public defender’s office and has worked on hundreds of cases, including death row exonerations, and helped rape trafficking victims. In addition to her advocacy work, Rene has been a foster adoptive parent for more than 25 years. She was awarded the Break The Silence Award in Washington, D.C., for her social justice work. In 2017 the New York Times named her Hero of the Year. The child of a difficult history, Rene is an accomplished speaker who loves connecting with others. Rene lives in Portland, Oregon, where she is the happy mom of several children from foster care. “A glittering gem of a story — part mystery, part fairy tale, and all white-knuckled, edge-of-your-seat thriller…” – Library Journal, Starred Review.