Methodist Children’s Home was honored to host the revived Willson-Johnson Lecture Series in conjunction with the 2025 Coalition of Residential Excellence (CORE) National Conference, held October 21–23 in Waco. The three-day event brought together professionals from across the nation who share a commitment to best practices in residential care and family services.
Attendees heard from keynote speakers Dr. Robert Anda, co-founder and co-principal investigator of the landmark Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Study, and Shenandoah Chefalo, founder and lead strategist for Chefalo Consulting. The conference featured dynamic workshops, thoughtful panel discussions and opportunities for collaboration among leaders in the field.
Trey Oakley, MCH president and CEO, reflected on the experience, saying, “Hosting this event allowed us to celebrate the deep history of MCH while also learning from today’s leading voices in child and family care. The energy and sense of purpose throughout the week reminded us why this work matters so much.”
Brooke Davilla, vice president for organizational effectiveness, added, “It was inspiring to see professionals from across the country gather to share ideas and build relationships. The conversations that began here will continue to shape our collective efforts to strengthen families and communities.”
The conference also included moments of celebration, including recognition of MCH Board Chair and alumnus Les Leskoven with the Lifetime Achievement Award and Houseparents of the Year awarded to Scott and Jennette Stanley at the annual Catherine Hershey Awards.
Find more photos and videos from these events at MCH.org/wjlectureseriesandcore.
Thank You to Our Title & Live Oak Sponsors
Leave a Reply