meet kristen
about me
Welcome!
I’m a solo momma who grew my family through adoption from the foster system. I have a 27-year-old son from my previous marriage—a University of Oregon graduate with meaningful, grown-up work in San Francisco—and my two adopted young kings, biological brothers, who are 21 and 20 (a senior at UC San Diego and finishing HS). I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that my dream is to have more than six inches of space on my enormous bed that isn’t taken over by the three dogs.
Living in Northern California (which includes being a die-hard 49ers, Giants and Warriors fan) and working full-time from home as a non-profit executive, I felt the call to establish a voice around trauma, race, adoption, and parenting, all grounded in my faith.
This work gave birth to a consulting practice that partners with nonprofits addressing childhood trauma and its lasting impact, with a strong commitment to trauma-informed approaches that avoid re-traumatization. (You can learn more by visiting the “Understanding Childhood Trauma” section on my homepage.)
This year, this work was rebranded as The Forged Resilience Lab, a space devoted to cultivating resilience and equity in nonprofit leadership. The new site offers support for nonprofit start-ups, helping emerging organizations build strong, mission-driven foundations. While this work centers on serving nonprofits, it has also deepened my calling to engage more directly with issues of race, particularly the white church’s role in and response to social justice.
about my work
I work with churches, leaders, and women who are wrestling with the tension
between the faith they’ve inherited and the Jesus they want to follow.
In this pivotal cultural moment, many Christian communities sense that discipleship
can no longer remain private, polite, or disconnected from harm, history, and justice,
yet they’re unsure how to move forward without fear, division, or burnout.
My work lives in that space.
Through speaking, teaching, guided conversation, and formation,
I walk alongside communities as they learn to face what has been avoided,
practice honest lament, listen with courage, and pursue repair and reconciliation
rooted in the life and way of Jesus.
This work is not about preserving comfort or managing appearances;
it is about forming people and communities with the
spiritual depth, moral clarity, and courage required for this moment.
the educational deets
School
- Wheaton College — Wheaton, IL B.S. Physical Education/teaching
- San Diego State University —San Diego, CA Masters in Marriage & Family Counseling
- Northeastern University — Rochester, NY (online) Masters in Theology and Social Justice (graduation: May 2026)
Other Relevant Training
- ACEs Overcomer Facilitator
- Diversity Initiative Trainer
- Ethnicity, Justice and People of God training (Esau McCauley/N.T. Wright)
- Implicit Bias Trainer (Religion & Race, United Methodist Church)
- Leading and Coaching Others course
- Mental Health Coach First Responder
- Transformational Life Coach (accredited)
- Trauma Knowledge Masterclass
- What Lies Between Us – steps in Racial Healing (Brownicity)
And if you are still here,
enjoy the pet round-up and constant animal supervision which include:
- Scamp — 11-year-old brindle pup (an addition when son #2 moved in)
- Bandit — 4 year-old husky, lab pup (the “no, we are not getting another dog” addition to the family)
- Athena – 3 year-old German Shepard (the “I have definitely lost my mind” addition)
- Charmander and Brock — resident hunters, chronic meowers, and twin orange tabbies (another “no we are not getting cats” until I saw one too many mice/rats in the garage)
mission, vision and values
Mission:
I help Christian women who are wrestling with justice and faith to engage hard questions with courage and clarity so that they can follow Jesus more fully, without abandoning their community or their convictions.
Vision:
A world where Christians live out justice as a core expression of faith—where no one is marginalized by those who claim Christ, and where women step boldly into their role as advocates for love, equity, and truth.
Values:
Authenticity
I believe in showing up as your true self, no need for pretenders
Courage
I believe that stepping out of our comfort zones is the way to move forward
Humility
I believe that we all have more to learn
Inclusion
I believe there is room at the table for everyone. Come as you are. You will be loved.
Relationship
I believe it is only through relationships can we learn to understand one another’s story
Resilience
I believe that our past does not need to define us and that healing is possible
Truth
I believe Jesus is the truth
Kristen Annette Brock acknowledges that we work
and live on the traditional land of the Coastal Miwoks.
To know whose land you are inhabiting just text your zip code or your city and state (separated by a comma)
to (907) 312-5085 and the bot will respond with the names of the Native lands that correspond to that region.
(The service currently only works for US residents, but may be available for other countries in the future.)