When a parent goes to prison the child is left behind to mourn the dream of a different life. With more than 2.7 million children living with a parent in prison Dr. Nicole Ausmer wants to create a space for them to heal and grieve the loss of a parent. Children of incarcerated parents have unique social and emotional needs and they are an after thought in society. It is time to make a change. Kupona! Learn more: https://nicoleausmer.wixsite.com/nico... Hailing from Lorain, Ohio, Dr. Nicole Ausmer currently works in Higher Education. She is a 3-time graduate of the University of Cincinnati with degrees in Psychology and Education. An aspiring author and co-owner of Alex and Aus Apparel Company, Nicole considers herself a creative. In the fall of 2018 she launched her stage show Mommin' Ain't Easy Cincy that allowed women to share stories of love, laughter, trials, and tribulations when it comes to motherhood. The success of her stage show inspired Nicole to pursue her current project. Nicole is working on a book about the effects of parental incarceration on children and a non-profit called Kupona Kids. Kupona means to recover in Swahili. Nicole wants to provide a space of healing for children who experienced childhood trauma from the stigma associated with a parent in prison. Nicole is the wife of Lionell Ausmer Jr. and the mom of Avery and Jackson. To learn more about Nicole visit: https://nicoleausmer.wixsite.com/nico... This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx