In this session, author April Day Garcia introduces the healing framework behind her memoir The Room to Be Brave, a framework that grew out of both her recovery journey and a lifetime of  finding refuge in libraries and books. 

April explores the idea that we all carry “rooms” inside us. These rooms are shaped by early  experiences, relationships, and moments where we first learned something about who we are,  what we deserve, and how safe it is to take up space. Some of these rooms become places we  avoid. Others quietly influence our beliefs, behaviors, and exhaustion without us realizing it. 

Drawing from personal story, recovery work, and the process that led her to write her book,  April shares how returning to these inner rooms with support, reflection, and compassion became  the foundation of her healing. What began as a memoir evolved into a framework that helps  people look beyond surface habits and into the deeper origins of their patterns, beliefs, and  coping strategies. 

This session weaves storytelling with insight into how belief systems are formed, how they shape  the way we live and relate, and how revisiting the emotional “rooms” that shaped us can open the  door to healing, self-trust, and meaningful change. It also honors the powerful role books and  libraries play as real-life rooms of refuge, reflection, and transformation. 

Participants will leave with: 

• A new lens for understanding how early experiences shape adult behavior • Insight into the connection between beliefs, burnout, and change 

• A gentle, accessible framework for personal reflection and growth 

• A deeper appreciation for the role of stories and libraries in emotional wellness 

April Day Garcia is a Long Island–based author and speaker whose work centers on courage,  identity, and emotional healing. She is the author of The Room to Be Brave, a memoir and healing  framework that explores the “rooms” that shape us: the early experiences that quietly inform how  we see ourselves, how we cope, and how we show up in the world. 

After getting sober, April was able to return to her own story with clarity and compassion. What  began as a memoir evolved into a framework that now guides others back to the inner spaces  where beliefs are formed and healing can begin. 

Through speaking engagements and workshops, April weaves together emotional truth,  generational patterns, motherhood, and resilience, helping audiences explore the stories they carry  and reconnect with who they were before the world told them who to be. 

April also works as an occupational therapy assistant, is the president and co-founder of the JD  BUILDS Foundation, and the owner and operator of Be Brave Travel, an accessible travel agency.  She lives on Long Island with her husband and 15-year-old daughter. 

Website: www.aprildaygarcia.com

Code of Conduct

For questions, please email Eliscia Cirrone, ecirrone@lilrc.org.

Contact Hours: 1

Program Recording:  Yes 

Non-member Ticket Price (log into your account for Member pricing): $10.00

FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS -

1. If you do not receive a confirmation email after registering, please contact Eliscia Cirrone, ecirrone@lilrc.org to check your registration.

2.  If you have any questions regarding this program or registration and program access, please contact Eliscia Cirrone, ecirrone@lilrc.org

3. Please be advised, all invoices for events, programs, or conferences must be paid no later than 60 days from the event date to avoid account suspension.