American Counseling Association (ACA) Convenes in New Orleans March 23-27, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

American Counseling Association (ACA) Convenes in New Orleans March 23-27, 2011
With the highest attendance in 10 years, ACA attendees will participate in “Giving Back to the Community” service projects, and Soledad O’Brien returns from Japan to be a keynote speaker

WHAT: ACA 2011 Conference & Exposition

WHERE: New Orleans Morial Convention Center (MCCNO)

WHEN: March 23-27, 2011

DETAILS: Celebrating the highest attendance in 10 years, the ACA 2011 Conference and Exhibition in New Orleans March 23-27 welcomes more than 4,200 professional counselors. The conference, co-sponsored by the Louisiana Counseling Association (LCA), is the educational conference for all counseling professionals and offers 500 education sessions covering 33 categories, including experts and topics focusing on disaster mental health. Also, 100 exhibitors will be on hand to showcase the latest products and services, workshops and social and networking events.

The ACA 2011 Conference & Exposition volunteers will donate their time to several community service projects: “Giving Back to The Community and Leadership Development Day.” http://acaserviceleadership.eventbrite.com/ Volunteers will work with Operation Nehemiah to help restore the Historic Holt Cemetery after its devastation during Hurricane Katrina.

Soledad O’Brien, anchor and special correspondent for CNN, will return from Japan to be a keynote speaker at the conference. Judith S. Beck, PhD, President of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research, will also be present as a keynote speaker. The Beck Institute is a nonprofit organization that trains mental health professionals, nationally and internationally in cognitive therapy, which helps patients overcome difficulties by changing dysfunctional thinking, emotional responses and behavior.

The ACA is a not-for-profit professional and educational organization that is dedicated to the growth and enhancement of the counseling profession. Founded in 1952 and now with more than 45,000 members, ACA is the world’s largest association exclusively representing professional counselors in various practice settings. For almost 60 years, ACA has dedicated itself to helping professional counselors and counselor educators with the services, information, resources and products to become successful.

ACA’s last meeting in New Orleans was in 2002, and this year’s meeting is set to generate nearly $5 million in economic impact.

WEBSITE: www.counseling.org/convention

MAJOR EVENTS

• Thurs, March 24, 7 a.m.-1 p.m.: Community Service Project at the Historic Holt Cemetery, 635 City Park Ave.
• Fri, March 25, 9-10:30 a.m.: Keynote Address featuring Soledad O’Brien, anchor and special correspondent for CNN, Hall B1. O’Brien will also sign copies of her new (2010) book “The Next Big Story.”
• Fri, March 25, 3:45-4:45 p.m.: Education Session, On Being an Example of Hope: Culture-Specific Responses to Recovering From a Natural Disaster, Hall A, Room 210
• Sat, March 26, 9-10 a.m.: Keynote Address featuring Judith S. Beck, PhD, President of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research, Hall B1

EXHIBIT HALL: A and B1

HOURS:
Thurs, March 24, 4:30-7 p.m.
Fri, March 25, 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sat, March 26, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

PRESS OFFICE: Press should go to Registration Desk and ask for Debra Bass.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
ACA: Debra Bass, cell: 202-409-7974, dbass@counseling.org
New Orleans CVB: Tara Letort, 504-566-5019, tletort@neworleanscvb.com; Jennifer Day, 773-909-2514, jday@neworleanscvb.com; Kelly Schulz, 504-421-0962, kschulz@neworleanscvb.com
MCCNO: Rosalie Mortillaro, 504-582-3027, rmortillaro@mccno.com

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