About Kris

A serial predator stalked Kris Bertelsen’s hometown. The same predator went on to abduct 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling.
The cases would remain unsolved for nearly 30 years. (The Peabody Award winning podcast, In the Dark, SEASON 1 walks listeners through the Wetterling
Case https://www.apmreports.org/in-the-dark/season-one

Bertelsen struggled in school and suffered in silence. Nonetheless, he persevered
earning a master’s degree from the University of Delaware and a doctorate from the
University of Central Arkansas. While studying the U.S. corrections population for his
dissertation, he discovered an alarming number of male inmates suffered trauma like
his. His time as a teacher further inspired him to research why adverse childhood
experiences are widely underreported, especially among boys. His personal and
professional experiences inspired him to found Upstart Resilience.

Providing education and awareness, carrying a message of hope, and advocating for
survivors and the voiceless, Upstart Resilience provides workshops and training for
returning citizens, community members, and mental health professionals. In working
with survivors, Upstart Resilience acts as a source of hope in building healthy,
productive, joyful lives.