Welcome to The WELLS Healing Center and our monthly newsletter. We're so happy to have you.
From Dr. Pearis' Desk:
Hi everyone, my name is Dr. Pearis Jean (formerly Bellamy). Some of you may remember me from Academics for Black Survival and Wellness which Dr. Della and I started in 2020 to address the impact of COVID-19 on Black communities and continued murders of Black people at the hands of white supremacists. Fast forward four years and COVID-19 is still very much real and there continues to be violence towards the Black community and attempts to erase our history.
As many companies and universities began to resume in-person work, many Black people who had the privilege to work from home expressed concern about returning back to in-person work. One of the reasons many Black people were hesitant to return to in-person work was due to experiences of anti-Black racism and microaggressions in the workplace. Many Black employees reported that remote work decreased the amount of anti-Black interactions they had in the workplace. Through my own experiences, the experiences of friends and family, as well as my clinical work, I know how racism in the workplace can truly deteriorate our sense of self and many of us struggle with how to respond to perpetrators of racism in ways that feel authentic but will also not get us fired.
My dissertation research focused on how Black people decide how to respond to anti-Black racism in the workplace. From my focus groups with Black early career professionals and graduate students, I developed the Strategically Navigating Anti-Black Racism in Professional Spaces (SNAPS) Decision-Making Model. I was blessed with the opportunity to turn this research into a workbook that allows readers to move through the model, learn through vignettes how to apply the model to their lives, and engage in reflection questions that help them feel prepared to navigate anti-Black racism in the workplace. The core of the SNAPS Decision-Making Model is knowledge of self which aligns with Black Psychology’s emphasis on self-knowledge. Oftentimes, anti-Black racism and racial trauma can leave us strangers to ourselves and it can be hard to know who we are outside of what society has told us about ourselves. My hope with this book is that readers will know that they are not alone, feel guided by the wisdom of others who have had similar experiences, and begin to make decisions that align with their authentic selves and goals. For our clinicians and allies, this is a great resource to share with your Black clients, mentees, or students.
If you want to learn more about the book and how this resource could be useful to you as a Black person navigating anti-Black racism in your workplace/educational setting or as someone supporting Black people that may be navigating these situations, please join Dr. Della and I on Thursday, August 1st from 6-8 pm for a virtual book discussion (register here!).
GET CONNECTED WITH WELLS + FRIENDS:
Blafemme Healing is popping up at APA! Join Dr. Della at the Blafemme Healing Den Pop Up on Friday, August 9 at the Hyatt at Olive 8 in Seattle, WA for an afternoon of community healing the opportunity to engage in some nuanced thinking about wellness and psychology. Check out this Instagram post for more details.
Research Opportunity: The ART for Hope Study is seeking Black female same-sex couples for individual and couple interviews on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART — any fertility treatment handling eggs or embryos). This study hopes to explore the lived experiences, challenges, and sources of social support for Black queer women couples living in KY, NC, and GA who are currently or previously used assisted reproductive technology (e.g., IVF). If you or someone you know is interested in being a part of this study, here is the survey link to learn more. If you have any questions or if you need further information, please email the principal investigator: shemeka.thorpe@uky.edu.
Support WELLS Collective Members + reach out if you're in need: Our friend Trae has been having difficulty providing for their family this summer without a car and have endured other life circumstances. If you can, please support Trae's GoFundMe here and share it with your networks.
If you're in need of some support, you can fill out this Google Form letting us know how we can help.
Join the informational sessions on July 15th or July 22nd to join cohort II of the Blafemme Healing Sanctuary: A Virtual Black Feminist Healing Group. We're diving deeper into healing with group sessions fostering community and growth, resources tailored to your journey, and lots of support + intimacy. We start the next cohort in August 2024!
The Blafemme Healing Journey Workdeck is ready to ship out!! If you haven't ordered your healing affirmation cards + accompanying journal yet, you can check it out here. AND, if you're going to the APA Conference and/or the Blafemme Pop Up, you can order your Workdeck and then fill out our form for pickup in-person HERE.
WELLS Workshops - now booking for Q3 and Q4! Don't wait until the Fall to bring a WELLS workshop to your team or organization. Now is the time to get us on your calendar! Fill out our inquiry form HERE to get started.
Last call for the WELLS Healing and Wellness Grad Group for Transgender, Nonbinary, Gender Diverse Black, Indigenous, Students of Color and our Black Grad Student Mentoring and Community Care Group for Fall 2024! Get on the waitlist now to be considered for these free weekly community offerings. If you are attending APA Seattle you can meet the facilitators for both groups at the Blafemme Pop-Up mentioned above! Gabe, Marquel, and Dr. Della are happy to connect and answer any questions in person, or email us at connect@wellshealing.org. For others: if you can, please donate here to support these groups.
WELLNESS TIP - wellness over the summer.
Last year, our attempted summer sabbatical was rather unsuccessful. This year, we're feeling into the sweetness of the summer, the joy of being a part of others' healing spaces and being able to hold that space for others. We hope that you can join us in our sweetness this summer, whether that is joining us at the Blafemme Healing Den Pop Up, or prioritizing your rest and sleep where and when you can. However you're healing, we hope you're engaging in collective care (and action).
STAY CONNECTED - SOCIALS:
Follow us on Instagram and like our Facebook page to stay up-to-date on all our events and opportunities!
Thank you for being a part of our community, The WELLS Healing Center Team
Summer supplement:
Dr. Pearis' virtual book discussion! Join Dr. Pearis and Dr. Della for this virtual event to engage with Dr. Pearis' new book, Strategically Navigating Anti-Black Racism in Professional Spaces: A Practical Guide for Black People Responding to Racism in the Workplace. Register here for the event on August 1 at 6 PM EST and view the flyer attached to this email for more info.
A4BL is @ APA 2024! We will be applying wisdom from A4BL to urgently respond to the simultaneous genocides impacting Palestine, Congo, Sudan and elsewhere. And for students and psychologists who are doing the work and needing to be held right now, we want to hold space for you. We hope you’ll join us for this interactive and critical conversation at this year’s convening for the American Psychological Association in Seattle. Check out this Instagram post for more information.
If you'll be at APA, don't miss the Blafemme Healing Den Pop Up on Friday, August 9 at the Hyatt at Olive 8 in Seattle, WA for an afternoon of community healing the opportunity to engage in some nuanced thinking about wellness and psychology. Check out this Instagram post for more details.
The Blafemme Healing Journey Workdeck is here! If you're going to the APA Conference and/or the Blafemme Pop Up, you can order your Workdeck with the code APA2024 and then fill out our form for pickup in-person HERE. You can order your healing affirmation cards + accompanying journal here.
Comments