Welcome to The WELLS Healing Center and our monthly newsletter. We're so happy to have you.
This newsletter may include content that is violent, sad, and potentially triggering, reflecting the harsh realities of the state of our world and communities today. We aim to be honest about these truths as we work toward wellness, equity, love, liberation, and survival (WELLS).
From Dr. Della's Desk:
Is Wellness Possible in STEM?
I recently had the opportunity to speak at the National Convening on Mental Health in STEM, and it left me with lingering questions about the pursuit of wellness in these spaces. Reflecting on my own journey and the experiences of those I love and serve, I find myself grappling with the very concept of wellness within STEM. Can true wellness exist in environments often marked by isolation, systemic inequities, and relentless pressures?
This recent presentation aimed to support Black and Brown individuals in STEM by addressing the profound isolation and internalized oppression they often face. My hope, like that of the brilliant liberation-focused scholars who organized the convening, Drs. Kerrie Wilkins-Yel and Jennifer Bekki, was to inspire those in positions of power to wield their influence responsibly and compassionately, fostering environments where Black and Brown folks can both survive and thrive.
But I must confess, I remain uncertain. As we engage in our work on wellness or on Black and Brown beings—securing CV lines, paychecks, and networking opportunities—what are we actually achieving? Are we making tangible strides toward genuine wellness, or are we simply perpetuating a system that sustains itself at our expense?
In my speech, I shared a heartbreaking example that was fresh for me. Just that week, one of our community members—a young BIPOC professional in a STEM space—was planning to leave not only their STEM field but to leave this earth for good. Their struggle was all too real and (truly, for many of us who know) an all too common reminder of the stakes. There are pervasive barriers that impede wellness (livelihoods in multiple ways) in academic STEM spaces.
It’s crucial to acknowledge these realities. Even as we work tirelessly to promote wellness, we must question our actions and intentions. Are we truly creating spaces that foster wellness, or are we reinforcing the very structures that harm us? Be real.
Despite these challenges, I hold onto radical hope—a concept deeply rooted in our collective capacity to transform oppression into liberation. Radical hope involves understanding our history through both systemic and ancestral lenses and imagining a different, more equitable future. It motivates us to pursue social change and care for the collective, even in the face of systemic barriers.
I recognize the anger that fuels my work—a righteous anger at the inequities that persist. This anger is not merely destructive; it is a force for change, as articulated by Audre Lorde. She reminds us that anger, when directed toward altering the distortions of history (like a hierarchy based on made up constructs like race and gender) and addressing systemic inequities, can be a powerful tool for transformation.
As we navigate these violent and deadly times, I encourage each of us to reflect on our roles and responsibilities. Consider where your anger lies and how it can be harnessed for positive change—to enhance life. Identify spaces and communities that support your wellness and allow you to channel your rage.
In our pursuit of wellness in STEM, let us be mindful of our actions and their impact. Let us strive to create environments that honor the worthiness of every individual, especially those at the margins. By acknowledging our complicity and actively working toward WELLS, we can begin to build the world we seek.
I invite you to ponder these questions as we continue this journey together:
What is your reach?
Who are you reaching toward?
How can your reach stop a fall and build bridges to wellness?
May these reflections guide us as we strive for a more just and equitable STEM community.
GET CONNECTED WITH WELLS + FRIENDS:
Support WELLS Collective Members + reach out if you're in need: We're so excited to announce our new initiative to help get folks connected to the resources they need - Filling Their WELLS. If you're in need of some support, you can fill out this Google Form letting us know how we can help. And if you're looking to help others, check out this page of our site with current campaigns. We'll keep this page updated with the information from anyone who fills out our form, and we'll keep you all posted in our monthly newsletters.
Sign up for WELLS groups starting in the Fall! We have two groups that are opening again in the Fall: our 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. To learn more about either of these groups, check out our offerings page on our site.
Fund Our In-Person Retreat for Members in WELLS Healing Groups: WELLS Healing Groups have been a lifeline for graduate students, providing weekly virtual group sessions for Black grad students and for BIPOC trans and non-binary grad students. This Fall, we are thrilled to announce our first-ever in-person meetup, coinciding with the American Psychological Association conference in Seattle this August. Your donation can make this dream a reality by covering travel expenses for these students. By contributing, you’re not just funding a trip; you’re investing in their future success, fostering vital community building, and promoting equity, belonging, and inclusion within academic spaces. Help us create a transformative experience that will inspire and empower these remarkable individuals. Your support can change lives.
Join the waitlist - 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!
PALESTINE connects us all.
Palestine has brought to the forefront the idea that everything is interconnected. Every struggle for justice, liberation, freedom - from the DR of Congo and Sudan to Palestine and Tigray. No one is free until we are all free. We invite you to continue fighting for a liberated Palestine in the ways that you can with the gifts, privileges, resources, and access that you have.
Instead of/in addition to sharing AI-generated graphics (as I'm sure we've all seen on social media), let us continue to share the testimonies of Palestinians on the ground and in the diaspora, remember the interconnections in our struggles for freedom globally, call out those that are complicit, and take action.
We have updated our Palestine resources linktree and organized it so it is easier to navigate. The most notable additions are Operation Olive Branch, links to donate to campus bail funds for arrested student protestors, Humanti Project's site with new email templates to contact your representatives, and an Action Checklist that has daily/general tasks, including instructions on how to set up automatic emails your representatives. Go check it out for actionable steps you can take in the next 5 minutes. (Our linktree is also linked in our Instagram bio for easy access!)
What is happening in Palestine is not complicated. It is colonialism. It is genocide. We must name that and continue to speak out against the atrocities being committed globally by colonial powers. Boycott. Contact your representatives. Speak up. Continue to educate yourselves and others, question Western media's framing of current events, and center Palestinian voices.
STAY CONNECTED - SOCIALS:
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Thank you for being a part of our community, The WELLS Healing Center Team
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