Update -Dismantling the Stigma with Black Womens Mental Health

Please join us for a free intergenerational discussion on Black Women Mental Health and more. Please visit Eventbrite for more info at https://bit.ly/notsuperwomen

During challenging times, the topic of mental health and wellness moves to the forefront of many people’s minds. However, this does not always mean that people who need mental health care will have access to it. In fact, some of the communities who are currently being hit hardest by events like the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement are statistically the least likely to receive quality mental health services.

Why it Matters?

The well-being of Black women across the globe is at stake. Black women participate in demanding labor while both experiencing and challenging oppressive systems. For Black Women there is often a silent struggle that goes unnoticed. It is veiled by an appearance of unwavering strength, endurance, and resilience. Black woman’s narrative shares an experience of wearing a mask, while keeping depressive episodes at bay.

Wearing a mask comes at a cost and may be detrimental to Black women. Due to our current world climate, Black women struggle with their health which makes the mental health and wellness of Black women a social issue — that spans across everyday experiences.

Dismantling the stigma associated with Black Womens mental health needs to be addressed. An action plan needs to be developed. Addressing this situation starts with a conversation and an action plan.

The YWCA of Northern NJ in partnership with the Junior League of Montclair - Newark is proud to present "I'm Not Your Super Women: Dismantling the Stigma Associated with Black Womens Mental Health".

Distinguished Guest and Panelist:

Distinguished Panelists are:

Dr. Yolanda Hawkins-Rodgers

Yolanda Hawkins-Rodgers is a licensed psychologist with a private practice in Hackensack, New Jersey. She is also a certified clinical supervisor for both permit holders seeking to become a licensed psychologist or a licensed professional counselor. She has worked with adolescents, young adults, couples and families in her capacity as an educator and a clinician. She started her career as the director of the EOF program at Bergen community College. Subsequently, she held the position as the first and only African American to chair the department of Psychology and Counseling at Fairleigh Dickinson University at the Florham/Madison campus while building her private practice as a psychologist. She has done research on and made recommendations to stem bullying among female students at Hackensack high School.

Her interest in mental health has led her to be appointed to the positions on the Community Mental Health Board, chairing the Bergen County Commission on the Status of Women and serving on the board of the Family Support Organization in Bergen County. Her clinical work includes working for the Department of Child Protection and Permanency as a clinical consultant and psychological evaluator. Her community activity includes membership in the Bergen County Alumnae chapter Delta Sigma Theta and the Rotary of Hackensack.

Dr. Hawkins-Rodgers has developed many training workshops for the state of New Jersey and has presented papers at national conferences regarding educational and clinical issues that have included multicultural issues in the workplace and developmental issues across the lifespan. She recently published her first therapeutic coloring book for grownups. Her most recent effort in promoting mental health has been to found the Consortium of Mental Health and Educational Professionals of Color-NJ provide a comprehensive directory of resources and services specifically for the African American population as well as for others. Dr. Hawkins-Rodgers says her biggest sense of purpose has been the privilege of raising her 2 successful adult daughters.

Ms. Lynette Sheard

The NJ Mental Health Players (NJMHP) is the longest-running community education program of its type in New Jersey. The mission of the NJMHP players is to increase education and awareness, decrease stigma and break the silence often associated with mental health. The Players are volunteers throughout the state of New Jersey.

Led by Director Lynette Sheard, a trained professional, the Players are a group of culturally and age-diverse volunteer actors from across New Jersey. Several of them are in recovery, drawing upon their lived experience with mental illness, to help enlighten audience members. Lynette Sheard – is a Community Education Coordinator and Director of the NJ Mental Health Players which is a highly successful, interactive community education program. It is the longest-running program of its type in the state. These presentations provide audiences with a dynamic way to receive basic education about mental illness, addiction, and other relevant challenges. The mission is to increase awareness, decrease stigma and break the silence. She has worked with the Mental Health Association for over 16 years as a senior employment specialist, job coach a Career Connections Employment Research Institute trainer. She was awarded APSE’s Employment Professional of the year for her work with individuals with disabilities and her staff development training's. She is certified by Mental Health America as a trainer of Mental Health First Aid for adults, older adults, and youth. She is also a certified QPR Suicide prevention specialist. She is an award-winning facilitator and trainer who utilizes multi-module creative techniques to educate the community at large.

For virtual bookings and information contact the Director -
Lynette Sheard @ mentalhealthplayers@mhanj.org or call 973-571-4100 ext.104.

Ms. Ashlee Wisdom

Ashlee Wisdom is an experienced public health professional. She is the Co-Founder & CEO of Health In Her HUE, a digital platform that connects Black women and women of color to culturally aligned and competent healthcare providers, health content, and community. Health In Her HUE’s mission is to reduce racial health disparities by leveraging the power of technology, media and community to improve health outcomes for Black women. As a public health professional, Ashlee is a champion for health equity, and is passionate about taking an equitable approach to healthcare innovation. Most recently, she worked for an advisory firm, Junto Health, where she was the Program Director for the Strategic Ventures Group, an exclusive consortium of nationally-ranked health systems investing in health technology. Earlier in her career, Ashlee managed the recruitment and regulatory activities of a large-scale clinical trial at Weill Cornell Medicine.

Prior to that role, Ashlee worked for a Federally Qualified Health Center, identifying and securing federal, state, and private funding, and establishing strong relationships between the health center and local community organizations and foundations. Wisdom also served as the Assistant Director of Grants Management in the Office of Population Health at NYC Health + Hospitals. Wisdom received her BS from Howard University, and her Master of Public Health with a focus in Healthcare Policy & Management from New York University.

Ms. Taylor Bryan Turner

Taylor Bryan Turner is the Assistant Regional Administrator for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) where she serves as part of SAMHSA’s leadership team and works to advance SAMHSA’s mission in the six New England States (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI & VT). In this role, she develops, supports and leads collaborative initiatives and supports other federal agencies to assure behavioral health is a priority throughout the nation. She engages stakeholders through technical assistance, promoting program development, policy innovation, and system transformation. Most notably, she is recognized as the creator of the Diversity Inclusion Project Showcase, a forum designed to provide underserved community-based organizations an opportunity to present their purpose, populations served, and community impact to regional behavioral health leaders to increase partnerships and funding potential.

Taylor joined the HHS team in March 2020 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD), Regional Administrators office where she served as a Management Analyst. There she was responsible for implementing housing initiatives that focused on ending homelessness, promoting affordable housing, health and wellness, and sustainability. She has over 20 years of experience cultivating diverse relationships among stakeholders, elected officials, and private and non-profit organizations to implement policy. In 2019, she was one of ten individuals recognized nationally in Washington D.C. for outstanding customer relationship management. In 2018, Taylor completed the Presidential Management Council Fellows leadership program where she served as the first-ever regional outreach strategist on opioids within HHS’s Intergovernmental and External Affairs office. Taylor studied Business Management at Johnson and Wales University and is currently a Manresa Scholar Leader at the Woods College of Advancing
Studies at Boston College.

Moderators: Dr. Christine W. Thorpe YWCA Board of Dir.

Dr. Christine Thorpe is a board member of the YWCA Northern New Jersey and a member of the Junior League of Montclair-Newark. She i s the dean of the Graduate College at Kean University, and is the managing partner of Stronger Tomorrow, Inc. which serves to influence and reshape wellness in organizations through the lens of diversity, equity and inclusion to create optimized, refined workplaces that are poised for growth. Dr. Thorpe is a certified wellness coach and health education specialist with over 20 years’ experience in higher education and the health and human services field. She is also an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Mocha Moms.

Helen Archontou MSW, LSW

Helen Archontou, MSW, LSW and Jessica Monaco-Copell, MSW – How to Be an Anti-Racist Activist. As Chief Executive Officer since 2011, Helen Archontou is focused on guiding YWCA Northern New Jersey into its next century of living its mission to eliminate racism, empower women, and strengthen communities. Helen has overseen the development of a continuum of programs to support women and families in every stage of life as well as to raise awareness and take action to end racial and social injustice. In 2019, the organization expanded its service area to Essex, Hudson, Morris, and Passaic in addition to Bergen County and changed its name to YWCA Northern New Jersey.

Helen served as a state appointed member of the NJ State Task Force on Campus Sexual Assault and is a Co-Chairperson of the NJ Coalition Against Human Trafficking’s Legislative Committee, and a member of the Non-profit Steering Committee of Commerce and Industry Association of NJ. In 2019, Helen received the Crime Victim’s Rights Award from the NJ Office of the Attorney General and the Excellence Award of Victim’s Justice. She was also named among The Powerful Women of NJ in Senator Loretta Weinberg’s 2019 Women Power List. In 2020 Helen received the Top 50 Women in Business from NJ Biz and the Top 25 Women in NJ Award from Leading Women Entrepreneurs. Helen is an adjunct professor at Montclair State University since 2005 in the School of Social Work. Her love for her work in social justice is only topped by her love for her husband and seven-year old twins.

Jessica has been working in the social service field for over 20 years. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Ramapo College and Master’s Degree as a macro practitioner in Social Work from Fordham University, she has dedicated her career to helping the underserved and disenfranchised communities of New Jersey. From 2009-2017, Jessica worked throughout Essex County, primarily Newark, NJ, to help families cope and manage high-risk behavioral and emotional needs of their children. Since that time, she was linked to Innerfaith Performing Arts Center in Paterson, and is still a sitting board member that serves proudly and diligently. Currently working as the Mission-Based Coordinator at YWCA Northern New Jersey overseeing women empowerment and racial justice initiatives, Jessica has coordinated numerous programs and initiatives including Martin Luther King birthday events, female entrepreneurship workshops, women’s leadership seminars, voter registrations, and a Systematic Racism Town Hall. Most recently and as part of her love for working toward the safety and protection of all children, she volunteers as a Court Appointment Special Advocate for children in the foster care system. She continues to promote equality and equity for all through organizing and activism work. Jessica is mother of two beautiful children, Amelia and James, and wife to a wonderful husband, Jimmy Copell.

Guest Speakers:

Sharon Elise

Sharon Elise is a Spiritual Lifestyle Strategist, author, and entrepreneur. In 2019, she published her first book, a memoir entitled I Don’t Know How I Got Here But Here I Am. Since publishing her book, Sharon has started a podcast, founded a start-up, and has inspired over 100 women to live a full and purposeful life. Sharon Elise's formal education began at Kean University, where she received both her bachelors and master’s degrees in Psychology in 2008 and 2012, respectively. During her time at Antioch University in New Hampshire, where she enrolled to pursue a doctorate degree, she deepened her spiritual and holistic practice.

Sharon is committed to healing her community and aspires to help millions of people to heal, create, and inspire. Sharon continues to strengthen her journey through workshops, courses, and training in the art of healing, finding purpose, and total body wellness. Sharon has also received formal training as a doula and yoga instructor. She's the owner and CEO of Night Fairy Wellness, an online marketplace for black-owned holistic health and wellness businesses and offers exclusive products through her brand Black Royal Teas (www.blackroyalteas.com), an organic herbal tea company offering tea blends to support feminine health and well-being. Connect with Sharon on Instagram @sharonelise12 or via email at sharon@sharonelise.com.

Heather Elizabeth Le Clair

I am currently the President of the Junior League of Montclair-Newark (“JLMN”). Upon joining the League, I became active in a diverse set of leadership positions on the board, led two major fundraising projects and chaired/supported various League community service projects including the Fostering Hope Committee and the JLMN Sleep-Out Montclair 2020 & 2021. I also created the Apartment in a Suitcase project for youth who age out of foster care. I am truly passionate about the unique needs, issues and struggles that exist for young people living in and aging out of the foster care system in Essex County. I want to support these young people through advocacy in the community, funding and various opportunities for job training and placement that I or the League can provide. I currently serve on the program board for Nancy’s Place, Montclair, NJ and served on the Board of Management at Van Vleck House and Gardens, Montclair, NJ. I am currently employed at Ernst & Young in the Indirect Tax-- Financial Service practice (NY, NY).

I completed my undergraduate studies at Miami University in Oxford, OH with a major in Marketing and a minor in Business Legal Studies. Obtained a Juris Doctorate from Capital University Law School in Columbus, OH and earned a LL.M. in Taxation from Boston University in Boston, MA.

I live in Bloomfield, NJ with my bright, thoughtful and creative ten-year old daughter and my five year-year old “fur child” Lady Saxby Rose, a golden doodle who runs the family.

Attendees Please Note : Sharon Elise will open program with 7 minutes of meditation.

We encourage you to please tell a friend and join in for this free intergenerational discussion on Black Women Mental Health and more. FREE via Zoom.
Register today! https://bit.ly/notsuperwomen

About YWCA Northern New Jersey

YWCA Northern New Jersey is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Our YWCA has been serving the community since 1920 with programs that improve lives, inspire change, and create opportunities. We provide safe, welcoming places for women, girls, and families to learn, share, and grow; support women and girls on their paths to educational, career, and financial success; and advocate for women’s rights and civil rights. We are one of the area’s largest provider of child care services, a recognized leader in health and wellness programs, and operator of healingSPACE, Bergen County’s only Sexual Violence Resource Center. Women, girls and families come to us for a variety of reasons. Our hope is that they leave with a renewed spirit, healthy relationships, new skills, and stronger lives.

About Junior League of Montclair-Newark (JLMN)
The Junior League of Montclair-Newark (JLMN), Inc. is a volunteer organization of women committed to Promoting Volunteerism, Developing the potential of women, and Improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Our purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. The Junior League welcomes all women who value our Mission. We are committed to inclusive environments of diverse individuals, organizations and communities.