In Partnership With...
In Person On September 21 @ 11am In Baltimore, MD
About Our In Person Event
The Minds Matter Baltimore Event is a dynamic and inclusive gathering designed to celebrate the resilience, strength, and brilliance of Black women and girls in the realm of mental health and well-being.
Our mission is to create a safe and nurturing space where attendees can engage in candid discussions, gain valuable insights, and forge meaningful connections.
Event Highlights:
1. Inspiring Keynote Speakers: Be inspired by leading experts and influential voices in mental health, personal growth, and wellness.
2. Informative Workshops: Choose from a diverse range of interactive workshops.
3. Wellness Activities: Participate in rejuvenating wellness activities like yoga, meditation, and mindfulness exercises to enhance your overall well-being.
4. Networking Opportunities: Connect with like-minded individuals, form new friendships, and expand your support network within the community.
5. Community Resources: Discover valuable resources and organizations committed to supporting mental health within the Black community.
Here's Why You Should Attend
FREE THERAPY SESSION
Attendees must sign up on the website to see a therapist. Clients will be contacted before the event to confirm their appointment and will have the opportunity to enroll into The BGH Clinic for ongoing therapy using their insurance. We accept Cigna, Medicaid, and Carefirst. For more information about the clinic visit: thebghclinic.com.
FREE HEALTH CHECKUP
Help find the root cause of mental health issues plaguing you with free blood testing and labs from Quest Diagnostics. Testing will check your Vitamin D levels, CBC, and Glucose.
Check The Schedule
This is a floating event schedule section you can check the details about time duration, speaker, venue & more.
Opening Remarks
Workshop 1
Workshop 2
Workshop 3
About Event Speakers
TIshaura Jones
Mayor, St. LouisTishaura Jones was sworn-in as the 47th mayor and the first Black female mayor in the City’s history on April 20th, 2021. Transparency, Integrity, and Service define who she is and how she did it. Since 2012, Tishaura O. Jones has helped the City of St. Louis earn and save over $30 million and counting. With a deep personal commitment, a wealth of experience, and a proven record of leadership, Jones started her career as a public servant in 2002 when she was appointed as Democratic Committeewoman of the 8th Ward in the City of St. Louis. A history-maker on a mission, she served two terms in the Missouri House of Representatives, and was selected as the first African American woman in Missouri history to hold the position of Assistant Minority Floor Leader. She also is the first African American woman to serve as Treasurer of St. Louis. Mayor Jones has a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Hampton University and a Master’s degree in Health Administration from the Saint Louis University School of Public Health. A graduate of the Executives in State and Local Government program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, she has served as Vice President of Public Finance for Blaylock Robert Van, LLC, an investment banking firm, as well as adjunct faculty at the Anheuser-Busch School of Business at Harris-Stowe State University. In her tenure as Treasurer, she launched the Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE) to help St. Louisans make better financial choices, as OFE’s College Kids Program has helped over 18,000 public school students start saving through educational savings accounts. With over a million and a half dollars saved to date, these college saving accounts will help more city children get a higher education, using parking revenue, family contributions and community support Mayor Jones’ volunteer service is as notable as her robust career accomplishments. A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., her dedication to public service has earned her numerous accolades including awards from the St. Louis Coalition for Human Rights, the RCGA, and the Lupus Foundation of America. From financial empowerment to the modernizing of services, Jones has helped make city government easier to navigate, easier to participate in, and easier to understand. She is also the proud mother of Aden.
Tishaura Jones
Mayor, St. Louis
Keondra Harris, RN, MSN, IBCLC
Registered NurseKeondra Harris is a Registered Nurse and breastfeeding advocate. After starting her career in bedside care, Keondra found a calling in contributing and giving back to the community which inspired her to become a Public Health Nurse. As a Public Health Nurse she realized her passion for maternal and infant health as she worked in programs such as WIC, high risk infant case management and high risk prenatal case management. Working within these programs, Keondra identified a need for breastfeeding education and advocacy, especially among Black women. This led her to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She founded her company Melanated Milk LLC in 2021 which seeks to educate, support and celebrate Black women breastfeeding and offer a safe space for Black women to gain the information they need surrounding breastfeeding.
Keondra Harris, RN, MSN, IBCLC
Registered Nurse
Marita Gumbs
Fitness TrainerFor nearly 12 years, I have been a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer. For almost 5 years, I have been an American Academy of Health, Fitness and Rehab Professionals (AAHFRP) Medical Exercise Specialist (MES). In 2019, I officially started my company Fight 2B Fit DC to help meet the fitness needs of a diverse clientele looking to achieve better health, manage and combat pain and overcome injuries. I have worked with every age group including pre-teens and older adults. No matter what age group, my desire has been to help others achieve healthier lifestyles. Sure, it feels great to have your clothes fit better, flex a little muscle, and I am all in to help you achieve this! However, what really feels good is to be able to play ball with your kids, go on long walking tours to explore a new city, embark on adventurous excursions while on vacation, enjoy your favorite activity, and wake up in the morning with the energy to seize the day, and be your best. It is my belief, that with better health we can move mountains, build bridges and break ground. Fitness is about health, good health is about living life, indulging in its greatest joys and making a positive impact on the world around you.
Marita Gumbs
Fitness Trainer
Darlene Green
Comptroller | City of St. LouisThe Honorable Darlene Green, Comptroller of the City of St. Louis, serves as the city’s Chief Fiscal Officer. She directs all the fiscal affairs of the city for a combined annual budget of $1 billion. As Chief Fiscal Officer, she is a member of the Executive Branch of city government, the Board of Estimate and Apportionment. Ms. Green is a member of many citywide boards and commissions, including the Airport Commission, and is a trustee for the city’s Retirement Systems. Comptroller Green maintains a platform of honesty, fiscal integrity, and a focus on protecting taxpayer dollars. Through her foresight and leadership, the City of St. Louis was not exposed to the variable rate debt crisis of 2006-08, which harmed the credit rating of many other municipal governments. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis and is a member of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA); Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.; Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA); and the National Women's Political Caucus of Metro St. Louis. Comptroller Green has received many honors, including being named a “Trailblazing Woman in Public Finance” by Northeast Women in Public Finance; one of the “52 Most Powerful People in St. Louis” by St. Louis Magazine; and receiving the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women’s “Shining Star” award.
Darlene Green
Comptroller | City of St. Louis
Lorraine Ward
Director of Professional Services | Hastings+Chivetta ArchitectsOne of St. Louis' 2019 Most Influential Business Women, Lorraine Ward currently works as senior associate and director of professional services at Hastings+Chivetta Architects, an architectural firm in St. Louis that focuses on colleges, universities, community and corporate spaces. She has been at the company for 12 years, managing multimillion dollar projects throughout the St. Louis area. Lorraine brings nearly 25 years of experience in the A/E/C industry and has built a reputation for client service excellence. She focuses on maintaining Hastings+Chivetta’s exceptional service delivery as well as developing new opportunities throughout the St. Louis region. Ward is committed to empowering the younger generation. She makes a special effort to assist and mentor young women in the industry and her office. Outside of work, Ward teaches an eight-week construction class at the Near Southside Employment Coalition for people hoping to begin a career in the field. She also often speaks around the St. Louis region to young students about dreaming big.
Lorraine Ward
Director of Professional Services | Hastings+Chivetta Architects
Dr. Lauren Penn
Chiropractor | LecturerDr. Lauren Penn is Colorado Springs' most sought after chiropractor, as well as an author and health education lecturer whose growing platform has rehabilitated and inspired hundreds of men, women, and children. As the successful owner of her private practice, Pinpoint Chiropractic and Wellness, Dr. Penn's superior abilities extend much further than occupational therapies into the intricate realms of holistic healing and patient advocacy. Having long discovered that the practice of medicine is fragmented because it lacks continuity of patient care, Dr. Penn has developed a supplemental theorem of treatments that precisely diagnose the root causes of chronic pain conditions. And tailors holistic regiments and nutritional supplements that are effective and unique as they are specially designed to work in conjunction with her patients' primary care physicians. Dr. Penn is also the author of the groundbreaking e-book, Things Doctors don't tell You that You Should Know, which educates people about what to do if they have chronic pain, genetic issues, and other disorders. Dr. Penn's seminars emphasize the importance of viewing wellness as a team sport and underscore nutrition's bedrock principles. As a rising media personality who has been featured in My Black Colorado, Voyage Denver, and the local KOAA news, Dr. Penn is also revered for her insightfully intimate speaking engagements. In addition to Holistic Treatment, her speaker topics include: The 7 Principles of Wellness, The Journey of Purpose, Mental Discipline, and, most notably: overcoming patient indoctrination. Often, patients believe that their condition cannot change or improve and are, therefore, reluctant to adopt a new or holistic treatment plan. Yet, the truth is patients are merely uninformed and unempowered. Therefore, Dr. Penn missions to continue educating the masses, especially advocating for patients who feel frustrated, hopeless, and doubtful that their health conditions can improve. Dr. Penn is a San Jose native who currently resides and practices in Colorado Springs.
Dr. Lauren Penn
Chiropractor | Lecturer
Shirley Moore
Social WorkerShirley believes that everyone has the potential to thrive and become the best version of themselves when they are supported, provided with the necessary tools and skills to help them amplify their own strengths and the greatness that lies within them. Shirley’s schooling and experience has provided her with lots of training, approaches and skilled but her favorite theory is the Empowerment Theory. In the past 5 years, Shirley’s focus has been on working with youth and families in crisis. Shirley worked with youth whom had been locked out by a parent or guardian, had ran away from home or refused to go home due to reported abuse, worry or other concerns. In the last few months, Shirley has transitioned to working with adults at an agency called The City of Refuge in Atlanta, Georgia. Shirley’s main role is a life coach/case manager for students enrolled into the Tech Transformation Cyber Security program. Shirley works in this program to help minorities and the underrepresented gain the skills and training they need to get into the IT world. Shirley works with students to help minimize or eliminate barriers that may hinder them successfully completing the program such as transportation, childcare, and other needs that arise. Shirley partners with others to help support student. Shirley plans to become licensed in the next year and start her own private practice. Shirley enjoys volunteering and helping where needed. Outside of work, Shirley is a wife, mother of 4, blogger/writer and a youth cheer coach and active member in her church.
Shirley Moore
Social Worker
Marsha D. Banks-Harold, BSEE
Director of PIES Fitness Holistic Yoga TherapyMarsha D. Banks-Harold, BSEE, Director of PIES Fitness Holistic Yoga Therapy and Yoga Teacher Training Programs, owner of PIES Fitness Yoga Studio, creator of My Body Don’t Bend That Way Yoga, executive engineering leader, and co-founder of Awakening Yoga Spaces, is a certified yoga therapist through the International Association of Yoga Therapists and a Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator and Mentor through the Center for Trauma and Embodiment. She is published in Yoga Therapy Today: 1) Building the Business of Yoga Therapy and 2) Reclaiming Humanity & Community: Healing the Trauma, Pain, & Suffering of Prejudice and Disparity and is a contributing author in Yoga Therapy Foundations, Tools, and Practice: a Comprehensive Textbook. Marsha blossoms in creating supportive, inclusive, diverse, adaptive and accessible yoga therapy and yoga experiences for all. She is an experienced workshop leader and public speaker.
Marsha D. Banks-Harold, BSEE
Director of PIES Fitness Holistic Yoga Therapy
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