Streaming Live February 20th @ 11am
What Is Minds Matter DC?
Minds Matter DC is a partnership with BGHF, Howard University, Howard University Louis Stokes Library, and the National Network of Library of Medicine Southeastern/ Atlantic Region.
The event includes a 1-day virtual workshop with a series of seven mental health-related virtual sessions and the execution of a targeted social media strategy to educate and empower African-American women on mental health.
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Purpose
Mental Well-Being
Mental Well-Being
Check The Schedule
This is a floating event schedule section you can check the details about time duration, speaker, venue & more.
Show Opening
Workshop 1
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Workshop 5
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Workshop 7
About Event Speakers
Lauren Simmons
Certified Health CoachMuriel Bowser is committed to making sure every Washingtonian gets a fair shot in a growing and prosperous Washington, DC. Her administration is focused on making DC’s prosperity more inclusive, advancing DC values, and building safer, stronger, and healthier neighborhoods across DC’s eight wards. Washington, DC is unique in the American political system – the mayor, DC’s chief executive, functions as a governor, county executive, and mayor. Like governors, Mayor Bowser runs Medicaid, issues driver’s licenses, and has tax authority. Like county executives, Mayor Bowser runs the local jail, and, unlike most mayors, also oversees the public school system. In 2020, Washington, DC is home to 705,000 people across 68 square miles, has a AAA bond rating, and an annual budget of more than $15 billion. On November 6, 2018, Muriel Bowser became the first woman ever re-elected as the Mayor of Washington, DC and the first mayor to earn a second term in 16 years. Since taking office, the Mayor has taken bold steps to reset DC’s global and national competitiveness, speed up affordable housing production, diversify the DC economy, increase satisfaction in city services, and invest in programs and policies that allow more families to live and thrive in DC. In the past five years, Mayor Bowser has: added more than 57,000 jobs, reduced unemployment by 28 percent, and increased DC Government’s annual spending with local businesses by $200 million; chaired the National League of Cities Task Force on Housing, doubled the District’s annual investment in affordable housing, and set a bold goal to build 36,000 new homes by 2025; transformed DC’s homeless services system, building small, service-enriched shelters across the city and bringing chronic homelessness to a 15-year low; championed a wide range of family-friendly policies, including: raising the minimum wage to $15/hour, adding more than 1,000 new child care seats, and focusing the DC Government’s attention on improving maternal health outcomes; delivered a new stadium for DC United (Major League Soccer) and a new arena for the Mystics (WNBA) that includes a practice facility for the Wizards (NBA); deployed the first major city body-worn camera program; collaborated with leaders from C40 cities around the world to advance the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement; led diplomatic and economic development missions to China, Cuba, Israel, Canada, El Salvador, and Ethiopia; and spearheaded the 2016 voter referendum on DC statehood, with more than 86 percent of voters approving of statehood. Prior to becoming Mayor in 2015, Bowser served as the Ward 4 Councilmember on the Council of the District of Columbia – first elected in a special election in 2007 and re-elected in 2008 and 2012. As a Councilmember, she served as the Chairwoman of the Committee on Economic Development which created more than 5,000 units of affordable housing, passed legislation to build the new soccer stadium, and secured from the federal government the best portion of the Walter Reed campus for DC. She also led her colleagues to pass comprehensive ethics reform and increased transparency in government contracting.
Dr. Muriel Bowser
Mayor | Washington, District of Columbia
Maia Regman
Student | Howard UniversityMaia Regman is a senior business management major from New York studying at Howard University. She is a micro-influencer that builds community and platforms. She combines graphic design, photography, and videography skills with her 5+ years of expertise in social media and public relations consulting to inspire creatives and empower entrepreneurs. As a college ambassador, in particular, her added value is her social media page for Howard University, @150Bison. @150Bison connects over 8,000 Howard University students to administration, organizations, and alumni. It has amassed over 30 million total impressions on social media.
Maia Regman
Student | Howard University
Montrella Cowan, MSW, LICSW
Licensed TherapistMontrella Cowan is the Founder and CEO of Affinity Health Affairs which inspires women and men like you to “step into their greatness” through her private psychotherapy practice, health and wellness workshops, online courses, and speaking engagements. She also serves as a mentor to young adults helping to transform them into effective change agents. A licensed Psychotherapist and Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and Life Coach, Montrella earned a Masters in Social Work from Howard University and holds a Bachelors in Social Work and Interdisciplinary Studies from Catholic University of America. A thought-provoking, culturally-competent professional, international best-selling author, and personal trauma and relationship expert, Montrella works to help women like you to heal from their past and create happy, healthy and whole relationships with themselves, their family, and their romantic partners. Montrella is a renowned thought leader whose relationship expertise has been featured in Inspired Living TV, Essence Magazine, Radio One, NPR, NBC, ABC, and dozens of other local, regional, and national media outlets.
Montrella Cowan, MSW, LICSW
Licensed Therapist
Dr. Chelsi Clark, Ph.D.
Certified Yoga TherapistMarsha D. Banks-Harold, certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT), Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator (TCTSY-F), E-RYT 500, YACEP, RPYT, RCYT, BSEE, Chair, Diversity in Yoga & Cancer Care Committee, Society of Integrative Oncology Special Interest Group, Ambassador Black Girl Yoga, and owner of PIES Fitness Yoga Studio, is an intuitive healer called to empower clients to fortify one’s strength of awesomeness; to learn to rely on one’s authentic self; and to cultivate everlasting physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual (PIES) peace. Marsha is the creator of the flagship yoga class My Body Don’t Bend That Way designed for clients who don’t believe they are flexible enough for yoga, who are afraid to get onto the floor, who are living with physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual pains or those who have restricted range of motion. She thrives in creating a supportive, inclusive, diverse, adaptive and accessible yoga and yoga therapy experience for all.
Marsha D. Banks-Harold
Certified Yoga Therapist
B Leah
Chaplain | Spoken Word ArtistLeah Burgess is a wife, mother, and servant of Christ. She is living a God Dream as a dual degree MDiv/MSW student at Howard University while serving as Chaplain at Takoma Academy. B.Leah continues to have a passion to see, listen and advocate for the dignity of marginalized and oppressed communities; while making bread, diffusing essential oils and living out her grandmom’s legacy curating plants.
B Leah
Chaplain | Spoken Word Artist
Wayne A. Frederick, M.D.
President | Howard UniversityDr. Wayne A. I. Frederick was appointed the seventeenth president of Howard University in 2014. He previously served as Provost and Chief Academic Officer. Most recently, the Howard University Board of Trustees selected Dr. Frederick to serve as the distinguished Charles R. Drew Professor of Surgery. A distinguished scholar and administrator, Dr. Frederick has advanced Howard University's commitment to student opportunity, academic innovation, public service, and fiscal stability. Early in his tenure as president, Dr. Frederick pursued initiatives to streamline and strengthen university operations. He has overseen a series of reform efforts, including the expansion of academic offerings, establishing innovative programs to support student success, and the modernization of university facilities.
Wayne A. Frederick, M.D.
President | Howard University
Lauren Simmons
Certified Health CoachI’m a New Orleans girl living in the Nation’s Capital. I moved to the Washington, DC metropolitan area at 19 years old to attend my dream school as a baby Bison. After receiving my B.S. in Human Growth & Development from Howard University, I began my career in education. I earned my masters degree in Counseling Psychology shortly thereafter. Because I come from a family of educators, I sought after more knowledge and applied to Nova Southeastern University in North Miami Beach, Fl where I earned my EdD in Child, Youth & Adolescence with a specialty in Exceptional Children after 10 years of teaching. Like most career-minded individuals, I continued to excel and experience the stressors of everyday life. I began experiencing intractable migraines, blood pressure spikes and my body weight increased to 219lbs without explanation. After changing my lifestyle, conducting some research and ultimately using traditional doctors as a resource, I was well on my way to resolving my health challenge. Upon recommendation of 20+ medications from 6+ specialists and 2-1/2 years later, I was still without answers. I decided on the natural route. At this point, I was 65lbs down (154lbs). After a lot of sleuthing and the right tests, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. My lifestyle was further tweaked as I lost a total of 101lbs and I sent my autoimmune disease into remission in just 8 months.
Dr. Lauren Simmons
Certified Health Coach
Amber Arirngton
Group Fitness InstructorAmber Arrington is a health and lifestyle coach specializing in helping men and women create healthy habits that support their values, promote wellness, and increase their quality of life. Her mantra is: Activate Your Health, Amplify Your Life and she empowers clients to AMPLIFY by sharing strategies to help them: Eat Better, Workout Bigger, and Live Bolder! Amber has a creative coaching style that makes clients feel comfortable and daring, while overcoming negative thoughts and ideology related to poor body image, low quality foods, and minimal movement. Amber is a Certified Health Education Specialist and Group Fitness Instructor for HIIT workouts, Zumba, Hip Hop Dance Fitness and Xtreme Hip Hop Step and teaches these classes online, outdoors, and in gyms. Her health coaching clients and fitness students have lost hundreds of pounds and gained more clarity, confidence and consistency by Amplifying with Amber! Get connected to free health and fitness resources by visiting www.amplifywithamber.com for more information.
Amber Arrington
Group Fitness Instructor
Dr. Bridgett Neamo, Psy.D
PsychotherapistBridgett S. Neamo, Psy.D is the Director of Testing and Psychotherapist at Howard University Counseling Services and a Major in the United States Army Reserves. She provides†individual and group psychotherapy to students of the counseling services, provides crisis intervention, and coordinate and facilitate some outreach activities to the Howard University students, staff/faculty, and the greater community. Dr. Neamo is a board member of the Interpersonal Violence Prevention Program where she is dedicated to the prevention and awareness of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking prevention and intervention. She is also a committee member of the Ward 2 Drug Free Coalition that is committed to substance abuse education, prevention, and training to the targeted audience of Howard University community and Ward 2. Dr. Neamoís focus and areas of interest are trauma, sexual assault, molestation, rape, sex trafficking, depression, suicide, substance abuse, chronic illnesses, stress management, relaxation, nutrition, health, and wellness. Dr. Neamo is passionate about not only dedicating her time and energy to community service, but also most importantly, educating the community about mental health and arming them with the tools and resources to navigate. She has a plethora of experience working with children, adolescents and adults to include also working with juveniles and adults in the criminal justice system.
Dr. Bridgett Neamo, Psy.D
Psychotherapist
Aisha Taha
Student | Howard UniversityAisha is a Sudanese transfer student, currently majoring in Political Science with a minor in International Affairs at Howard University. Aisha also is an active member of the Transfer Student Association, HU Imprint, on the Model UN team and also on the writing committee for the HU chapter of the United Nations Association.
Aisha Taha
Student | Howard University
Lauren Boone, MDiv, MSW
Owner | LoveWellLauren Boone, MDiv, MSW is a teacher of the heart and social worker passionate about black social transformation! She is the Founder of LoveWell, a Wellness Ministry, where the mission is guided by God's command to LOVE THY NEIGHBOR! She believes that who we are deserves to be loved, developed, and strengthened holistically and is inseparable from who we show up as in this world. Through LoveWell, she is committed to creating and holding inclusive gatherings for faith and wellness seekers. Lovewell is a community for people on a quest to strengthen or develop his/her/their well-being through community wellness programs that promote love, connection, and personal enrichment through a wellness framework- her ministry!
Lauren Boone, MDiv, MSW
Owner | LoveWell
Rachel Howell
Howard University StudentRachel Howell is a senior Political Science major and Philosophy minor from Shelby, North Carolina by way of Alpharetta, Georgia. Rachel serves as the 60th President of the Howard University Student Association (HUSA), where she advocates for approximately 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students. A proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Alpha Chapter Rachel holds an extensive resume of service, being the former Deputy Chief of Staff of HUSA and Vice President of the College of Arts & Science Student Council. She has spearheaded political advocacy initiatives on campus that led to over 2,000 Howard students getting registered to vote, and led the establishment of a mentorship program that paired Howard University graduate students with undergraduate students. Rachel has been a staunch and consistent advocate for HBCUs on and off campus, serving as an Undergraduate Assistant in the Howard University Department of External Affairs, interning with the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), and the late Honorable Congressman John Lewis. In December of 2019, she was selected as a Young AfricanA Leadership Initiative (YAALI) fellow, where she did research and community service in South Africa. Currently, Rachel is working with the Collective PAC as a correspondence intern, where she is responsible for monitoring social media platforms and drafting long term and provides speech writing services to support get out to vote efforts. After she graduates, Rachel will continue working at the forefront of higher education and policy by pursuing a Juris Doctorate. Rachel lives by the quote from Marvin J. Ashton, “God gives us difficulties to bring out the best in us.”
Rachel Howell
Howard University Student
Khetnu Nefer
Certified Holistic PractitionerKhetnu Nefer is a certified holistic health practitioner of Gullah/Geechee heritage originally from John's Island, SC who is a passionate womb warrior and women's health advocate. An Army veteran, uterine cancer survivor and licensed massage therapist of over 16 years, Khetnu fuses various modalities to assist women on their path to well being or what she has coined “A Soulful Life”. She is a professional African dancer, certified Egyptian yoga instructor, community herbalist, certified birth doula, certified Kukuwa African dance instructor and former massage therapy professor. As a graduate of the American College of Healthcare Sciences in Portland, Oregon, Khetnu established her mobile holistic wellness company, A Soulful Touch Wellness, now located in Washington, D.C. where she provides various workshops, products and services to assist women in healing their wombs and their lives through practical and affordable holistic health protocols. Khetnu is also a self published author of two books: 28 Days to A Soulful Life and the 28 Days to A Soulful Life Guided journal in addition to being the founder of the Gullah Geechee Herbal Gathering, an annual herbal conference for Black and Indigenous herbalists that takes place in Charleston, SC. To learn more about Khetnu and her services please visit her website www.asoulfultouch.com .
Khetnu Nefer
Certified Holistic Practitioner
Jordyn Allen
Howard University StudentJordyn Allen is a passionate public speaker who lives by the motto “Speak to Inspire. Speak to Empower.” As a firm believer that your voice is the most powerful weapon, she founded “Speak to Inspire. Speak to Empower.” to teach children and adults the art of public speaking. Jordyn's speeches have been embedded in high school and college public speaking curricula across the nation. Jordyn holds 16 National titles in Speech & Debate, including HBCU Informative Speaking National Champion (2020), National Speech & Debate Association Informative Speaking Champion (2019), Harvard Informative Speaking Champion (2018), National Speech & Debate Association Informative Speaking Runner (2017) and Two-Time NSDA President's Bowl Winner. Jordyn's advocacy has prevented gerrymandering of school zones within Broward County Public Schools and has allowed her to argue and win a case before the National Bar Association. Although she has received numerous accolades in many fields, it is more important to her that children and adults understand the power of their voice and how to use it effectively to create change. Jordyn is currently a Sophomore Marketing major with, Political Science minor at Howard University where she serves as the 9th Chairwoman of the Howard University Student Association Senate.
Jordyn Allen
Howard University Student
Ava Adames
Financial Literacy ConsultantNicole is a graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy. She has been practicing Pharmacy for over 10 years. Her passion to assist others on their wellness journey is what drew her to this career path. After practicing for several years, Nicole realized that her influence in the community had to reach beyond the pharmacy. Since partnering with her financial firm about 4 years ago, Nicole has become increasingly concerned about and aware of the importance of financial literacy. Nicole knows the important of the relationship between health and wealth. Working in both the healthcare and financial industries, she has been able to teach and put into practice concepts that help enhance quality of life for whoever she meets. Seeing how financial issues affect health and how lack of financial literacy can drain ones wealth, she’s taken on the task of being a crusader to spread knowledge. Her goal is to empower all people, but especially black women, to take control of their health and finances in order to give them hope and confidence about their future and that of their lineage.
Nicole Julia Varnado
Financial Literacy Consultant
Dr. Ebony White
Licensed Professional Counselor | Approved Clinical SupervisorDr. Ebony White is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a National Certified Counselor, and an Approved Clinical Supervisor. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Counseling and Family Therapy and the Program Director of the Master in Addiction’s Counseling program at Drexel University. Dr. White teaches a variety of courses such as Multicultural Counseling, Cognitive Behavioral Counseling, and Case Management Techniques through a social justice framework. As the Executive Director of the Center for Mastering and Refining Children’s Unique Skills (MARCUS), a non-profit organization, she focuses on expanding developmental pathways for at-promise adolescents in Trenton, NJ through counseling, mentoring, and tutoring. Clinically she focuses primarily on issues that impact the relationships and functioning of African Americans, primarily women and teens. She also provides multicultural and mental health training for law enforcement, religious leaders, educators, and community members. Dr. Ebony is a master TeamStepps trainer, a curriculum designed to improve the functioning of teams in healthcare settings. Although she primarily provides training for the College of Nursing and Health Professions at Drexel University, she recently trained healthcare professionals internationally in Gombe State, Nigeria using these techniques. She appeared on TVC News Nigeria for her presentation on using effective communication strategies in healthcare settings to prevent fatalities as provided at the Nigeria Health Leadership Conference in April 2019.
Dr. Ebony White
Licensed Professional Counselor | Approved Clinical Supervisor
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