Saturday January 20th @ 11amEast Shore Library
Minds Matter Harrisburg
In person interactive events geared towards helping local Harrisburg residents take control of their mental health
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What Is Minds Matter Harrisburg?

Minds Matter Harrisburg is a partnership with BGHF and Dauphin County Library.

This includes a series of mental health-related sessions and workshops and the execution of a targeted social media strategy to educate and empower African-American women on mental health.

LUNCH WILL BE SERVED.

Join Us January 20, 2024 @ 11 AM

This Is An In-Person Event

Sponsors

Minds Matter Agenda

This is a floating event schedule section. Click the workshop to view the details about time duration, speaker, venue & more.

Show Opening

11:00am
Porcha Johnson
Opening Remarks East Shore Library Laporcha Grigsby
  • Porcha Johnson
    Porcha Johnson
    Executive Director | BGH Foundation

The live event kicks off with opening remarks from several notable speakers.

Kick-Off Speaker

11:10am
Mayor Ciera Dent
Kick-Off Speaker East Shore Library Mayor Ciera Dent
  • Mayor Ciera Dent
    Mayor Ciera Dent
    Steelton Borough Mayor

We're thrilled to announce Mayor Ciera Dent as the kickoff speaker with Mayor Ciera Dent!

Workshop 1

11:30am
Lisa Lickers
"Wealth and Well-Being: A Path to Financial Liberation" East Shore Library TBD
  • Lisa Lickers
    Lisa Lickers

Discover how financial health directly impacts your mental well-being. Learn practical strategies to improve your financial health while navigating unique challenges faced by women of color. Get ready to take charge of your financial future.

Objectives:

  1. Explore the connection between financial health and mental well-being, particularly as it relates to women of color.
  2. Learn practical financial strategies for budgeting, saving, investing, and reducing financial stress.
  3. Discuss culturally sensitive approaches to improving financial health and achieving economic security.
  4. Create a personalized action plan for financial empowerment.

Workshop 2

12:20pm
Chelsea Jones
Soulful Healing: Nurturing Minds, Elevating Spirits East Shore Library TBD
  • Chelsea Jones
    Chelsea Jones
    School-Based Therapist

Join the Black Girl Health Foundation's Minds Matter Harrisburg Mental Health Event, a transformative gathering designed exclusively for women of color. "Soulful Healing" aims to create a safe and empowering space where we delve into the complexities of mental health, self-care, and holistic healing.

Objectives:

    1. Cultivate Awareness: Open up a dialogue surrounding mental health within the context of the unique experiences of women of color. Through storytelling and shared experiences, we will foster understanding, destigmatize mental health challenges, and build a supportive community.
    2. Empower Through Knowledge: Equip participants with practical tools and resources to navigate their mental health journey. Workshops led by experienced mental health professionals will cover topics such as stress management, coping strategies, and the importance of seeking professional support.
    3. Cultivate Resilience Through Self-Care: Explore the intersection of mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Engage in interactive sessions focused on self-care practices, including mindfulness, meditation, and creative expression, to develop personalized strategies for daily mental wellness.
  • Promote Holistic Healing: Acknowledge the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit. Through workshops on nutrition, movement, and alternative healing modalities, attendees will gain insights into how holistic approaches can contribute to overall mental well-being.
    1. Inspire Collective Healing: Foster a sense of community and sisterhood. Through group discussions and collaborative activities, participants will share their stories, offer support, and build connections that extend beyond the event, creating a network for ongoing encouragement and solidarity.
  • Celebrate Joy and Self-Expression: Embrace the healing power of creativity. Engage in expressive arts and activities that encourage self-discovery, self-expression, and the celebration of individual and collective strength.

 

Workshop 3

1:10pm
April Ashe
Soulful Serenity: Yoga for Mental Healing East Shore Library TBD
  • April Ashe
    April Ashe
    Owner, UnBottled Expressionz

 Immerse yourself in a calming yoga session designed to heal your mind and soul. Cultivate mindfulness, reduce stress, and find inner peace. This session is a gentle journey towards mental clarity and emotional balance.

Objectives:

  1. Experience the calming and healing benefits of yoga for mental wellness.
  2. Learn mindfulness techniques, stress reduction strategies, and practices for emotional balance.
  3. Explore yoga's cultural relevance and its role in self-care for women of color.
  4. Cultivate a personalized daily mindfulness routine to promote mental healing.
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About In-Person Event Speakers

Mayor Ciera Dent

Mayor Ciera Dent

Steelton Borough Mayor

Ciera Dent moved to Steelton, PA with her family at the tender age of 11. From that moment she has been one that bleeds blue and gray. A graduate of Steelton-Highspire Jr. Sr. High School, Ciera became an alumnus of the great class of 2005. She currently still resides in Steelton with her four amazing children who, also, are proud Rollers! Mayor Dent went on to study Biology at Cheyney University before returning home to give birth to her first-born son. She decided to not allow life’s obstacles stop her from pursuing a post-secondary education, so she returned to schooling at Keystone Technical Institute and received an associate degree as a Medical Assistant. She has also completed classes at Central Penn College studying Business Administration and Healthcare Management. With this background and her life’s experiences, Mayor Dent learned the importance of empathy and understanding people from different walks of life. It inspired her to self-publish three books and to create The Resource Center for Hope, a non-profit organization that helps low-income families by offering everyday life essentials such as toiletries and household items. She continues to mentor mothers through The M.R.S. Community- Moms Redefining Sisterhood by teaching mothers to heal as women first. With these programs, Ciera assists with teaching financial literacy, offer resources for family counseling, health and nutrition, financial stability and offering a safe place for mothers to heal and grow. Mayor Dent uses her experiences to connect with others through building relationships to effectively cause change for the betterment of all parties involved. She is excited to learn, grow, and build relationships with the constituents of Steelton while advocating on their behalf and making sure their voices and concerns are heard.

Mayor Ciera Dent
Steelton Borough Mayor
April Ashe

April Ashe

Owner, UnBottles Expressionz

Born a native to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, April Ashe is the owner of UnBottled Expressionz llc, a customized Sugar and Salt Scrub company. She is the Organizer of Self-Care Saturdays in Harrisburg, where once a month you can pamper yourself while learning how to implement simple activities that bring clarity, peace and joy into your life daily. April hosts personal and professional trainings at the House of Representatives teaching, the Color Code, Character Code and Self-Care. After losing all sense of taste, smell, and ability to breathe through her nose in 2016, April’s body collapsed, and doctors diagnosed her with Sarcoidosis, and tested for arthritis as they noticed her muscles were intensely inflamed. With no desire to be filled with medications, April knew it was time for a change. After trying the fast, crashing ways of life, April learned, slow and steady wins the race. She began to implement small changes into her diet, daily activities, even the mental statements she spoke to herself. Life took on a whole new meaning. Gravitating back to her roots, April began studying the teachings of Usui Reiki and became a Reiki Practitioner, in balancing Self, with meditation and then became a certified yoga instructor through YogaRenew 200Hr. Using everything Mother Nature gifted us, from crystals, to herbs, and salts. Self-Care became the catalyst to building self-awareness, esteeming the ability to network, and discipline to carry out her dreams and aspirations. UnBottled Expressionz is the result of her Self-Care Journey. As she believes, “Self-Care is NOT Vanity, It’s Sanity!”

April Ashe
Owner, UnBottled Expressionz LLC
Lisa Lickers

Lisa Lickers

Partner, New York Life Insurance Company

Lisa Lickers-Ricks, a native from Buffalo, NY, is deeply committed to a life of service. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Buffalo State College and her M.A. in Human Services Counseling, driven by a profound desire to understand and address the needs of her community. Certified as a Crisis Advocate for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault victims, Lisa has mentored teen mothers and actively engaged with youth, providing essential tools and resources for their success. As a certified life coach and licensed in financial services, Lisa empowers families to establish a secure foundation for their future. Her passion lies in community service and nurturing the next generation. Her vision centers on preparing and propelling young women towards success in service, influence, education, and entrepreneurship. Founding the Young Women’s Empowerment Academy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in July 2017, Lisa expanded its reach to Buffalo, New York, Lynchburg, VA, and an expansive Virtual Academy spanning over 17 different states. Her mission is rooted in giving back to the communities that shaped her upbringing. In August 2021, Lisa achieved a significant milestone by being promoted to Partner at a Fortune 100 company. In this role, she has had the privilege of creating life-changing careers for others while continuing her commitment to community empowerment through her various initiatives.

Lisa Lickers
Partner, New York Life Insurance Company
Chelsea Jones

Chelsea Jones

School-Based Therapist

Chelsea Jones obtained her graduate degree in Social Work from Shippensburg and Millersville University in 2013. She followed with obtaining her clinical license to provide more specialized mental health treatment in 2019. Chelsea has been a passionate advocate of mental health initiatives since before graduating with her Bachelor of Social Work in 2011. She is currently working as a school-based therapist serving children of inner-city Harrisburg.

Chelsea Jones
School-Based Therapist
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