In celebration of Juneteenth, on Saturday, June 11, 2022, IEYF hosted its inaugural Mental Health & Wellness Workshop for Women of Color at LA Create Sp_ce in Inglewood, California. The workshop was a huge success! Several women and their daughters gathered to recognize the importance of mental health and learn how to manage their mental health through wellness resources and activities. Everyone had a fantastic time congregating, learning, and supporting each other.
The workshop consisted of a community-based forum dedicated to strengthening mental health and wellness for women of color. IEYF's impactful guest speakers included Paulette Halthon, licensed master medical aesthetician; Keisha Shipley, MSW, LCSW, therapist; and Claudine Copper, a famous fitness trainer and co-owner of an Inglewood Based Wellness Studio.
Including IEYF's youth topics was necessary as mental health is imperative for teens to connect and communicate with their peers. IEYF's dynamic youth speakers were well informed and provided their perspectives on mental health. Youth speakers included Kennedy Schultz, The Archer School for Girls senior, a volunteer at Teenline (a hotline for teens in crisis) and Kaiser Permanente; and Bree Wilkerson, Stem Magnet Senior and peer health advocate for her school's wellbeing center.
All participants received culturally specific mental health resources through interactive therapeutic sessions, yoga, networking, two gift basket giveaways, and so much more.