Dear Community Member,


In October, we kicked off our 2021 - 2022 season of Healing Conversations with a focus on "The Wisdom of Healing Through..." You can watch our previous conversations at our new Ministry site or on our YouTube Channel.

The intent of our Healing Conversations is to have safe and engaging conversations that inspire healing, hope, and awareness around issues that impact our own lives and the lives of others within our communities.
Join us on Thursday, February 24th at 7:00PM for the next conversation in our series where we will explore the idea of vulnerability.

Vulnerability is the willingness to show up and share your authentic self while knowing that you have no control over the outcome of your interactions. Vulnerability removes defensiveness, promotes empathy, and bolsters creativity. Many associate vulnerability with weakness, and push people away out of fear of rejection or ridicule. 

Many of us are uncomfortable with being vulnerable and look at it as a negative. To deal with our problems, we want positive, straightforward explanations that offer happiness, joy, and don’t require our being vulnerable. However, there are many myths about vulnerability that lead people to put on “emotional armor” in a manner that prevents them from living authentically and being able to heal. 

Vulnerability leads to relationships. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path. Vulnerability is the pathway to a deeper connection with God and others around us.

RSVP REQUIRED
To register for the February 24th
Healing Conversation, click on the link below:
FACILITATOR
Tiana Joyner
Tiana is VOACC's Vice President of Carolinas' programs. She has been a trailblazer in the homeless community collaborating with community partners in various concentrations. Tiana has led VOACC in becoming one of the most well-known agencies leading the battle on ending Veteran Homelessness.

She started her career working with America’s most vulnerable early on which she determined as being purely a part of God’s plan.
Working for a large data management company, she had to leave her position when her son became ill. The situation inspired her to become interested in and working with Black Infant Mortality Reduction (BIM.) While working with the families Tiana discovered a trend in housing needs amongst the families.
RESPONDENTS
Joseph Bachota
Chaplain Joe, as he's known at VOACC is our Carolina's Chaplain. Joe is a proud Army veteran and served for 20 years, including 4 tours of combat, in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Lord has allowed Joe to serve in many different ways, in many different churches in locations around the world. He looks forward to continuing to serve anywhere, and everywhere, and any way God would have him to serve.
He and his wife have two adult children and two foster children, whom they are also looking to adopt, hopefully later this year.
Judith Johnson-Hostler
Judith is a master’s level clinician who has worked in the field of addiction for over 20 years.

Presently, she is employed at the Alcohol Drug Council of North Carolina as the Coordinator for the state’s Perinatal Substance Use Project. She is responsible for providing training and care coordination for women seeking residential treatment and serves as a consultant to both the NC Division of Public Health/Women’s Branch of
Raleigh and the Division of Mental Health/Development Disability/Substance Abuse Services in the Addictions & Management Operation Section. Her current focus of work is addressing the opioid epidemic, pregnancy and women with children
Valerie M.A. Nichols
Laurel City Councilwoman Nichols is the first Woman of Color to serve on the Council and serve as its first Woman of Color Council President. 

In 1986, she moved to the DC with only $4.73 in her pocket. Since that time, she has completed 20 years of Federal service which includes her position as a White House appointee, serving two former Presidential appointees under the Clinton Administration.
Today, Councilwoman Nicholas is often referred to as the Wounded Healer because she uses her own wounds of abuse to help empower and heal the wounds of others. Currently, she works for the Adventist Healthcare System as a Patient Advocate.
To learn more about our upcoming Healing Conversations, visit www.voachesapeake.org/healing-conversations.

For questions, please email us at [email protected].