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The Art of Joyful Wellness Parent Summit

Discover joyful, lasting wellness for yourself and your home

MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS

The Art of Joyful Wellness Parent Summit

Parenting is rewarding, but it is also demanding work—and you were never meant to carry it all on empty.

What does joyful wellness look like for your family? At the inaugural AJW Summit, parents, guardians, and caregivers will come together for a day of rest, encouragement, and real wellness tools you can actually use at home. You pour so much into your household—let this be a space that pours right back into you.

The Art of Joyful Wellness Parent Summit is designed specifically for caregivers and parents of youth and teens. This inaugural summit offers a welcoming, culturally affirming space to set down daily burdens, learn practical wellness tools, and build community with others who share your journey.

• When: Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (doors open at 8:30)
• Where: Urban Alliance, Kalamazoo
• Who Should Attend: Parents, guardians, providers, and caregivers of youth and teens
• Investment: $25 (Includes full program access, meals, and wellness resources)

“Attending a Synergy Health Center event completely shifted how I show up for my family. For the first time, I felt seen, supported, and given real tools I could actually use at home instead of just generic advice. It was the reset I didn’t even realize I desperately needed.”

— Past Synergy Health Center Community Wellness Participant

Tentative Agenda

• 9–9:10 a.m. | Morning Awakening: Welcome & Continental Breakfast | Registration, morning mingling and a nourishing breakfast to fuel the mind and body.
• 9:15–10:30 a.m. | Decoding Youth Mental Health: Spotting the Signs of Stress, Anxiety and Depression | Keynote Address
• 10:30–10:35 a.m. | The Mindful Shift: Transition Break | A brief pause to transition smoothly into the morning breakout rooms.
• 10:35–11:20 a.m. | Empowered Caregiving: Breakout Sessions (Series 1) | Room 1: Nurturing the Nurturer: Burnout Prevention & Self-Preservation for Parents (Shifting focus toward parental well-being, healthy boundary setting and practical strategies to prevent caregiver exhaustion); Room 2: The Connected Family: Building Emotional Co-Regulation Skills Across Ages (Exploring actionable tools to foster mutual emotional regulation and family connection across different developmental stages).
• 11:20–11:25 a.m. | The Mindful Shift: Transition | A quick transition before diving into our second round of learning.
• 11:25 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. | Deepening the Connection: Breakout Sessions (Series 2) | Room 1: Nurturing the Nurturer: Burnout Prevention & Self-Preservation for Parents; Room 2: The Connected Family: Building Emotional Co-Regulation Skills Across Ages.
• 12:10–12:20 p.m. | Presenter: SHC CEO Valarie Cunningham | Igniting Hope: Call to Action | An inspiring and motivational address mobilizing our community of parents and leaders.
• 12:20–12:50 p.m. | The Joyful Pause: Mind-Body Alignment Experience | A 30-minute restorative somatic and mindfulness experience featuring guided breathwork, gentle seated stretching, body check-ins and a calming meditation to center parents and caregivers.
• 12:50–12:55 p.m. | Presenter: Dr. Shea | Final Thoughts and Thank-Yous | A heartfelt closing reflection and expression of gratitude to our sponsors, partners, speakers and families for making the summit possible.
• 12:55–2 p.m. | The Shared Table: Working & Full-Conversation Lunch | A communal gathering where attendees can enjoy a healthy lunch while continuing meaningful conversations and networking.

Reserve Your Space for the Parent Summit

What's In It for You?

1. Practical Wellness Tools: Learn simple, actionable strategies to manage stress, protect your peace, and bring calm into your household.
2. Community Connection: Share real conversations with other parents and caregivers who understand the daily journey of raising children and teens today.
3. A Space to Rest: Take dedicated time to unplug, reset, and focus entirely on your mental and emotional well-being.

This isn't just another seminar; it is a restorative departure from the stresses of daily parenting. Attendees will walk away with an actionable wellness plan, a renewed sense of self-compassion, and a supportive network of local resources and fellow parents. Reserve your space below.

Join Dr. Shea and guest speakers for a restorative, restful, well-being event on Oct. 17 at Urban Alliance ($25 registration). Reserve your space below.

"Our families are the heartbeat of our community, but strong households require supported, well-cared-for parents and caregivers. The Restorative Vessel was created to ensure you have an affirming space to set down daily burdens, connect with others, and discover joyful, lasting wellness for yourself and your home."

— Dr. Shea-Lin Shobowale-Benson, Clinical Manager

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