Kahshanna Evans’ Post

TODAY'S THE DAY! Cockhren Consulting, in partnership with Kissing Lions Public Relations, is lighting up BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month with “Equity in Practice: Anti-pathology Approaches to Mental Health Care for People of Color”—a virtual and on-demand workshop series facilitated by Ingrid Cockhren, M.Ed. To answer a frequently asked question: This virtual workshop and on-demand series is a fee-based training. The Linkedin LIVE audio discussions are free! Let’s recap the overall series: 👨👩👧👦  In this LIVE and on-demand virtual workshop series hosted by Ingrid Cockhren, M.Ed., mental health practitioners and leaders that serve communities of color will learn “equity in action” as it pertains to providing proper care and treatment of Black and African-American women, men, and youth. Let’s recap today's virtual workshop: 💻  In this workshop, Ingrid Cockhren will discuss the “Equity in Practice” how equitable access to mental health care for women(+) of color is more than just having access to a mental health professional. (Be sure to visit the official event splash page to review the corresponding objectives for each workshop!) Let’s recap our “why”: 🌎 Here’s our “why”—In the mental health field, practitioners who are unable to provide proper care for vulnerable communities, including Black and African-American people, run the risk of doing harm. Practitioners and leaders struggling to understand the role historical trauma, racial trauma, and other environmental factors play in the mental health care of Black and African-American women, this professional development workshop series is for you. Here are the dates for the July virtual workshops! ✦ Equity in Action: Black Women(+)—July 10 ✦ Equity in Action: Black Men—July 17 ✦ Equity in Action: Black Youth—July 24 Stay tuned for updates on access to the on-demand, self paced series. I’ll drop links and helpful information in the comment thread below. #linkincomments

** TODAY @ 1:30 pm (ET) on Linkedin LIVE! ** I can't help but wonder how many Black/African-American and people of African descent in need of mental health care services have been told "we're excited to learn from you" from their therapist—like I was. As I described a triggered Euro-American woman in my workplace, at the time, who'd made it her mission to disrupt my ability to make progress on my projects or to grow at the organization, and freely defaulted to insulting tropes, I realized the responses were homogenous. With little to no knowledge about historical and generational context, the "what ifs" and the "maybes" signaled me that it was easily assumed I was somehow mistaken about retaliation, hostility, and dominant caste supremacy culture in the workplace. When I asked to be referred to a Black/African-American therapist, I was booted from the platform without a referral and no follow up to my email during a time I was distressed. In addition to the issues I took measures to work through, the compounding effect was an incredible burden that added to stress, anxiety, burnout, and overwhelm. Plenty came out of my paycheck for the privilege of having access to a therapist, but to what avail? My problem wasn't solved and I was dropped as if asking for a referral was criminal. As someone who has studied various modalities of whole-person wellbeing—including taking the time to understand antiblackness, racism, and inequity for the public health issues they are, and understand the incredibly significant improvements trauma-informed practices can provide—I was shocked and disappointed. That choice as a listed mental health care provider was, to me, as far from "heart-centered" as it gets. Just like the JoHari Window points out: You don't know what you don't know. Our entire ability to move the world to higher ground where all people can thrive relies on our ability to embrace the impact of toxic stress on our nervous system and how that can be complicated by racism, public health crises and epidemic. There is powerful insight in the evidence of positive and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs, PCEs, also known as PACEs and resilience science)—Adverse Childhood Experiences, Adverse Community Experiences, Adverse Climate Events, Atrocious Cultural Events, and Positive Childhood Experiences. If it happens to me and I have 'some' access, what must it be like for those who are Black, BIPOC, and more marginalized? As an avid believer in trauma-informed transformation, I partnered for the #EquityInPractice virtual workshop and on-demand series that edicates on anti-pathology approaches to mental health care for women(+), men, and youth of color. The virtual workshop is fee-based, but today's Linkedin LIVE audio discussion facilitated by Ingrid Cockhren, M.Ed. of Cockhren Consulting focuses on women(+) and serves as a kick-off the first women(+) training which begins tomorrow. I hope this professional development resource will be shared widely.

If you're looking forward to a deep dive on the iconic Jawole Willa Jo Zollar—the world premiere of her new dance-driven jazz sensation Scat!, or the 2024 Samuel H. Scripps/American Dance Festival lifetime achievement award she'll be accepting this July—check out "Movement and Legacy: The Advocacy of Jawole Willa Jo Zollar," a recent feature in The World's Best Magazine. “Once you understand it was no accident that ‘race’ was built into city planning and development—or the deliberateness of exclusion—you can begin to really understand why it’s important we break down those barriers.” – JAWOLE WILLA JO ZOLLAR Sending a great big thank you to the editorial team all the way in Australia! I'll drop some links in the comment thread below. #linkincomments

Have you heard? Cockhren Consulting, in partnership with Kissing Lions Public Relations, is lighting up BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month with “Equity in Practice: Anti-pathology Approaches to Mental Health Care for People of Color”—a virtual and on-demand workshop series facilitated by Ingrid Cockhren, M.Ed. In anticipation of the first virtual workshop, join us on Tuesday, July 9th @ 1:30 - 2:30 pm (ET) for a FREE Linkedin LIVE audio discussion focused on #equityinpractice for women(+) of color. Let’s recap the series: 👨👩👧👦  In this LIVE and on-demand virtual workshop series hosted by Ingrid Cockhren, M.Ed., mental health practitioners and leaders that serve communities of color will learn “equity in action” as it pertains to providing proper care and treatment of Black and African-American women, men, and youth. Let’s recap the virtual workshop: 💻  In this workshop, Ingrid Cockhren will discuss the “Equity in Practice” how equitable access to mental health care for women(+) of color is more than just having access to a mental health professional. (Be sure to visit the official event splash page to review the corresponding objectives for each workshop!) Let’s recap our “why”: 🌎 Here’s our “why”—In the mental health field, practitioners who are unable to provide proper care for vulnerable communities, including Black and African-American people, run the risk of doing harm. Practitioners and leaders struggling to understand the role historical trauma, racial trauma, and other environmental factors play in the mental health care of Black and African-American women, this professional development workshop series is for you. Here are the dates for the July virtual workshop! ✦ Equity in Action: Black Women(+)—July 10 ✦ Equity in Action: Black Men—July 17 ✦ Equity in Action: Black Youth—July 24 Join the FREE Linkedin LIVE audio discussion. I’ll drop links and helpful information in the comment thread below. #linkincomments

I am kicking off BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month—originally named Bebe Moore Campbell's Minority Mental Health Awareness Month—with gratitude by acknowledging Creative Director Todd Wilson of Instrumental, an incredibly talented creative in my network who championed my success. After freelancing and developing a client base and network in arts, culture, media, and entertainment piqued Todd's interest, a corporate downsize was the perfect opportunity to take an entrepreneurial leap of faith. Todd now operates a small agency offering creative direction, brand strategy, design, and content development to arts and culture, entertainment, media, nonprofit, and lifestyle industries. Instrumental values taking a human-centered approach and strongly believes that design is the solution to every problem. His superpower is creative thinking. Todd loves collaborating with other creative individuals. Todd Wilson says, "Instrumental wants the work to be smart and well-designed. We want our design thinking to effectively speak to our client’s audience, build consistent branding, and meet marketing objectives." How did I get so lucky? Todd and I collaborated previously and he recalled my passion for my client's success. Most of Instrumental's clients are people of color, with a majority being black-woman owned/managed businesses and organizations. Thank you Todd, for uplifting my name in rooms I wasn't in an for powerful creativity that inspires me every time I see it! Seen in the photo—Instrumental Agency's Brand Strategy and Art Direction for Our Human Family magazine (fall/winter 2020). I'll drop a link and additional information in the comments below! #linkincomments

I am honored to be among the newly appointed the New York State Trauma-Informed Network and Resource Center (TINRC) Advisory Council Members funded by the New York State Office of Mental Health. The Advisory Council guides and directs NYS TINRC activities and priorities, including planning for quarterly and annual meetings. I will be joining a diverse representation of people across regions, sectors, national origins, ethnicities, genders, and experiences, who have a commitment to trauma-informed and equity-centered principles and practices individually and within their organization. I'll drop links and additional information in the comment thread below. The goal of the Advisory Council is to continue the work that began in 2016 when the New York State Office of Mental Health and Coordinated Care Services, Inc. (CCSI) convened trauma-informed care champions from around the state to connect and collaborate. This event sent an extraordinary message: We can accelerate trauma-responsive practice change efforts by being better connected to one another. The TINRC envisions a New York State where all people and their communities can attain wellness and resiliency, and systems have the tools to support healing from toxic stress and trauma. Based on my personal experiences, I think when people, communities, or a culture experience life-changing violence, they need life-changing tools, resources, and interventions to recover, heal, and reach their full potential. I'll draw from my former role at PACEs Connection (formerly ACEs Connection) as the Director of Creating Resilient Communities and experience spearheading its free, grant-funded Creating Resilient Communities Accelerator certification and fellowship programs. PACEs Connection was unique in its approach to educating on positive and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs, PCEs)—also known as PACEs and resilience science—and supporting hundreds of local, state, and national educational initiatives understand the role trauma-informed awareness, antiracism, and social justice work plays in creating awareness about related ACEs over a lifetime: Adverse Community Experiences, Adverse Climate Events, and Atrocious Cultural Experiences. To commemorate this special work, I'll quote this land acknowledgement: "The New York City Commission on Human Rights (“Commission”) acknowledges the land politically designated as New York City to be the homeland of the Lenape (Lenapehoking) who were violently displaced as a result of European settler colonialism over the course of 400 years. The Lenape are a diasporic people that remain closely connected with this land and are its rightful stewards. We also recognize that New York City has one of the largest urban Native American / Indigenous populations in the United States." Thank you to Elizabeth Meeker, Josh Higgins, Margarita Tegas, MPH, Brittny Ellington, and the TINRC Advisory Council and supporting networks. #linkincomments

Have you heard? Cockhren Consulting, in partnership with Kissing Lions Public Relations, is lighting up BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month this July with “Equity in Practice: Anti-pathology Approaches to Mental Health Care for People of Color”—a virtual and on-demand workshop series facilitated by Ingrid Cockhren, M.Ed. Let’s recap: 👨👩👧👦 In this LIVE and on-demand virtual workshop series hosted by Ingrid Cockhren, M.Ed., mental health practitioners and leaders that serve communities of color will learn “equity in action” as it pertains to providing proper care and treatment of Black and African-American women, men, and youth. 💻 In this workshop, Ingrid Cockhren will discuss the “Equity in Practice” how equitable access to mental health care for women(+) of color is more than just having access to a mental health professional. (Be sure to visit the official event splash page to review the corresponding objectives for each workshop!) 🌎 Here’s our “why”—In the mental health field, practitioners who are unable to provide proper care for vulnerable communities, including Black and African-American people, run the risk of doing harm. Practitioners and leaders struggling to understand the role historical trauma, racial trauma, and other environmental factors play in the mental health care of Black and African-American women, this professional development workshop series is for you. Next up, women(+) of color—here are the additional July dates! ✦ Equity in Action: Black Women(+)—July 10 ✦ Equity in Action: Black Men—July 17 ✦ Equity in Action: Black Youth—July 24 IMPORTANT REGISTRATION STEPS: ✅ STEP #1: Register on the official event splash page. ✅ STEP #2: Secure your spot for individual events in the series you’re interested in attending ✅ STEP #3: Attend the virtual workshop or access on-demand ✅ STEP #4: Receive your #equityinpractice tool kit I’ll drop links and helpful information in the comment thread below. #linkincomments

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Awww, what a fantastic way to kick off Monday, Adair Finucane—by feeling seen and appreciated for every flop that contributed to the discussion. Cornell Green, as it turns out, we're really good at talking about failure together!

Love this, Watch Her Win New York! Fill up on positive networking vibes this Friday, Linkedin fam!