Black & Womxn: Overwhelmed and Underserved: A Critical Conversation on Mental Health

DATE: June 10, 2021

TIME: 10:30 PM - 11:30 PM

COST: $0 – $25

VENUE: Virtual

ADDRESS:

What is the lived experience for Black womxn in America?

Join UN Women USA NY on Thursday, June 10 for the final installment of our special virtual series - Black & Womxn in America. Our final conversation will highlight the state of mental health not only within the United States, but throughout the world for womxn of color.

This conversation will examine the lived experience of Black womxn as it pertains to the impact of systemic racism for quality healthcare, grief and loss, social impact, education and stigma within the Black community.

For this critical conversation, we are thrilled to have the powerful voices, minds and hearts of Dr. Oni Blackstock, primary care and HIV physician and Founder and Executive Director of Health Justice, Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis, Professor of Psychology at Pepperdine University and former President of the Society of the Psychology of Women, Ca-Asia Ann Lane, Veteran, Scholar and Advocate for Suicide Prevention & Awareness, and moderator Meisha Williams Bertels, UN Women USA NY Marketing Chair, to share their own experiences and explore these issues in depth.

RSVP today to join the conversation. For those who can, we have a suggested $25 donation fee which is tax-deductible. Proceeds will support UN Women initiatives changing the lives of women and girls worldwide.

About Dr. Oni Blackstock

Dr. Oni Blackstock is recognized as a thought leader and influencer in the areas of HIV and health equity. She is a primary care and HIV physician and the founder and Executive Director of Health Justice which helps healthcare and public health organizations to center anti-racism and equity in their workplace culture and reduce health inequities in the communities they serve. Dr. Blackstock recently served as an Assistant Commissioner at the New York City Health Department where she led the City’s response to the HIV epidemic. She holds degrees from Harvard College, Harvard Medical School, and Yale School of Medicine and is passionate about ensuring that all individuals and communities have the resources and support they need to achieve optimal health and wellbeing.

About Dr. Thema S Bryant-Davis

Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis is a Professor of Psychology at Pepperdine University. She is a former psychology representative at the United Nations and a past President of the Society of the Psychology of Women. She hosts the Homecoming podcast and has been a mental health expert on CNN, WE TV, OWN TV, CBS, and VH1. Dr. Thema directs the Culture and Trauma Research Lab and her expertise is in empowering people to survive, heal, and thrive. She is author of Thriving in the Wake of Trauma: A multicultural guide. Dr. Thema is also an activist, spoken word artist, and sacred dancer who is an ordained elder. Dr. Thema is committed to anti-oppression, liberatory approaches to holistic wellness.

About Ca-Asia Ann Lane

Ca-Asia Ann Lane is a retired U.S Army Commissioned Military Police Officer with over 20+ years of active-duty military service. Prior to retirement, she served on Army staff as the Executive Officer for the Army Suicide Prevention Office. She also served as a military strategist for Army Secretary and former House of Representatives Congressman John McHugh. In 2008 Ca-Asia was selected as a Defense Congressional Fellow and served in the Office of the late Congressman Elijah Cummings, Baltimore, MD. Among the many military assignments and deployments, her most rewarding has been company commander, where she deployed a combat Military Police Company in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2005-2006.

Ca-Asia is an advocate for suicide prevention and awareness and is a supporter of suicide survivors. Since the loss of her husband in 2008, her own personal story is one of help, healing and hope after tragedy.

About Meisha Williams Bertels

Meisha Williams Bertels is an experienced digital strategist and social impact advocate. Her mission is to tell authentic stories powered by insights to connect her clients to their audience. Meisha draws on her experience in marketing, tech, entertainment and activism to create meaningful content and programming. In her role as our Marketing Chair, she spearheads the Black & Womxn in America conversation series which highlights topics such as working, education, voting, mental health and LGBTQIA+ issues facing Black women today.