Prioritizing Wellness: Black Women Putting Themselves First

"We all know why we’re there, we all know why it’s important, and no one has to justify why it’s ok to talk about or care about Black women in that context." -Lauren FrazierEpisode Summary:In this episode of the BlackFemaleProject podcast, Che Abram is in conversation with attendees of the first annual Black Women’s Wellness Retreat, created and hosted by Dr. Cathia Walters-Knight. The women share what they experienced at the retreat, explain why it was so powerful, and reflect on the positive impact they’ve seen in their lives as a result of prioritizing self-care despite the many demands on their time and money.Guests:Lauren Frazier - Software Engineer at Unity Technologies, Mid-LevelPhoto / Bio - Lauren Frazier is a software engineer at Unity Technologies. She enjoys video games, board games, and tabletop games. She is a hobbyist game developer and recently released her first game; the multiplayer VR game, Conjure Strike. She is the founder of the Valkyries, a San Francisco Bay area meetup for black women to play tabletop games. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @laurenfraz Twitter: @laurenfraz Website: http://www.laurenfrazier.net/Tonesha Russell - First Year Small Business OwnerCo-owner of C&T Solutions, an administrative consulting firm based in Oakland, CA. A dynamic communicator, project manager, writer and educator with a Master’s degree in English from Georgetown University, she brings all these various skill sets to bear in her consulting work. She teaches English composition and is passionate about bringing the voices of those on the margins to the center. Her work inside the classroom is focused on highlighting the work of people of color to bring those experiences to light in the outcomes she seeks to achieve. Her love for writing and literature emerged after reading Mildred D. Taylor’s Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. At just 12 years old, Tonesha received a poignant introduction to the life she would come to know as a black person in America. She spends nights working on her personal projects, including a memoir detailing her upbringing in the inner city of Oakland, CA, lessons from college, and the transition from one institution (college) to another (marriage). She is a wife to her husband, Samuel; mother to two boys, Aaren and August; and a black girl knitter.Freda Statom - Nonprofit Executive, Mid-Level; BlackFemaleProject Advisory Board MemberExperienced Executive Director with a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit industry. Skilledin Nonprofit Management, Major Gifts, Corporate Partnerships, Grant writing , Planned Giving, EventPlanning, Grassroots Organizing, and Community Outreach. Strong relationship-building skills.Host:Che’ Abram, BlackFemaleProject, Inaugural Cohort MemberHer deepest joy being a mother, Che brings 10+ years of higher education experience to the BlackFemaleProject including extensive knowledge in the areas of enrollment, student services and retention. Specialties include: strategic planning and implementation, policy review and implementation and organizational culture change.Follow: @ayadwennimmenResources:“August Morning” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emancipation_Day#August_1,_1834http://old.jamaica-gleaner.com/pages/history/story006.htmlBlack Women’s Wellness Retreat http://drwaltersknight.com/2018-black-womens-wellness-retreat.html