This...I...Do...For...Me: Over 50, Black and Fabulous!

Episode 8 With Lisa Butler

Lisa Butler, AM, LCSW is in private practice as a Clinical Social Worker. Twenty years ago Lisa began her social work journey with the Ounce of Prevention via the YWCA's Young Parents Program. She facilitated teen parent support groups and hired program volunteers. During her tenure with this program Lisa discovered the lack of emotional and mental support resources available for Black women and girls. In 2000 Lisa started BlackGurl Inc., a group support program for girls/young women 12-20. BlackGurl Inc. was a curriculum based pregnancy prevention program designed to increase self- esteem, promote critical thinking, and encourage social activism. This award winning program became one of the first of its kind to provide services as a vendor for Chicago Public Schools. This program served both elementary and high schools across the city. Lisa's commitment to African American women/girls mental and emotional health is rooted in her belief that the key to living whole healthy lives is having safe spaces to process trauma, learn coping strategies, and increase self-worth/self-esteem. In 2013 Lisa's work as a University of Illnois Urbana research assistant for a project examining the impact of emotional stress and trauma on the physical health of Black women and girls reinvigorated her passion for the need to provide psychotherapy in underserved communities. It also opened her eyes to the need for non-traditional therapeutic modalities i.e., yoga, mindfulness meditation, body movement, and creative visualization. She began incorporating these modalities into her work and has witnessed client's lives change. Lisa also believes in the power of group therapy as it offers clients opportunities to share their experiences with others and gain positive peer support. Lisa continues her work with women and girls to help facilitate emotional healing. She specializes in mother-daughter conflict, self-esteem, forgiveness, shame and anxiety. Lisa believes that most of our challenges begin with our thoughts about ourselves, others, and the world. She uses cognitive and dialectical behavior therapies to teach clients how their thoughts/feelings inform their behaviors and life choices. She believes that helping people recognize the power of their thoughts is key to emotional wellness. Lisa is also the Producer/Director of What's Left Behind, a documentary highlighting the moms/and families of murdered young people in Chicago. Lisa is a Ford Scholar and a graduate of University of Chicago School of Social Service. In this episode, Lisa talks about her work with women who have unhealthy Mother/Daughter relationships. These go beyond the occasional spat or philosophical disagreements that occur. Her clients are working through verbally, physically and even financially abusive relationships with their mothers. She discusses how these relationships often impair their day to day functioning and are often laden with guilt and a false sense of responsibility for the mother's happiness and well-being. Lisa, share concrete ways in to work through this miasma and how she coaches clients when a healthy Mother/Daughter relationship is just not possible.

Episode 7 WIth Loren Simmons

Loren Simmons knows a thing or two about how everything is a journey. After experiencing a traumatizing life event, she decided that she wanted a healthier lifestyle. She shares that it was commonplace for people to comment on her pretty face and beautiful personality, but those same people felt a slimmer body was needed. Loren also shares tips on how she committed to a new lifestyle through first developing a physical fitness routine through sessions with a personal trainer. These sessions were gifted to Loren by her mother, who has always been a major cheerleader. Loren started out with baby steps; at first, she couldn't do one full sit up. When she started a cycling class, she couldn't stand while pedaling. However, through a loving approach toward herself, Loren saw small and incremental changes in both her body and mindset. "I'm all about loving myself," says Loren. She refused to beat up on herself, especially when she had days when she over ate or when the discomfort of Arthritis got in the way. Loren has developed a wonderful relationship with her trainer Calvin, who wasn't a drill sergeant, but a trainer who used patience, compassion and a skilled knowledge of what works for clients individually. Calvin's sessions with Loren were designed especially for her. One training style doesn't fit all. She stresses that the weight loss/exercise path is a journey with many setbacks, but the love of her inner self helped her over many a hump. The result — 90 pounds lost over a four year period! Loren makes a point of emphasizing that older women owe it to themselves to put themselves first with guilt and self-sacrifice.

Episode 6 With Judy Mojica

Episode 6 – Judy Mojica Judy Mojica is Founder and CEO of Out of Brokenness. Before becoming a wife and mother, Judy pursued her education in the field of Missions and Pastoral Ministry at Rhema Bible College. Additionally, she studied Early Childhood Education at The University of Mount Olive. She has since completed the journey of becoming a Certified Professional Life Coach at Light University – The School of Professional Life Coaching. Since its establishment in 2012, Out of Brokenness has become known for its unparalleled commitment to client satisfaction. Judy's own story of experiencing brokenness as a result of an unexpected divorce has given her the courage and strong desire to assist other women through similar challenges. She, like so many, desperately searched for answers as to why after having been completely devoted to her marriage, two children and her home something as earth shattering as the dissolution of her all that she cherished could happen. In the initial stages of her changed status, Judy found that other women who were "Going Through" were drawn to her and she to them. It was at this point that she knew that God was establishing a new thing in her life, and she was clearer than ever of the calling and purpose of her life. She knew that it was no accident that she spent countless hours counseling women who were feeling broken and depressed. Over time, Judy's gift evolved into a growing coaching practice, along with Table Talk: The Reach Back, an extension of Out of Brokenness. Groups of women come together to collaborate and share in life's most prevalent subject matters – love, life and relationships of all kinds. From wine tastings, to chocolate to quiche, Judy uses this event as a way to build women's strength and confidence. She has also written a book, which is scheduled for release in September 2019 entitled "Broken No More". This work further details how she moved away from victimhood into wholeness. Her mission is summed up in this quote "I will always remain faithful, truthful and committed to seeing the best in you as I come along aside you to help you get from point "A" to point "B" – always encouraging and rooting you on."

Episode 5 With Sylvia Hood Washington

Sylvia Hood Washington, PhD, ND, MPH, CLT-LANA, BCTMB, HTCP, RYT-500, is an interdisciplinary trained and Board Certified Lymphatic Therapist. Born with congenital Lymphedema, Sylvia is dedicated to working with patients suffering with this disease, along with lipedema, chronic venous insufficiency, and those with compromised immune systems and suffering from diseases like Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Diabetes. She offers services in Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD-Vodder) and Decongestive Therapy, Lymphatic Drainage, Reflexology Lymphatic Drainage, Lymphatic Yoga and Lymphatic Breath-Work and Naturopathic Coaching and Counseling. She is also a prenatal and postnatal massage (BCTMB, LMT) therapist for moms experiencing pain, edema and congestion. Dr. Sylvia is the Editor in Chief of the International environmental health journal, Environmental Justice. She is the published author of two books on environmental health disparities and over a dozen articles and chapters on the impact of environmental pollution and climate change on public health. A former award winning journeyman Electronic Controls Engineer for NASA, Dr. Sylvia operates out of an environmentally healthy building known as The Green Buddha Sustainability Center that is a registered LEED Gold building project.

Episode 4 With Gerri Norington

In today's episode, you will hear what Gerri Norington is contributing to the dating scene for African American women age 50+! Gerri, who is currently retired from a very successful career as a Business Development Specialist, founded Black Seniors Network (SBSN), a networking/socialization organization hosting activities for single seniors including speed-dating, regular socials, Let's Talk Discussion groups and health education workshops. These are all geared to encourage healthy living and more fulfilled interactions among single Black singles. SBSN has a monthly newsletter that is circulated to its 400 plus supporters. In 2006, Gerri entertained the idea of starting social events for seniors with a matching making component. Gerri says, "Online dating sites were explored, but game playing seemed to be the order of the day, and it was revealed that the caliber of people didn't measure up.  Finally, in 2016, I saw a documentary done Senior speed dating called "The Art Of Love" about Caucasia seniors in upstate New York. Suddenly, the spark was reignited to organize social events for black singles and to offer speed-dating events dispersed among the other social activities to facilitate connections. Single Black Seniors Meet (now Single Black Seniors Network) was born. Gerri is the ideal person to have started this venture. With a degree in Industrial Psychology, she understands the need for women age 50+ to connect with a companion that is also navigating the aging landscape. She also understands s the importance of providing a secure environment for dating through the establishment of a secure network that is not open to predators. Participants are thoroughly vetted beforehand through an invitation only method. An equal number of women and men are invited to each speed-dating event. Speed-dating is an opportunity to have conversation with 10 individuals of the opposite sex in succession for 8 minutes each to determine if you have common interests and want to spend more time getting to know each other. Some matches have been made with upcoming weddings on the horizon! Senior Black Seniors Out on the Town is a subgroup Of SBSN that plans outings such as concerts, plays and dining experiences for those who mainly want to partake in group activities.