Healing Hours

The Healing Hour project aspires to create a nurturing and empowering space for Women of Color (WOC) in higher education. This initiative aims to foster authentic connections with oneself and other women, promote transformative mental and holistic well-being, and equip participants with strategies to combat workplace and life stressors.

Mission/Purpose:
The Healing Hour seeks to provide a supportive environment where WOC can openly discuss and address stress management, self-care, and personal growth. By offering regular sessions facilitated by experienced women, the initiative aims to enhance participants' mental health, resilience, and overall well-being.

Brief History of the Healing Hours
The Healing Hour initiative emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a time of unprecedented global challenges that significantly impacted women, particularly those in higher education. Recognizing the need for a supportive space, the program was created to provide women of color (WOC) with an opportunity to connect, share, and heal collectively.

Early Beginnings: In its inception, the Healing Hour sessions varied in form and approach, reflecting the diverse needs and experiences of the participants. Some sessions incorporated intentional movement practices, such as yoga and dance, as a form of healing and stress relief. Other sessions focused on mental and emotional well-being strategies, like journaling, mindfulness, and self-reflection exercises.

Evolution and Focus: As the program evolved, it became clear that these sessions were not only beneficial but essential for fostering a sense of community and resilience among WOC in higher education. The format of the Healing Hour was refined to include a mix of activities designed to:

• Connect and Network: Providing a platform for women to build meaningful connections and support networks, crucial during times of isolation and remote work.
• Empowerment: Sessions aimed at empowering women as they navigate professional and academic landscapes, offering tools and strategies to enhance their leadership and resilience.
• Holistic Support: Ensuring all sessions are designed to support the holistic well-being of women of color, addressing mental, emotional, and physical health.

Current Structure: Today, the Healing Hour continues to be an integral part of the Women of Color in Higher Education Conference, offering regular sessions throughout the academic year. Each session is crafted to support, uplift, and empower women, reinforcing the community bonds and personal growth necessary for thriving in both personal and professional spheres.

The program's ongoing commitment to the well-being of WOC in higher education remains at its core, adapting to the changing needs and challenges faced by its participants while maintaining a focus on holistic, transformative support.

Fall 2024 Healing Hours

• December 4, 2024
  • Theme: Come into Community for Healing and Finding Joy
    
• November 6, 2024
  • Facilitator: Jazmin, Jurkiewicz, VT Mental Health Initiatives Coordinator, Hokie Wellness
• September 25, 2024
  • Facilitator: Dr. Deneen Evans, CEO of Mosaic Counseling Services

Spring 2025 Healing Hours:

• January 22, 2025
• March 26, 2025 - Facilitator:  Maria E. Hamilton Abegunde, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies, Indiana University

If you are interested in facilitating a healing hour, please contact Dr. Crasha Townsend crasha@vt.edu

March 2024 Healing Hour

Anahuy Mentoring examines Indigenous Methodologies more broadly—to encompass Indigenous ways of knowing and being, especially as shared through stories, to inspire hope and love. This approach honors Yakama traditions that expect us each to be strong individuals, so that we may contribute to an even stronger collective. 

Anahuy Mentoring is a Native American and woman owned business.