What Will Happen on this Retreat?

• You’'ll learn about the intersection of faith, mental health, and racial justice with tangible, interactive activities and discussions.

• You’ll hear from a diverse panel of experts in the mental health and faith-based spaces with a commitment to racial justice as they provide perspective and ideas in roundtable style conversations.

• You’ll spend time in breakout groups to create action plans for racial justice (this will be the most significant part of the retreat as a continuation from part 1).

Why Attend this Retreat?

• You’ll gain new connections with people who are committed to the fight for racial justice!

• You’ll discuss what racial justice means to your faith and mental health!

• You’ll learn and create actionable solutions to make a difference in the cause of achieving racial justice!

• You’ll leave with a renewed sense of hope in being the change!

• You’ll feel more empowered and inspired to have the “hard” conversations with any and everyone!

Dr. Jyothsna S. Bhat is a clinical psychologist specializing in individual, couples and family therapy, and maintains a full-time private in PA, NJ and soon to be expanding to NY. Dr. Bhat is also an advocate for building mental health awareness in the South Asian community and has done several community outreach workshops. Her article, The Taboo of Mental Illness in the South Asian community was the impetus for several panel discussions she has participated in such as at Yale University's South Asian Millenial Conference and SABA (South Asian Bar Association) as well as interview on ZeeTV (an Indian TV show). Dr. Bhat is an avid coffee drinker, dog lover and dancer. She lives with her husband Ani and her Mini Aussie Shepherd, Bodhi.

Specialities: Depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, marital stress, grief/loss, adjustment/mild traumas, anger management, and school-age behavior disorders as well as psychological testing for ADHD; corporate stress reduction

Website: Bhatpsych.com

Instagram – Dr. Jyothsna Bhat; Twitter- drbhatpsych; FB- Bhat Psychological Services

Racial Justice Involvement: She began to explore these issues in her graduate training where she began to question my own inherent biases and this has evolved to educating herself more and talking with her clients about how racism has impacted their lives and their mental health. 

Felipe is the founder of the non-profit movement More Than Therapy which is addressing the gaps in service pertaining to mental health, physical health, housing, legal, vocational, and educational. He adheres to the philosophy "UBUNTU", I am because we are...” and he always strives to be that which he would want to receive. Felipe provides therapy in Durham, Wake, Orange, Person, and Chatham counties via agency and non-profit programs to assist clients regarding mental health and addictions as well as case management needs such as housing, vocational, legal, etc. When not doing therapy or relaxing after a long day at work, Felipe hosts the podcast "More Than Therapy" which is an eclectic wellness podcast available on all streaming platforms.

Specialties: Addictions Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Focused CBT, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution Focused Therapy, and Podcast Therapy.

Website: www.morethantherapy.org

IG: misterblue_net; Clubhouse: @felipeblue

Racial Justice Philosophy: By eliminating barriers to education and empowerment, we can strive for racial justice. I founded the Youth Empowerment Program at Springfield College  to address racial disparities in education that morphed into my non-profit More Than Therapy located in Durham, NC. More Than Therapy provides support, education, and addresses concerns in multiple domains and in doing so alleviates issues that are impacted by injustices in social cultural norms of America.

Prophetess Cynthia is the Founder of Victory Ministry and host of a prophetic internet radio ministry broadcast, Love Life Outreach member of World Harvest Ministerial Fellowship Board. Prophetess Dumas is a Graduate of World Harvest Bible College ; As a Pastor her job is to let the hurting and lost know that with God there is a greater future no matter what issues or struggles they have faced; there is another chance at being the best of who God created you to be.

Website: https://www.victoryministryfire.com

Racial Justice Philosophy: Scripture teaches that God created all human beings in his image. There is no exception to that and being made in God's image makes each person valuable and precious.

Andrew Spector is Co-Founder and Program Director of Tulsa Changemakers, a youth leadership program that empowers young people to make meaningful change in their communities. He started Tulsa Changemakers while teaching 6th grade in Tulsa Public Schools as a Teach For America corps member. Andrew is originally from Bedford, Massachusetts and is a graduate of the Honors College at College of Charleston. He serves as Board Member and Chair of the Community Relations Committee at the Jewish Federation of Tulsa and is a member of Interfaith Youth Core's Alumni Speakers and Trainers Bureau. Ask Andrew about the jazzy pizza at Dellz in West Ashley, South Carolina and the okonomayaki pancake (with a sunny side up egg on top) at Xiao Bao Biscuit in Charleston, South Carolina!

Website: https://www.tulsachangemakers.org/

Racial Justice Philosophy: I believe it's my moral obligation as a Jew to strive to be a living example of righteous and justice in the world and to work for the liberation of all people.