Free wellness workshop targets people of color and offers ‘collective support’ for grief and trauma – The Lawrence Times

A free wellness workshop in Lawrence for people of color features a panel discussion on trauma and healing, physical therapy exercises, and vision board creation.

“BIPOC Soul: Healing Pain and Grief” welcomes Black, Indigenous and Hispanic people, as well as other people of color ages 14 and up, according to the event flyer. The flyer points out that people of color have common experiences with trauma, grief and loss, and says the workshop will serve as a “time for discussion, validation, sharing, support and education.”

Nicole Rials, founder of KN Rials Therapy & Consulting LLC and host of the workshop, led a virtual conversation with three of the panelists on Wednesday evening. The conversation was posted on the LRM Foundation Facebook page.

Education consultant Tamara Cash, community advocate Elwood Ott and Lawrence education assistant Chunjing Liu joined Rials to provide a taste of grief, systemic racism, stigmas surrounding men’s mental health and other topics.

“As marginalized communities and individuals, we are often encouraged — even manipulated — to suffer in silence,” Cash said during Wednesday’s discussion. “And hopefully this is an opportunity where people — their experiences — are validated and feel like it’s OK to talk openly about it and talk about ways to heal and cope.”

It will also be an opportunity for camaraderie.

“The power really lies with those who show up,” Rials said during Wednesday’s discussion. “The connection, right, the connection of people, the shared space, the shared experience, the shared support.”

Other panelists include Mackie Moore, dean of the School of Business at Haskell Indian Nations University, who joined Rials this week for another virtual discussion; Reggie Jackson, clinical social worker and licensed therapist; Chantel White, licensed massage therapist; DeBarre Johnson, civil rights activist; Azia Gambrell, dancer and fitness trainer; and Rita Rials, playwright and director.

Following the panel discussion, self-care sessions will include chair massages, essential oils, a stretching class and a vision board activity, the flyer says. Light refreshments will be provided.

The workshop, “BIPOC Soul: Healing Pain and Grief,” is scheduled for Sunday, August 25, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Lied Center of Kansas Pavilion, 1600 Stewart Drive, on the east side of the building.

Registration is free but must be done via a Google form. Registration closes on Friday, August 23rd.

The workshop is part of a series of “BIPOC Soul” wellness events and is sponsored by a grant from the United Way of Kaw Valley Racial Equity Community Fund, which she received through her partner agency, Life Restoration Ministries (LRM Foundation).

Rials hosted the first workshop on mental well-being in July 2023. She then hosted the second workshop on suicide prevention in September 2023.

For more information, visit the LRM Foundation website, lrmlawrence.com, and Facebook page.

Maya Hodison (she/her), stocks reporter, can be reached at [email protected]. Read more about her work for the Times here. Check out her employee bio here.

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