The National Reconciliation Week

FIVE DAYS OF INTERACTIVE, TRANSFORMATIVE WORKSHOPS BEGINNING AT 12:15 PM THROUGH 1:30 PM (EST). These sessions feature some of the country’s most talented clinicians, nonprofit managers, therapists and artists-healers.  

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THE NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK

June 6-10!

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Janis F. Kearney is leads (June 6 at 12:15 PM) MEMOIR AS SELF DISCOVERY AND RECONCILIATION. This is her first appearance at The National Reconciliation Week. She is an author, book publisher, diarist, memoirist and writing instructor. She is a 2016 inductee into the Arkansas Writers Hall of Fame, an inductee into the National History Makers Archive, and former president and current board member of the AR Pioneer Chapter of Pen Women. Kearney was managing editor for civil rights legend Daisy L. Bates’ historic Arkansas State Press Newspaper, before purchasing and becoming publisher of the newspaper in 1988. She was a director of communications for the US Small Business Administration under President Bill Clinton. In 1995, he appointed her the first Personal Diarist to a President; she served in that role through June 2001. After a two-year stint as a fellow at the W.E.B. DuBois Institute of African and African American Studies at Harvard University, Kearney and her husband Bob J. Nash, a former director of presidential personnel in the Clinton White House, founded Writing our World Publishing. She has written or co-written 17 books, including Cotton Field of Dreams: A Memoir. Other WOW Publishing books include Something to Write Home About: Memories of a Presidential Diarist; Conversations: William J. Clinton…from Hope to Harlem; Daisy: Between a Rock and a Hard Place; Sundays with TJ: 100 Years of Memories on Varner Road. Kearney is also the founder of the Read.Write.Share Writers Project, which includes memoir-writing seminars, lectures and workshops.

 

John A. Johnson leads (June 6 at 12:45 pm) UNMASKING AND FINDING MYSELF. A native Washingtonian, Johnson is the founder and creator of Verbal Gymnastics Theater Company. He holds a B.A in theater from the University of the District of Columbia. He has worked as a drama therapist, written and produced six plays and authored a collection of poetry--“Love for Her." He has received multiple fellowships from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and honors for his participation in "Sounds of the Underground" DC HIP HOP Theatre Festival. His most recent contribution is to a radio project at American University's WAMU 88.5 FM in conjunction with the Association of Independent Radio called “Anacostia Unmapped,” which captures the narratives of local residents in rapidly changing communities “East of the River” in Washington D.C. Johnson has been recently exploring an innovative form of theatre/storytelling called Playback Theatre and is coming off a performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington DC.

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Tracie Robinson, Ph.D., BC-DMT, RP, CHT, leads (June 7) UNITE AND CONQUER: Ending Family Estrangement. She holds a doctorate in intrapersonal psychology and a master’s in dance/movement therapy. Dr. Tracie is the owner and founder of Emotions N Motion Healing Practices, a non-profit organization, and president of Essences of Wellness Authentic Transformations, LLC. She uses structure and/or authentic dance and movement to facilitate synergistic change. With the goal of exposing people to their predispositions by integrating movement, gestures, rhythms, breaths, verbal and non-verbal communication with a less defended expression of the body. The art of dance is used as a therapeutic tool to bring about holistic healing in clinical populations including, but not limited to physical, emotional and psychological trauma, depression, PTSD, substance abuse disorders, and body image/eating disorders. Dr. Tracie also holds certifications in Reiki, Reflexology, Hypnotherapy, Traditional & Kemetic Yoga, and Herbal Medicines. 

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Tasha M. Smith, LCPC-S, LPC, CCTP-II, CTMH, CMC-1, NCC, co-leads with Jennifer Y. Okosun (June 8) THE ROAD UNTRAVELED: Moving Beyond Trauma to Reconcile with Self and Provide Self-Care. Smith is co-founder and chief operating officer for Y.O.U Holistic H&WC and founder of Rejuvenating Hearts & Minds, LLC. This is her first round at The National Reconciliation Week. She will provide guidance for solo reconcilers on how to identify trauma in their lives and how to begin to heal. She is a licensed professional counselor in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. Smith received her master's in clinical mental health counseling from Walden University. Smith has worked with adults and homeless populations with adverse childhood experiences, trauma/PTSD, mood disorders, phase of life challenges that trigger anxiety/depressive symptoms, and couples/family counseling. youwellcenter.com

 

Jennifer Yolanda Okosun co-leads (June 8) THE ROAD UNTRAVELED: Moving Beyond Trauma to Reconcile with Self and Provide Self-Care. She is a writer, speaker, and the founder of Parents Rise Network. Parents Rise is an uplifting and supportive community for young parents and organizations that help elevate parents and their children for optimal well-being through personal development education. Okosun has written an evidence-based personal development curriculum covering categories such as character, communication, self-care and community building. She also serves on the board of the Margie Mclean Foundation as a family advocate. She is currently pursuing a degree in behavioral health with a focus on media psychology. She will release her book,“Raising Yourself to Raise the Next Generation,” later this year.

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Jacquelyn Smith-Edwards leads (June 9) IT TAKES TWO…MAYBE MORE: Co-Parenting. She is the co-founder of Building Constructive Communities Foundation (BCCF), a nonprofit organization that promotes health and wellness for youth and their families through education, mentoring, coaching, training, and enrichment opportunities. She is also the founder of Black LOVE 365, which focuses on acknowledging the power of love and celebrating healthy BLACK relationships, marriages, families and communities. Smith-Edwards serves as facilitator of Community Support Circles that provides a safe space for youth and adults to confront life experiences that have created feelings of hurt, anger and shame. This space welcomes transparency and vulnerability. It is also a space where individuals are accepted and allowed to develop healthy coping strategies while healing. She also has worked in prevention services at Henrico Area Mental Health since 2001. Smith-Edwards is a teaching faculty member in social work at Virginia Union Commonwealth University, where she graduated with a master’s degree in social work; she also holds a master’s in Philosophy of Human Services from Walden University.

  

Carmen E. Haskins, LCSW, CCTP, co-leads with Rose Shelton (June 9) IT TAKES TWO…MAYBE MORE: Blended Families, which focuses on reconciliation for families with members who are from the LGBTQ+ community. Haskins is founder of P.I.N.K Solutions, PLLC. She is a clinical social worker specialist in High Point, North Carolina. She is the author of a trauma focused book, "Secrets Kill: Come out of the Darkness." Haskins has more than 11 years of diverse experiences with a particular focus on healing from trauma and abuse. Populations served include but are not limited to PTSD, Anxiety, LGBTQ+, relationship/marital issues, depression, and managing stress. Haskins has worked with troubled youth and families as well. This is her first time presenting at The National Reconciliation Week. youwellcenter.com

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Rose Shelton, PhD, NCC, LCPC, C.Ht, co-leads with Carmen Haskins (June 9—12:50 pm) IT TAKES TWO…MAYBE MORE: Blended Families, which focuses on reconciliation for families. Dr. Rose is a licensed and nationally certified professional counselor. She holds an MBA in International Relations, a master’s in clinical mental health counseling, and a PhD in counselor education and supervision from Capella University with a focus in multicultural theory and social justice advocacy competency. This is Dr. Rose’s second appearance at The National Reconciliation Week. Certified in hypnotherapy and addictions counseling, Dr. Rose uses a number of approaches from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Humanistic Therapy, Psychodynamics to Hypnosis to assist client’s in working through current conflicts in life and bringing about their desired outcomes for themselves. She has published three books: In the Morning When I Rise, I Am She and Law of First Thought. She has published articles in Exposure Magazine and in the DC Line. yourthoughtcenter.com

 

Joy Jones leads (June 10) WRITING AND STRAWBERRY SHAKE SUNDAYS, a focus on tools and resources to ensure long-term reconciliation success, including creative journaling. Jones is award-winning trainer, performance poet, playwright and author from Washington, D.C. She is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Detroit. Jones is the director of The Spoken Word performance poetry ensemble, founder of the Double Dutch team, DC Retro Jumpers and works for DC Public Library. She has authored several books-- her latest, JAYLA JUMPS IN, received a starred review on Booklist. Jones is a former director of community relations at the Psychiatric Institute of Washington. With Ed Washington, she co-founded a creative expression program at St. Elizabeths Hospital (SEH)  that has been in existence for more than 30 years; she publishes a newsletter and yearly chapbooks of patients’ writings. In 2002, St. Elizabeths honored her work with a Volunteer Recognition award, and in 2003 she received the Mayor’s Community Service Award. joyjonesonline.com

 

THE CLOSING RITUAL (June 10—1:00pm) Dr. Tracie Robinson and jonetta rose barras return to close the week with a special presentation. 

 

TNRW STAFF/CONSULTANTS

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ADDISON SWITZER, co-producer TNRW, is on the board of directors of Esther Productions Inc. and serves as its visual director. He has worked with The National Reconciliation Week since its founding in 2019. A proud dad and grandad, with two daughters and three granddaughters, Switzer is a native Washingtonian currently residing in Cheverly, MD. A professional actor who has been on most of the local stages, including Arena, Shakespeare Theatre, African Continuum Theatre and appeared on popular television programs like The Wire, Switzer is president of Buckwildmedia.com

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AFRIKA ABNEY has been a consultant to Esther Productions Inc from its inception in 2004. A native Washingtonian, she graduated from the prestigious Corcoran School of the Arts. For more than 20 years, Abney has used her formal training and background in the arts to successfully provide services to artists, nonprofits corporations, small businesses, community centers, churches, individuals, and schools.    https://msafrikaabney.weebly.com/consultant.html