About this Event
Heart Space is a healing circle that provides a space for Black folks to decompress and connect. We are in grief, we are in sadness and we are in shock at the results of this election. And we still believe in the power of our communities to heal! We still believe in our legacy of resistance! Let's come together for nourishment, healing practices and support. Let us be clear: We are not giving up on freedom, and we are not giving up on us. This space will be held by Yolo Akili, Vanessa Jackson, and Dr. D. Dionne Bates.
Vanessa Jackson (she/her/hers) is a Soul Doula, writer, activist and social worker based in Atlanta. Her work focuses on power, social and economic liberation, African American psychiatric history and reclaiming traditional practices to support individual and community healing. Vanessa is the owner of Dudley’s Apothecary which offers healing sprays in the traditions of her root worker ancestors.
D. Dionne Bates, PhD, LPC (she/her/hers) is a licensed professional counselor in private practice who holds a B.A. in Sociology (with emphasis in deviant behavior), an M.A. in Counseling Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. In clinical practice almost 20 years, Dr. Bates has observed that the root of many individuals’ emotional and psychological distress is their inability to integrate their “true” selves into various realms of their lives. The author of the Self-SOULstice Model of Affirmation and the Emotional Lifeline and Mapping Journal, Dr. Bates works with her clients to help them reach optimal mental health by affirming self, affirming others, and living authentically. The owner of Self-SOULstice, LLC in Marietta, Georgia, she provides a range of psychotherapeutic and supervision services, and has provided consultative services to several agencies and organizations, including the award winning Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM), where she served as Senior Mental Health Advisor (2017-2022). Her research has included identity development, LGBT issues, and a stage model of affirming self and others. Her writings have been featured in the Atlanta Tribune, Blavity.com, Your Tango, Dailyworth and numerous in regional, national, and international newspapers and academic journals.
Yolo Akili Robinson is a nonbinary writer, healing justice worker, yogi, and the founder and executive director of Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM). BEAM builds ecosystems of care for Black communities through Black-led training, grantmaking, and education using a healing justice framework. Under his leadership, BEAM has become a leading organization dedicated to mental health in Black communities.
Yolo leads the development of community-based systems of care that provide Black mental health and wellness practitioners, families, and racial justice movements with healing tools, crisis support skills, and funding to cultivate wellness. BEAM has received support from the MacArthur Foundation, Blue Shield, and the Satterberg Foundation. In 2018, Yolo received the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Equity Award and, in 2023, he was recognized by U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy for Minority Mental Health Month. He was also featured in an “Empowerful Spotlight” at the 2020 BET Awards. Yolo has channeled his dedication to healing justice into radically reimagining care systems and building alternatives that support the wellness and liberation of Black communities.
About the venue: Constellations is a community gathering space located on historic Auburn Avenue. Culturally inspiring, Constellations is, “Where stars come together and shine", offering space for thinkers who aim to make a positive difference in the world.
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If a need-based scholarship is necessary for your attendance, please email [email protected]
COVID Protocol
We encourage our community to be mindful of engaging in-person events with safety and communal responsibility in mind. We recognize that the pandemic is not over and many members of our community are immunocompromised. We strongly encourage the use of masks. Please do not attend the event if you are feeling ill. COVID tests and face masks will be available on site.
Disclaimer: BEAM’s programs are not recorded and meant for educational purposes only. They are not substitutes for a relationship with a licensed or trained wellness practitioner. By attending this event, you agree that you understand that this program is not a clinical therapeutic service.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Constellations - Shared Workspace, 135 Auburn Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, United States
USD 0.00 to USD 17.85
