Heal a Woman to Heal a Nation, a Maryland-based nonprofit partly founded by two St. Croix natives, will hold a conference Nov. 20 to empower V.I. women ages 13 and up. During the conference, which will be held at St. Croix’s Hotel on the Cay, there will be several informational sessions on health and wellness, along with the group’s core sessions focused on empowerment.
Founded in 2004 by Mothyna James-Brightful, Maria James and Monokia Tyson, all young women under the age of 30, the nonprofit describes itself as a community-based organization that promotes holistic wellness for women and families as a means to help the entire community. James-Brightful and James were both born on St. Croix.
The group began as a community service initiative. James, then a Morgan State University student, sought to provide a day of pampering for women. In an effort to serve the whole woman, workshops, resource material and a keynote address were added to the relaxation activities.
Since 2004, they have held seven conferences in the Baltimore area, combining interactive workshops on self-empowerment with outdoor recreation. This is the first time the group has held its empowerment conference back in the territory.
“We are truly excited to come home, said James-Brightful in the organization’s advance press release. “We were born here and still have family living on the island. This is in our blood, and merging our passion and excitement for empowering women and girls here is a dream come true,” she said.
Yoki Hanley’s company Itiba, a local manufacturer of natural skin care products, is one of the principal sponsors of the conference. Hanley said she got involved because she “fell in love with [the group’s] mission.”
“To heal a nation you really need to start at home and with the women who are the ones raising the children,” Hanley said. “We want to see women from age 13 up, and we are really hoping for a lot of teenagers especially.”
There will be basic yoga lessons from St. Croix’s Elise McKay, a live “sisters-only” drum circle, and several workshops, including the group’s two signature workshops: “Releasing My Fears and Affirming My Presence” and “Because I am a Queen.”
“Both are to help us as women become more active in the community and to take a stronger stand throughout our everyday roles,” Hanley said.
The Heal a Woman to Heal a Nation conference schedule says the “Releasing My Fears” workshop “challenges the power that fear has on our jobs, relationships and overall personal growth,” while the “Because I Am A Queen” workshop encourages women to “understand and accept your queen qualities.”
There will also be an interactive digital presentation inspired by Princess Anumaat, the teenage daughter of Chenzirah Kahina of the Per Ankh nonprofit educational organization. This workshop will focus on the group-intervention programs offered in the community, providing information, care/treatment referrals, holistic wellness education, and creative music and media ideas geared for strengthening networks amongst young women.
There is also a whole menu of activities Nov. 19 for conference-goers—from jet-skiing to Sunset Jazz.
The conference will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hotel on the Cay. Tickets are $35 for general admission, $15 for teenage girls, 13 to 16. Hotel on the Cay has special room rates of roughly $130 a night for participants.
To pre-register visit www.partofthecure.org and visit the Events page. You may also request a digital version of the registration form via reply email to perankh@gmail.com or nuwomanrising@gmail.com.
