By choice or out of necessity, the manner in which many workers make a living is undergoing a fundamental change. And to make a living is to accept that there is a congenital bond between work and life, between what people do and how they live.

The problem? Work-life balance is not the answer. The rising rate of employee burnout is a sign. In this talk, Dan Pontefract provides an assessment of the current state of work and life, offering an alternative. We must create the conditions to bloom in both work and life, not balance. After all, people bring their work into their lives and their lives into their work; an improved work-life model is vital.

Dan will introduce a new, if not more benevolent work-life philosophy. It’s time for leaders to understand what it means to adopt a Work-Life Bloom mindset. Yes, people at all levels of the organization need to bloom not balance. Find out how it’s done.

OUTCOMES:

• Learn why work-life balance is a myth and how rising levels of anxiety, burnout, and stress are related symptoms
• Be introduced to the work-life bloom model — an improved personal operating system for leaders and team members
• Get insights from research conducted globally across 8,000+ leaders and team members across 15 countries
• Discover the 12 work-life factors that allow people to bloom in both work and life
• Analyze whether you are blooming, budding, stunted or renewing in your work-life persona

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There are only two kinds of leadership in this world: leading self and leading others. It’s that simple, only two. Your ultimate goal is to master and deliver on them both. Now, more than ever, how you lead yourself and others might become the defining moment of your career. Perhaps even your life.

There are nine key & critical leadership lessons that make up a “Lead. Care. Win.” leader. Considerate and engaging leaders—ones who fully understand the critical importance of crafting meaningful, respectful relationships—are people who know how to truly reach and build bonds with their team members with these nine lessons.

Every human interaction is crucial. Every exchange can be mutually beneficial. The bottom line is that when you care enough to champion others, the workplace becomes happily engaged and your organization benefits in more ways than one. Do you care?

OUTCOMES:

• Be relatable and empathetic
• Act not out of ego but out of purpose
• Share knowledge to build a wise organization
• Stay present and attentive to the needs of others
• Embrace change and the opportunity for growth it offers
• Stay curious and adopt lifelong learning
• Think and act with clarity
• Commit to balance and inclusivity in all your dealings
• Act with humility and thoughtfulness

The bottom line is that when you care enough to champion others, the workplace becomes happily engaged and your organization benefits in more ways than one.

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In a world where colonial legacies continue to shape societal structures and individual experiences, understanding the intersections of hostility, trauma, and race is crucial. This workshop delves into the critical role of Critical Race Theory (CRT) in identifying and challenging these persistent inequities.

Workshop Objectives:

1. Examine Hostility and Trauma: Participants will explore how historical and contemporary forms of hostility and trauma impact marginalized communities, particularly Black individuals, within colonial frameworks.

2. Understand Critical Race Theory: Through an in-depth exploration of CRT, participants will gain insights into how this theoretical framework can be used to understand and combat systemic racism and its effects.

3. Nourish Resistant Voices: The workshop will focus on strategies to support and amplify resistant voices that challenge and disrupt colonial narratives and practices.

4. Practical Application: Attendees will engage in interactive activities and discussions to develop practical skills for applying CRT in their professional and personal contexts, whether in education, mental health, corporate settings, or community work.

OUTCOMES:

• Historical and Contemporary Insights: A deepened understanding of how colonialism continues to manifest in modern hostility and trauma.
• CRT Application: Practical knowledge of Critical Race Theory and how to apply it to analyze and address systemic racism.
• Empowerment: Tools and strategies to support and nurture resistant voices in various contexts.
• Collaborative Action: Opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals and organizations to foster collective action against racial injustice. 

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In this participatory, voice-centered creative engagement, we thus center the notion of voicing who and how we are within and-outside of colonial spaces, knowing the risks. We present a framework for voice that positions the purpose of education as the development of counter-spaces to then foster counter-stories and critical expressions that reflect the various positionalities, intersectional oppressions, and systemic barriers we face as individuals operating within collectives. After sharing personal narratives in artistically authentic manners, we guide participants in creative writing and expression exercises that center proclamations of lived identity and radical solidarity as resistant building blocks of love. This session should particularly benefit educators and students who face trauma and hostility in education settings due to racism, and resilience of voice. We conclude through critical race theory-informed discussions designed to move beyond critical expressions and the immediate retributions from those who normalize whiteness within educational institutions and strengthen our radical imaginations to envision healthy futures that are not limited by trauma-filled reactions to contemporary oppressions.

OUTCOMES:

• For Teachers:

  1. Increased Historical Awareness: Teachers will gain a comprehensive understanding of the historical and ongoing impacts of colonialism on Black bodies, fostering a deeper appreciation for the experiences of Black students.
  2. Culturally Responsive Pedagogy: Teachers will learn to integrate culturally responsive teaching methods that honor and uplift the identities and experiences of Black students.
  3. Enhanced Advocacy Skills: Teachers will be empowered to advocate for systemic changes within their schools and communities to better support Black students.
  4. Critical Reflection: Teachers will engage in self-reflection to identify and address their own biases and assumptions, promoting a more equitable and inclusive classroom environment.

  For Mental Health Practitioners:

  1. Culturally Sensitive Care: Practitioners will develop a deeper understanding of how colonial legacies impact the mental health and well-being of Black individuals, enabling them to provide more sensitive and effective care.
  2. Trauma-Informed Practices: Practitioners will learn trauma-informed approaches that consider the specific historical and cultural traumas experienced by Black clients.
  3. Building Resilience: Practitioners will gain tools to help Black clients build resilience and navigate colonial spaces with strength and dignity.
  4. Holistic Approaches: Practitioners will explore holistic and community-based approaches to mental health that honor the cultural practices and values of Black clients.

  For Schools:

  1. Equitable Policies and Practices: Schools will develop and implement policies that address the unique challenges faced by Black students in colonial spaces, promoting equity and inclusion.
  2. Comprehensive Support Systems: Schools will establish support systems that consider the historical and cultural contexts of Black students’ experiences, including mental health services, mentorship programs, and peer support networks.
  3. Engaged Community Partnerships: Schools will build partnerships with community organizations to support Black students and their families, creating a network of care and advocacy.
  4. Cultural Celebrations and Affirmations: Schools will create opportunities to celebrate and affirm Black culture and identity, fostering a sense of pride and belonging among Black students.

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This workshop explores the misperceptions of Black male‘s mental health underpinned by implicit biases and racism. Racism has contributed to the violence toward Black males, economic and educational disparities, pathologizing of Black males, deadly intersections with police, and adverse effects of harmful stereotypes through simple daily microaggressions. Clinically, Black males are less likely to present, and when they do, they are often subject to being misunderstood, misperceived, or culturally neutralized. This workshop will increase psychologists’ cultural competence about Black males in American society. The skills and insights gained will provide a direct and immediate application to clinical and forensic psychology settings. Additionally, the information is practical and of use in daily non-professional applications. By providing this space, we hope to create a supportive network that helps bring awareness to both Black mental health and interrupt the increase in substance abuse that leads to increased violence, school suspension, and mental illness in the black community. 

OUTCOMES:

• For Teachers:

  1. Enhanced Cultural Competence: Teachers will gain a deeper understanding of the cultural, social, and historical factors affecting Black students’ mental health, enabling them to provide more empathetic and relevant support.
  2. Improved Classroom Strategies: Teachers will learn effective strategies to create inclusive and supportive classroom environments that promote the mental well-being of Black students.
  3. Better Communication Skills: Teachers will develop skills to engage in open, sensitive, and constructive conversations about mental health with Black students and their families.
  4. Increased Awareness of Resources: Teachers will become familiar with mental health resources and referral pathways tailored for Black students, ensuring timely and appropriate support.

  For Mental Health Practitioners:

  1. Culturally Informed Practices: Practitioners will acquire knowledge of culturally relevant therapeutic approaches and interventions to better serve Black clients.
  2. Enhanced Assessment Skills: Practitioners will improve their ability to identify and assess mental health issues within the Black community, considering cultural nuances and potential biases.
  3. Building Trust: Practitioners will learn techniques to build trust and rapport with Black clients, fostering a more effective therapeutic relationship.
  4. Community Engagement: Practitioners will understand the importance of community-based approaches and how to collaborate with community organizations to support Black mental health.

  For Schools:

  1. Inclusive Policies and Programs: Schools will develop and implement policies and programs that address the unique mental health needs of Black students, promoting a more inclusive school environment.
  2. Staff Training and Development: Schools will prioritize ongoing training for staff on cultural competence and mental health issues affecting Black students.
  3. Support Systems: Schools will establish robust support systems, including counseling services and peer support networks, specifically designed for Black students.
  4. Parental Involvement: Schools will create initiatives to engage Black parents and caregivers in the mental health conversation, fostering a collaborative approach to student well-being.

  For Corporations:

  1. Workplace Diversity and Inclusion: Corporations will implement policies that promote mental health awareness and support for Black employees, contributing to a more inclusive and supportive workplace culture.
  2. Employee Support Programs: Corporations will develop employee assistance programs (EAPs) that address the specific mental health needs of Black employees.
  3. Leadership Training: Corporate leaders will receive training on cultural competence and the importance of mental health in the workplace, enabling them to lead with empathy and understanding.
  4. Community Partnerships: Corporations will build partnerships with mental health organizations and community groups to support broader mental health initiatives within the Black community.

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