Black Joy as Act of Resistance: A Juneteenth Workshop

Despite long-standing oppression, anti-Black racism, and racial discrimination that is directed toward the Black Community, engaging in rituals that foster community and celebration serve as powerful acts of resistance. As Dr. Maya Angelou wisely tells us, “In the struggle, lies the joy” and in our ongoing fight for Black Liberation, it is critical that we make space for joy.  In this workshop, we will identify examples of generational healing and explore connections between Juneteenth and African rituals that center Black Joy. Attendees will have an opportunity to create a personal definition of Black Joy and to envision ways of practicing Black Joy in their daily lives.

Dr. Charmain's Bio:

Dr. Charmain Jackman (she/her) is an award-winning psychologist with 25+ years in the mental health field. Dr. Jackman made the leap from a 9-5 position in education to the start-up founder life in 2021. She is the founder and CEO of InnoPsych, Inc., a mental health tech company on a mission to disrupt racial inequities in mental health and to promote healing and thriving in communities of color. InnoPsych offers an online platform that connects people of color to therapists of color and provides programming on topics such as racial trauma, burnout, mental health stigma, and employee emotional wellbeing. Dr. Jackman has been instrumental in helping leaders cultivate psychologically safe work cultures that foster thriving organizations and people. She is deeply invested in sharing tools that foster healing and thriving and is the creator of the My Time To Thrive card deck, an interactive tool that reduces stress and fosters healthy coping patterns. Dr. Jackman has won several awards for her impactful work including the Boston Business Journal’s 2022 Power 50 Movement Makers, 2021 American Psychological Association’s (APA) Citizen Psychologist Award, and City of Boston’s 2021 Innovator of The Year award. Dr. Jackman is a sought-after thought leader who has been featured on national media outlets such as the New York Times, NPR, PBS, Oprah Daily, Essence, Black Enterprise, and the Boston Globe.

Learn more about the event here.