Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. — Galatians 6:2
Though this column is dedicated to an incredible upcoming wellness conference, allow me to briefly step aside to extend a massive congratulations to the 44th president of the United States of America, his family, his administration, and everyone involved in bringing a monumental vision to life.
Congratulations to all on the grand opening of the historic Obama Presidential Center in Chicago! As the most expansive and visionary presidential library project in our nation’s history, the weekend’s celebrations completely held me captive. It is truly an extraordinary milestone. Bravo! Now, let us turn to the heart of this week’s column.
In a world where many women silently carry the heavy loads of stress, burnout, and emotional sorrow, a divine call to collective healing is sounding. HER Cause, Inc. is preparing to host its 3rd Annual Wellness in Me Conference: See. Support. Connect. on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at The Den Event Hall in Fort Washington, Maryland. The conference is the brainchild of founder and CEO Iyona Blake, a singer, actress and entrepreneur and my good friend.
This one-day event is designed to equip women — with a special focus on Black women and women of color — with the spiritual, mental and emotional tools needed to foster true wellness within themselves and their faith communities.
Moving from Awareness to Action includes a spiritual moment. As Proverbs 17:17 reminds us, “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother [or sister] is born for adversity.” Yet many well-meaning women in our pews want to help a hurting sister but simply do not know how.
“Too many women care deeply but aren’t equipped to respond in critical moments. This is about building confidence and connection,” says Iyona Blake, CEO and president of HER Cause, Inc.
To bridge this gap, the conference is officially launching the See. Support. Connect. (SSC) Model. This culturally grounded, sisterhood-centered framework moves beyond traditional mental health awareness. It empowers everyday women, including ministry leaders, mothers, daughters and friends. “This conference honors the profound lineage of women acting as vessels of healing, individuals who intentionally hold safe spaces, disrupt systemic stigmas, and pass down the tools of emotional wellness to the next generation. Through seeing, supporting and connecting, we pour back into the community from a place of filled and transformed strength.”
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Tyreese McAllister is a nationally recognized trauma-informed clinician, bestselling author and emergency mental health expert with more than 30 years of crisis recovery experience. As the founder of Clinical & Forensic Associates, Inc., she specializes in community wellness, crisis intervention and empowering women through radical resilience.
The Three-Pillar Speaker Model:
1. SEE (Awareness & Understanding)
Speaker: Dr. Keisha Mack, Ph.D.
Focus: Mental health conditions in women of color, warning signs, stigma reduction and clarity.
2. SUPPORT (Skills & Response)
Speaker: Chivonne Gabriel, LCSW-C
Focus: Non-judgmental listening, crisis awareness, escalation and use of the SSC Toolkit.
3. CONNECT (Community & Sisterhood)
Speaker: Shoareged Phillpotts, MPH, LMSW
Focus: Creating sister circles, healing connections and culturally aligned wellness practices.
Panel: Building Support Systems
Moderator: Erika Harvey, MSW, LCSW
Panelists:
Dr. Camille Adams Jones, PMP, LCSW-C, CEAP
Dr. Vikki Johnson (Soul Wealth)
Michele Johnson, certified parent coach
Description: Mental health professionals and advocates discuss building emotional wellness networks and recognizing mental health needs within communities.
The Three Pillars of Faith-Led Care will guide participants through three core areas, closely mirroring biblical mandates for community care:
SEE (Awareness & Understanding): Recognizing the silent warning signs of emotional distress and actively dismantling the stigma that often prevents people from seeking help in religious spaces. (“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” — Philippians 2:4)
SUPPORT (Skills & Response): Learning the sacred art of listening without judgment, offering godly reassurance and responding with compassion during moments of distress. (“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:11)
CONNECT (Community & Sisterhood): Creating safe, holy spaces for honest conversation, collective prayer and authentic, vulnerability-driven healing. (“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” — Matthew 18:20)
Empowering the Body of Christ is a key element of this conference; attendees will hear from a dynamic lineup of mental health professionals and speakers who understand the intersection of faith and emotional wellness. The strategies taught are intentionally designed to be taken back and implemented directly into families, workplaces and church ministries.
In addition to workshop sessions, the conference will provide quiet moments for personal reflection, spiritual grounding and deep connection. It is designed as an intimate experience to ensure every woman feels seen by her sisters and valued by God.
As 1 Corinthians 12:26 reminds us, “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it.” The Wellness in Me Conference is a timely reminder that caring for our mental health is not a lack of faith, but a fulfillment of Christ’s command to love one another deeply.
Event & Registration Details
3rd Annual Wellness in Me Conference: See. Support. Connect.
Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026
Location: The Den Event Hall, Fort Washington, Maryland
To register: Space is limited to maintain an intimate environment. Secure your registration today by visiting www.hercause.org/conference.
Lyndia Grant is a speaker/writer living in the D.C. area. Her radio show, “Think on These Things,” airs Fridays at 6 p.m. on 1340 AM (WYCB), a Radio One station. To reach Grant, go to her website, www.lyndiagrant.com, email lyndiagrantshowdc@gmail.com or call 240-602-6295. Follow her on X @LyndiaGrant and on Facebook.
