“Come unto me all ye that are heavy laden and I’ll give you rest. This is a call, an invitation, a mandate, a manifesto, and a recipe for those of us who are surviving, struggling, and juggling the wounds of collective trauma." 

So begins Dr. Thema Bryant's gorgeous and expansive spoken word piece that answers the essential question: How do we collectively heal and liberate ourselves?

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxDelthorneWomen, where x = independently organized TED event. 

With our theme, Collective Liberation, TEDxDelthorneWomen centers the voices that are reimagining a new and just society through a liberatory lens. Not just from a space of dismantling tired, old concepts and fighting oppressive views, but implanting fresh seeds rooted in new imaginings, curiosity and right relationship. TEDxDelthorneWomen was produced, curated and hosted by Sonali Fiske, a Leadership mentor to BIPoC and the host of the radio talkshow, Revolutionary Voices. 

Dr. Thema Bryant, psychologist, spoken word artist, and ordained elder, is the president-elect of the American Psychological Association, the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology with more than 120,000 members. 

Dr. Thema completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Duke University and her post-doctoral training at Harvard Medical Center’s Victims of Violence Program. She is currently a tenured professor of psychology in the Graduate School of Education and Psychology at Pepperdine University, where she directs the Culture and Trauma Research Laboratory. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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Source:
https://youtu.be/FzGgIUSQr1g

Childhood trauma isn’t something you just get over as you grow up. Pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris explains that the repeated stress of abuse, neglect and parents struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues has real, tangible effects on the development of the brain. This unfolds across a lifetime, to the point where those who’ve experienced high levels of trauma are at triple the risk for heart disease and lung cancer. An impassioned plea for pediatric medicine to confront the prevention and treatment of trauma, head-on.

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Source:
https://www.ted.com/talks/nadine_burke_harris_how_childhood_trauma_affects_health_across_a_lifetime

Dealing with private pain, in public plain. Did you know that in the United States, over 10.3 million adults have serious thoughts of suicide and/or battle with mental health struggles privately while continuing to produce and perform publicly? Imagine living with a constant, lingering private struggle, while performing in front of the world. This is the truth for many in America. Studies have shown that exposure to childhood maltreatment and job strain were risk factors for depression. This problem was especially pronounced within the black community, specifically Black women, who reported experiencing an overwhelming amount of these issues, concluding that their experiences are only exacerbated as a double minority in America. In order to make meaningful change in rates of adult suicidal ideation, we as a nation must not only identify and address mental health conditions early, but must also invest in inclusive social and economic development. Social and economic anxiety have been observed as key elements and determinants of depression and suicidal ideation in Black women and all people of color. Increasing access to meaningful work and social support within communities and corporations is needed to heal our country and provide the actionable support needed to strengthen a group of people that add immeasurable value to our world.

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Source:
https://www.ted.com/talks/keita_joy_mental_health_is_declining_and_black_women_are_hit_the_hardest

Black women and southern trees suffer from a similar affliction. They are marked to be the tellers and bearers of truth in a world socially constructed to destroy them. Social justice educator, Monica Johnson explores the parallels of her identity development and the life and legacy of the great Billie Holiday. This talk uncovers the day that Monica comes to understand what being a Black woman born and raised in the American south truly affords her. Monica asks the audience to stop and listen to an uncomfortable truth about the burden that Black women are forced to carry. Monica uses the legacy of Billie Holiday’s world renowned performance of “Strange Fruit” to explain what great cost Black women pay to expose the world to the truth.  ---

--Live recording and post-production of this talk was done by Jon Stante Video Developer and Creator.--  For the entirety of her career, Monica Johnson has been active nationally in issues dealing with access and success in higher education. She has led many presentations and workshops centered on the recruitment, retention, and success of underrepresented students and marginalized professionals for a plethora of conferences (i.e. National Association for College Admission Counseling, The College Board, the ACT, The Center for Leadership Development - Indianapolis, and National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in American Higher Education). Monica proudly serves as a Chair of the National Advisory Council for the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in American Higher Education (NCORE).

Monica received her bachelor’s degree in African and Diaspora Studies from Vanderbilt University, her master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from Mississippi College, and is currently completing her doctoral work as a Social Justice Fellow in Higher Education at Azusa Pacific University. Monica’s research centers on the existence, persistence, and resistance of Black women in American higher education, with an acute focus on other-mothering.

Monica is the current university director of Diversity Education and Cross-Cultural Engagement and the director of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center at Indiana University Bloomington. In her current position at Indiana University, Monica works collaboratively with a variety of departments, student organizations, and community partners on the overall support and advocacy for underrepresented communities and the recruitment, retention, support, and success of Black students. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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Source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmX1JqtO6WM

In this powerful TEDx Talk, Self Love Educator Denise Francis speaks on the relationship between Black Women, Self-love, and Mental health. She aims to bridge the gap to heal Black women from the trans-generational trauma that the “Strong Black Woman” trope has silenced. About: Denise Francis is the Founder and CEO of The Self Love Organization INC. The Self Love Organization is the online Self Love, Therapy and Wellness Club for Black Women to end the cycles of transgenerational trauma by healing Black Women and the communities they lead. If all Black Women started a Self Love Journey, we could heal generations. There is power in healing and strength in Self Love, which can echo for generations to come. Denise is on a mission to Heal Black women and end transgenerational trauma. The Strong Black Woman trope has normalized a culture of self-silencing behaviors to be passed down generations. This silencing behavior has allowed Black Women to normalize their trauma. With Self Love, we can end this cycle by healing Black Women; we could rewrite our culture from internalizing trauma to healing it. Transforming the Strong Black Women into who she was always meant to be, the Healed Black Women. Denise is a Self Love Coach, Researcher, Speaker, and Educator. Denise’s work is focused on healing Black Women by bridging the gap between Self Love and Mental Health with what lies in between the two constructs, Self-Therapy. She believes Self Love is a skill; if mastered, it could be the missing preventative measure to fight common mental health issues in women of color and help heal transgenerational trauma within the Black Community. Denise has been on her Self Love Journey for 10 years, researching Self Love for 7 and teaching for 4 years. Her company, The Self Love Organization INC, created the first CCNY College course focused on Self Love titled, The Psychology of Self Care and Wellness. She is a CCNY Alumni earning her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. She uses her encouraging energy to uplift Black Women on their Self Love & Natural Hair journeys as a Youtuber, Blogger, and Content creator. Denise is currently an NYU Graduate Student, where she will become the first woman to receive a Masters with the concentration of Self Love, Self Therapy & The Black Mental Health Experience. Denise's dedication continues as she is publishing a Daily Prompt Journal based on her research on Self Love and Self Therapy to guide Black Women on their Self Love Journeys. As well as launching an App and Membership Club called HEAL SIS for the hundreds of women ready to prioritize Self Love and mental health. She is launching this App for Black Women to make Self Love Easy through Self Love Coaching. Wellness Accessible through classes from yoga to fitness led by Black Women. Mental Health Practicable by connecting Black Women to Black therapists and providing therapy credits to ensure all Black Women have access to affordable therapy. All while creating a safe space for Black Women to Heal with the support of Sisterhood. 

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Source:
https://www.ted.com/talks/denise_francis_the_power_of_the_black_woman_s_self_love_journey

When a person demands perfection of herself or himself, anything less can feel like failure. Adia Gooden knows this from experience. In addition to her work as a staff psychologist at the University of Chicago, she’s learned in her own life how to break negative thought patterns and live more freely. She shares those lessons in her talk “Cultivating unconditional self-worth.” Adia Gooden is a licensed clinical psychologist. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Stanford University and her doctorate in clinical community psychology from DePaul College of Science and Health in 2013. Adia Gooden is currently a staff psychologist and coordinator for multicultural outreach and support at The University of Chicago’s Student Counseling Service. In this role, she provides individual, group, and couple therapy to undergraduate and graduate students. She also conducts outreach workshops for students of color and continuing education training for clinicians on working with black clients. Adia Gooden authors a blog focused on promoting mental health among Black women. She speaks and writes about Black women, Black couples, Black youth, and mental health. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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Source:
https://www.ted.com/talks/adia_gooden_cultivating_unconditional_self_worth