HEALING BLACK WOMEN PRESENTS
THE 2024 STRENGTH IN HEALING AWARD WINNERS​

Healing Black Women recognizes that it takes a community to do this work that we call wellness. We want to honor the work, effort, and dedication of wellness community members both individuals and organizations. The 2024 Strength In Healing Awards serve as a reminder that the people around you SEE YOU and the passion that you have for what you do.

2024 AWARDEES

Content Creator Of The Year

Destiny Harris is the Creator and Host of The Educated Black Queen Blog and Podcast in Orlando. She is currently the Stakeholder Engagement Manager at the Peer Support Coalition of Florida, Inc. Harris earned her master’s degree in nonprofit management at the University of Central Florida. Her mission revolves around destigmatizing conversations surrounding mental health and wellness, focusing on educating not only the Black community but also a broader audience. The platform of Educated Black Queen endeavors to amplify diverse voices and foster open dialogue. Instagram @edu_catedblackqueen 

Best Publication

​Spoken Black Girl Publishing elevates the voices of emerging women of color writers to amplify mental health awareness in marginalized communities. Through publications (both online & in print) as well as workshops, events, and panels, Spoken Black girl is determined to break the stigma around mental health while also addressing disparities in the mainstream publishing industry.
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Rowana Abbensetts-Dobson is a Guyanese-American writer, author of Departure Story, and founder of Spoken Black Girl, a publishing & media company that promotes mental health and wellness among Black women & women of color by amplifying emerging voices. Rowana has had fiction and poetry published in Moko Magazine, Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora, Culture Push, When We Exhale: Anthology of Black Women Rooted in Ancestral Medicine, and Free Verse Magazine. As a freelance health and wellness writer, Rowana has written for Insider, GoodRx, Well +Good, Bold Culture by Streamline Media, The Tempest, Insider, and Electric Lit.

Wellness Professional Of The Year (tie)

​Brittany Walker, M.S. is a lover of serving others and aims to help the underrepresented (people of color, women, LGBTQ+, military affiliates, and disabled individuals) to elevate to their highest frequency. As the Founder of Kick Cramp’s Ass (KCA), she also performs as a Strategic Operations Entrepreneur, Plant-Based Nutritionist, Educator, Author (NNG’s Formula to Kick Cramp’s Ass: A Blueprint to Naturally Get Rid of Menstrual Cramps), and Podcast Host (Kick Cramp’s Ass - The Podcast) inspiring others to acquire generational wealth and achieve optimal wellness. Brittany’s past experience includes being a former Biology Adjunct Faculty, Restaurateur, retired Chef, Operations guru and book club host afforded her the skills to develop expertise in more than 15 industries. 
She has an Associates in Applied Science in Culinary Arts, an Associates in Applied Science in Hotel/Restaurant Management, a Bachelor of Science in Technical Management (with a concentration in Hospitality Management), a Master of Science in Nutrition Education, a graduate certificate in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and she is currently a student seeking a PhD in Organizational Development and Leadership (aiming to implement menstrual education programs globally). A true alchemist and a firm advocate for optimal health, she works diligently to ensure those who she is meant to serve are evolving mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically and financially. In 2017, Brittany transitioned to a plant-based lifestyle which provided her the opportunity to lose more than 80 lbs holistically and reversed more than 10 diagnoses including Type 2 Diabetes, Bipolar II Disorder, Ovarian Cystitis, Dysmenorrhea, Menorrhagia and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). On June 27, 2020, Brittany took her last sip of alcohol and has not turned back since. This capricious period ignited a passion within that she could educate the masses with preventing and/or eliminating chronic illnesses through developing positive health outcomes and overcoming alcohol addiction. This galvanism drives Brittany to serve POSITIVE, PRODUCTIVE and PEACEFUL strategies as she fulfills her purpose. Social Media: @kickcrampsass (on Instagram and YouTube) ​

Wellness Professional Of The Year (tie)

As a healing-centered, trauma-informed, and certified transformational life, mindset, and embodiment coach and author at Feel Good Kick Ass, P. Valerie Dauphin works with individuals and groups to gracefully manage the ups and downs of work and life while helping them articulate, and then create, their visions, dreams, and goals. Valerie teaches her clients how to make decisions that support the people they want to become and live their lives by design. She guides her clients to explore questions like, "Who am I? What's my purpose? What's next for me? What brings me joy? How do I prioritize that joy? How do I feel good as a Black or Brown woman or nonbinary who witnesses and experiences suppression and oppression in different areas of life?" Her private clients tend to be artistically- and creatively-inclined managers and directors in corporate and non-profit organizations, who desire to live powerfully with self-confidence and grace. Valerie lives in Los Angeles where she joyfully expresses herself as a dancer and percussionist of multiple African and Latin Diasporic styles. For more info, follow @feelgoodkickass on Instagram.

Best Podcast

​Congratulations Best Podcast!! Different Spectrums Podcast is dedicated to utilizing their expertise to promote mental health awareness, provide insights on autism, and employ the power of film to deepen understanding of emotions. They strive to create a safe and inclusive space where individuals who think differently can find a supportive community and access valuable therapeutic resources.

Dr. Naz is a clinical mental health therapist (LCSW) on a mission to help individuals conquer their challenges. With a therapeutic toolkit including CBT, strengths-based, and solution-focused approaches, he navigates the intricate systems that lead clients to his office, offering individual, group, and crisis management counseling. Specializing in working with individuals on the autism spectrum, people of color, and student-athletes, Naz creates a safe, trusting environment, prioritizing a robust therapeutic bond.
Spencer is a talented marketing professional with a passion for making people smile. With extensive experience managing social media pages, email marketing, SEO, and sales, Spencer's skills have made him a valuable asset in the industry. But it's not just his marketing expertise that sets him apart - Spencer's story is truly remarkable. While pursuing his marketing degree at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, he met Naz, who taught him about mental health and welcomed him into her family, which now includes three amazing new family members. Spencer's positive and upbeat personality is contagious, and he always finds ways to put a smile on people's faces.

Mental Health Advocate Of The Year

Mandii Brown is not only a seasoned mental health professional but also a domestic violence and suicide survivor. Her personal challenges have significantly influenced her advocacy for mental health and her passion to foster healing in communities. Originally from Chicago, IL, and now based in Nashville, TN, Mandii holds two bachelor's degrees—one in African American Studies and the other in Family Child Studies from Northern Illinois University. She also holds a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of West Alabama and is currently pursuing a Master's in Restorative Justice.
In her professional role, Mandii works as a behavioral health counselor for male inmates in high-security facilities in Nashville. She also holds a part-time position as a therapist at Mindful Steps PLLC. Her academic pursuits and career focus particularly on the mental health needs and systemic disparities faced by the justice-impacted population, while also advocating for the rights of victims within the criminal justice system.
Her past struggles have profoundly shaped her commitment to addressing key community issues such as recidivism, substance abuse, domestic violence support, and at-risk youth, with particular attention to the mental health challenges facing communities of color.
Mandii finds joy and purpose in her role as a dedicated mother to three children and a proud member of The Zeta Nu Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. 
Mandii continues to share her journey and insights through her social media and websites. You can follow her on Instagram (@the_relatable_counselor)

We See You Award

BIO TO COME

Best Nonprofit

BIO TO COME