Meet Our Team

Laqwanda Roberts-Buckley, LMSW

Executive Director/Founder

With over 18 years of social service experience, Laqwanda Roberts-Buckley is the Founder of Healing Black Women which serves as a safe space designed to encourage and promote all forms of wellness/healing for black women. She is also the Chief Editor of HealingBlackWomen.com.

Laqwanda is a suicide attempt survivor who manages Bipolar I Disorder and PTSD. She is no stranger to outpatient treatment, hospitalization, and crisis intervention. At one point in her mental health journey, she was unable to work, live on her own, or care for her child. Through several treatment failures and successes, Laqwanda has been able to experience recovery in order to support herself and serve her community. 
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Today, she is an established/nationally recognized speaker and has spoken on various platforms/panels with entities such as Eventbrite, Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Austin Black Pride, Environmental Protection Agency, Council on Social Work Minority Fellowship Program, Kaiser Permanente, Entrepreneurs’ Organization and local county government departments to name a few.
 
Currently, she is a Licensed Master's Social Worker and Mental Health Clinician. Most recently, she held the position of Director of Outreach for the National Office of Mental Health America. She serves on the Board of Directors for Recover Program Solutions of Virginia, Inc. and a former Board Member for NAMI Northern Virginia.  As a Black Queer woman and mental health provider, she understands the importance of inclusiveness and has extensive experience supporting individuals from diverse and underrepresented populations/communities. 

She is the Host of Minding Your Purpose Podcast,  Host of the Youtube show Livestream Wellness Series, and the Content Creator for the Youtube Channel Laqwanda. In addition, she has demonstrated her passion for self-care as a former Writing Contributor with PsychCentral.com through the blog Self-Care Today.
 
 Laqwanda is a Reiki II Practitioner, Certified Life Coach, holds a Master of Science in Social Work, a Bachelor of Art in Sociology and plans to pursue her studies towards a Doctor of Social Work.
 
Laqwanda lives life by the simple words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The purpose of life is not to be happy, it is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” It is her goal that the work done in her life touches and inspires the lives of others. 
​@laqwanda





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MEME EDWARDS

Mental Health & Wellness Associate

Meme is a personal lifestyle blogger with a passion for advocacy & social justice. Having been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder in 2008, she's managed to fight the disorder meanwhile making strides towards eradicating the many stigmas associated with mental health issues.
​Instagram:​
@Mechosen2002
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CAROLINE L’IMPÉRATRICE 

Holistic Health Wellness Associate

Caroline is a Certified Holistic Lifestyle Coach & Metaphysician. In 2007, after dealing with chronic inflammatory issues for years, she started her natural healing journey by reconnecting with her body's capacity to heal itself and consciously applying the power of her mind. Graduated in professional theater, her passion and interests then turned towards becoming a holistic lifestyle coach, motivating her to complete various trainings in healthy eating, herbal and essential oil care, homemade natural products, energy healing, holistic consultation and applied metaphysics. 
Instagram:
​@Wildflowers_in_the_sun

MOLOVE J SIMMONS

Motivational Wellness Associate

MoLove is an Educator, Entrepreneur, Advocate, MoLove spends her life working to help others become who they want to be with small steps in achieving their greatness. She was born an Artist and became an educator by destiny. She created her first business at the age of 10 by using both natural born skills. She continues to growth her entrepreneurships under the umbrella of MoLoveMadeIt LLC. 
Instagram:
@MoLoveMadeIt

HEALING BLACK WOMEN

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Healing Black Women is a safe space designed to encourage & promote all forms of wellness & healing for black women

TARCHELLE BRYANT

Mental Health & Wellness Associate

Tarchelle Bryant, known online as Tarchelle B, is a Certified Life Coach, Art Therapy Coach, Mental Health First Aider, Mental Health Advocate, and Social Media Influencer who helps her clients thrive in their lives despite living with depression or other mental and emotional obstacles.
​@TarchelleB 

ZARION NEWBILL, BA

Motivational Wellness Associate

Zarion Newbill, born in Hawkinsville, Ga raised in Macon, Ga where she attended a variation of both private Christian school and public schools. Zarion holds an Associate Degree in Marketing Management, Bachelors Degree in Psychology. Zarion is an advocate for all transgender women but especially for Trans women of Color. 
@queenamunet

SIMITRI NASSAR 

Sexual Wellness Associate 

My name is Simitri(SimiSex) and I’m from Upper Marlboro, MD. I’m a recent graduate from North Carolina Central University. I received my Bachelor’s in Public Health. I’m the owner of SimiSex. SimiSex is a sex positive clothing brand, our mission is to increase the knowledge of HIV and STI prevention in the African American community.​
@simisexx_

LINDSAY ANDERSON 

Mental Health & Wellness Associate 

Lindsay Anderson is the founder of Consciously Coping, a mental illness advocate, and the creator of #transparencytuesday. As an African American woman who is clinically diagnosed with bipolar disorder, PTSD, and generalized anxiety disorder, sharing her success and struggles within the mental health community is an honest passion. 
​@consciouslycoping

HEALING BLACK WOMEN

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Healing Black Women is a safe space designed to encourage & promote all forms of wellness & healing for black women. 

SHEILA KING 

Mental Health & Recovery Associate

Sheila King holds an Associate of Art in Liberal Studies. She has served women experiencing homelessness in Washington, DC for years. She has experience in crisis de-escalation, conflict resolution, and group facilitation. She is passionate about mental health and substance use issues. As a Black woman with mental health concerns, she wants to support all black women on their mental health journey.  
@mother_of_my_girls

CRYSTAL R. ROBERTS

Executive Assistant & Logistics Manager

Crystal is the Content Creator for the Youtube Channel Krystal Renee. Her channel focuses on motivational cleaning and DIY videos to help you push through the hard days. No matter if you’re dealing with depression, anxiety, or just a bad day, her channel will inspire you to make each and every day not only productive but possible. 
@Khrystal.Renee

CYNITRA F. OLIVER

Financial Wellness Associate  

A wife of 10yrs to the love of my life, and proud mother to an 18yr old daughter. A proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., in which I have dedicated my time and financial expertise to the Financial Secretary role for my local chapter. As well as my current role as the chapter Parliamentarian. I have worked in the financial industry for over 17 years and have held several roles; from Licensed Banker to Branch Manager to Women’s Business Advocate. My goal/aspiration is to become financially free from all debt and create wealth for my family and all those I encounter; leaving behind a legacy for my daughter to continue. I love spending time with close friends and family. 
@CynitraOliver

​TAMIKA BECK

Support Group Coordinator

Tamika Beck, a Blogger, Social Media Influencer, aspiring Wellness Coach/Meditation Practitioner, and Healing Advocate, shares her story of hurt, loss, and healing in an effort to encourage others to begin their journey. Tamika’s life was impacted by the crippling devastation of grief due to the sudden passing of her sister. Because of her own healing experiences, she is able to be a voice for the silent and silenced, showing others who are living under the heaviness of illness, grief, and fear, the life-changing benefits of seeking help to heal. 

@_Life.love.loss_

​MIRRALLE BENNET

Self-Care & Wellness Associate

I am a small home business Owner of Global Threads Quilting. Professionally I am in the U.S Coast Guard Reserve, full time I am a civilian for the Army, Logistics Specialist. In 2017 I got divorced right before an overseas deployment, I had no idea the toll this took on my mental health. In a few short months I lost my voice and was forced to take the time I needed to recover bringing me to the importance of taking care of my mental, physical and emotional health. I’m excited to share on the go self-care tips with you lovely ladies.​


@Justmirralle_

​KAYCEE’ L. SARA LCSW

Spiritual & Mental Wellness Associate

Kaycee’ L. Sara LCSW is a heartfelt healer whose primary areas of expertise are women’s holistic wellness, forensic mental health, spirituality coaching and wellness supportive services in practice for over 15 years with Los Angeles county department of mental health. She is the founder of Lotushelps where she shares her passion providing spiritual, mental, and emotional supportive wellness services to underserved communities particularly women of color/LGBTQ+ via individual, family, group and life coaching services. Instagram:
@LotusHelps

TAJA WATKINS-SCOTT, BS

Physical Health & Wellness Associate 

My name is Taja Watkins-Scott and professionally, I am a holistic bodywork therapist specializing in Swedish massage, sports massage and rehabilitation and acupuncture. Personally, I would describe myself as a nurturer and spiritual being navigating the human experience of life and while on this journey I am using my gifts to bring love, light and healing to as many people as I possibly can to raise the vibration of the world around us. I am a firm believer that our health should be considered holistically as every aspect of our lives;  physically, spiritually and emotionally are all interconnected. I take this approach with my own life and treat my clients accordingly. Although I am a bodywork therapist, many of my clients have found a safe space in me to be vulnerable and let go of anxieties they may be holding on to. As someone who also lives with anxiety it warms my heart that others can find a safe haven in me to let go of theirs. 
​ @Mahtajmidasliving
 
 

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