17 Feb By: Cassandra Weathersby, Recipient of the Keepers of the Flame Scholarship

By: Cassandra Weathersby, Recipient of the Keepers of the Flame Scholarship by Jackie Sue Griffin & Associates

My organization, Black Women DO Heal, focuses on stigma reduction, respite, holistic healing,  psychoeducation, support groups, healing retreats and media representations of healing (through our digital magazine and social media presence).

I am currently pursuing my associate’s degree in Social Science at Delgado Community College. I am a Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honors Society member and a new member of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS). I plan to utilize my education to become a more skilled coach and healing services, business owner.

Being a recipient of The Keepers Of The Flame Scholarship allows me to pay for our operating expenses and place funds towards our Day of Collective Rest Event in April.

I was inspired to start Black Women DO Heal, because I had to suffer in silence for so many years due to stigma and cultural biases within our communities regarding mental illness, mental health care and treatment.

On this journey, I have already shown success implementing programs and events to foster healing, respite, and give back to other women with few resources. I kept going in the face of adversity to support our budding community. This scholarship would help us do more.

Through our Queen For A Day Program, we will continue to  “pay it forward” to other women. Our goal is to expand the program and wrap around the Queen until the next Queen gets crowned. We will assist her with viable services, vendors, and real-time support to reach an obtainable, measurable goal in the areas of her education, career or business.

Additionally, we have a long-term goal of establishing a respite center for Black and Brown Women. Our plan is to create a safe, holistic space for women to help reduce burnout, abuse, neglect and avoidable, expensive hospitalizations (when respite could have curtailed them). We endeavor to train, hire and employ Recovery Coaches to support the women during their stay while simultaneously providing well-paying jobs to the women we employ.

Cassandra James Weathersby is a champion for Mental Wellness. As a ‘survivor turned thriver’ of her battles with trauma & mental illness, Cassandra is working to encourage other women of color to stand in their truth, breaking the silence barrier that has kept many trapped. Through her organization Black Women DO Heal, founded in 2019, Cassandra facilitates those meaningful conversations to promote healing.

Cassandra has more than 30 years of lived experience in mental health, four years experience as a Recovery Coach Professional, Certified Peer Support Specialist, is a Certified WRAP Facilitator, a Target Health Facilitator and is currently pursuing her degree in Social Science.

Cassandra currently resides in New Orleans, LA. She is the mother of three grown rugrats and GiGi of one granddaughter and one new grandson