Nicole Benisch
Founder, Light Spirit Essentials and Reyna Collective
Certified Yoga Instructor, Herbalist, and Reiki Master
Lifelong student of music
Member of HUSH Providence

Collaboration with West Side Yoga and Ecstatic Dance in Providence, and Harmony on Hope

Nicole will take us through her process of finding her purpose and passion through music and community. Her beautiful connection to her grandmother and grandfather guide and illuminate her path all along the way.

Light Spirit Essentials is an umbrella for mind, body, and spirit health through meditation, music, reiki, and essential oils as well as the art of vibrational and energetic sound healing using crystal alchemy bowls. Reyna Collective is a free meditation accountability community existing at the intersection of personal care, group support, and community care.

An herbalist, model, and kitten lover, Nicole will share her authentic and captivating perspective and full heart. She will also share her gift of music at the end to ground us as we make our way through the holiday season.

Amy Schenck
Founder, Ocean State Reiki

- Registered Nurse, Integrative Therapy Nurse @ Miriam Hospital
- Board Certified, Holistic Nurse
- Founder, Ocean State Reiki
- Usui Reiki Master Teacher and Shamanic Reiki Master
- Member, HUSH Providence and Thrive Tribe Collaborative
Facebook: Ocean State Reiki

www.TM.org

Learn about the role of nursing in holistic healing and the peer support program team at Miriam Hospital supporting our healthcare workers. Amy will share a summary of her recent trip to Chicago to present at the ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center) National Magnet Conference for Nursing and Miriam’s Magnet designation.

Speaking from her heart, Amy will talk about managing grief and anxiety and how we all have the power to re-regulate our nervous system and re-program our beliefs. Holistic therapies have an equally important place in modern medicine. She will talk about her journey to Ocean State Reiki and the Zulu greeting ‘Sawubona’ meaning “I see you. I see you, too”. She will then recite from a favorite reading to shine light on connection and healing.

Michelle Clark
Executive Director, American Heart Association, Southern New England Chapter
Former Director, AHA Go RED for Women Movement
Former Development and Operations Director, March of Dimes
MBA George Washington University
[email protected]
www.heart.org
Learn more about the mission and purpose of the American Heart Association. Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death worldwide. What lifestyle changes can you make today to change outcomes? Michelle
will share some of the amazing events led by AHA: Annual Heart Ball recognizing Leaders of Impact, Annual Heart Walk, STEM Goes Red, Annual Go RED Luncheon as well as the new, exciting partnership with SHRM and Deloitte focused on health equity in the workforce. Identifying signs of a cardiac event and stroke can mean the difference in a positive outcome. Learn what we should be looking for to make a difference in a moment of need.

Michelle will also share her personal health journey from last year, a story of awareness, the importance of listening to our body, resilience, and gratitude. So much of life to celebrate!

Karen and Ellen Deutsch
Owners, Stewart House, Providence, RI

www.stewarthousepvd.com

A new home décor shop on the East Side, founded by sisters, Karen and Ellen Deutsch

”For homes with character, and characters.’

Celebrating Small Business Saturday, November 25th, just got alot more interesting. Attention to detail from the moment you are welcomed into the space to the storytelling of each unique, curated item, Stewart House offers customers a thoughtful aesthetic that can’t be denied. Karen and Ellen will share their design influences and the importance of building a layered approach to creative expression. Home brings purpose, intention and safety. Curiosity and continued editing allow an ever-evolving narrative of home while at the same time acknowledging the love and stories within the walls. A true partnership, Karen and Ellen complement each other as only two sisters can. Take the time to experience the store but also check out their beautifully designed website filled with Stewart House Stories, a journey of the senses that will immediately draw you in and make you feel at home.

Samantha Lomow
Founder & CEO, Playworks!
Board of Directors, Claire’s
Former EVP, Chief Customer Officer, Footlocker
Former President, Branded Entertainment, Hasbro

Gina Melone
Chief Creative, Studio Big Rock
Former Vice President, Innovation and Design, Hasbro
Play Industry Consultant
RISD Graduate

www.playworks.fun

LinkedIn (Samantha Lomow or Georgina Melone)

‘Play is the highest form of research.’ -Albert Einstein

Building on the concept and power of play and using play as a strategic catalyst, Playworks! helps leaders inspire organizations, creating a safe environment to innovate, take risks, and make change happen.

Empathy is at the core of the human-centered design thinking approach to creative problem solving. Is creative wellbeing a new focus for the C-Suite addressing the ever-changing dynamic between leaders and employees? Learn from these two respected leaders how play can positively impact health outcomes, promote team building, build community, and stimulate imagination. It is critical now more than ever to acknowledge that the expectations of employees are evolving dramatically. Harness the innate human creative power to drive performance and culture.

Carrie Levine, CNM
Founder, Whole Woman Health Clinic
Author, Whole Woman Health
BS Public Relations and Women’s Studies, Syracuse University
RN & MSN, Case Western Reserve University
Certified Nurse Midwife
Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner
www.carrielevine.com

‘Wholeness resides in imperfection, There is beauty in the mess.’
Learn how stress, trauma, lifestyle and nutrition affect your overall health and how functional medicine (the medicine of why) can target and prevent root causes of chronic health issues. Why is gut health and inflammation a critical piece in healing? What is the vagus nerve, why is it important and why is everyone talking about it? Learn more about the new field of sociogenomics and the social determinents of health. What’s the difference between true and false anxiety? Why is it important to rename self care to building resiliency? Carrie will talk about all of this plus the importance of regularly assessing consumption. It takes a qualified team to manage the miracle of the human body. Who’s on yours? Her book is a must read!

The Good Seed
Founders: Chris Mulhall, Sue Kinnel, Ruth Hardman

www.goodseedmarket.com

A natural, organic foods market located in Seekonk, Massachusetts, founded in 1989 by three friends. Learn more about how our sponsors found their way to building community and impacting the health of three generations of patrons. A member of the Independent Natural Foods Retailer Association (INFRA) gives this local market a competitive edge as well as the support of 300 other store owners.

Chris will speak to food industry trends, food insecurity, community support, customer demographics over the years, and their role as a trusted community information resource as customers continue their health and wellness journey. Taking pride while operating as an essential
business during the pandemic and opening doors to a new group of customers dedicated to supporting small business.

Check out their website and Facebook page for monthly sale flyers, new product offerings, and recipes. Better yet, visit the store and experience a friendly welcome and take advantage of their generous offer of a 10% discount on your first purchase by mentioning HUSH Providence.

Amy Knight
Vice President, Global Sustainability at Edgewell Personal Care
[email protected]

With a commitment to community and an overall goal of delivering wellbeing, Edgewell lives its purpose and employer brand and is recognized as one of USA Today’s ‘America’s Climate Leaders.’

With a career spanning over twenty years, Amy has been a strong advocate of the importance of environmental sustainability and will speak to the evolution of this role. Our conversation explores the concept of Human Sustainability which encompasses the development of skills and human capacity to support the functions and sustainability of the organization and to promote the wellbeing of communities and society. Four pillars of sustainability: human, social, economic, and environmental.

As a mom of two twin boys entering college, Amy will share her transition and path to discovery as she and her husband enter this new chapter, embracing the loud quiet with intention. Her personal and professional paths connect at the intersection of joy.

Stephanie Robb
Founder, Journey Illuminated
Mindful Rewilding Outdoor Consultant
Kripalu Certified Mindful Outdoor Guide
[email protected]
‘Each star is a mirror reflecting the truth inside you.’ Aberjhani

The benefits of spending time in nature include both physical and mental wellbeing. By organically activating the senses through noticing, activities such as forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) can improve cardiovascular health by lowering blood pressure, boost immune system, reduce the stress hormone cortisol, and improve cognitive performance. Stephanie will remind us that the outdoors invites you to explore with child-like curiosity. “No matter how old you get, may you always stop to fill your pockets with smooth stones…treasures.” (Nicolette Sowder)

A storyteller at heart, Stephanie will recall a pivotal moment and transport us through visualization as we are reminded, profoundly, of the lesson in nature that life truly does go on. A glimmer of hope for us all.

Eowyn Ahlstrom
Brown University School of Professional Studies, Mindfulness & MBSR Instructor/Trainer
Founder, Middle Path Healing Arts
10+ Years Mindful Movement and Yoga Instructor @ Insight Meditation Society
Poetess
[email protected]
‘The real meditation practice is how we live our lives from moment to moment to moment.’ Jon Kabat-Zinn

Éowyn will define mindfulness practice and benefits along with a brief review of traditional anchors: breath, sound, mantra, body scan, loving kindness and visualization. She will touch on extended mindfulness applications: mindful eating, walking, simply noticing, and movement as well as a core element of mindfulness, beginner’s mind which creates openness and curiosity.

What is the invitation? Who and what are we inviting in? In response, Éowyn shares an excerpt from her recent blog, Contemporary Wayfaring, yearning for a more authentic, intentional life.

Wrapping our conversation with a reading from her book, Mindscapes, Practice Poems, ‘Beautiful Offerings’.