National Health Center Week (August 7 – 13) is an annual celebration with the goal of raising awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America’s health centers over the past five decades.  Community Health Centers serve as the beacon of strength, service, and care in their communities. In moments of pain and loss, they offer support and love. In moments of triumph, they offer hope and a vision for the future. Let’s come together this week to celebrate the roles Community Health Centers have played in both our recent moments of loss and triumph.  This National Health Center Week honors those front line providers, staff, and beloved patients who lost their lives during the (ongoing) COVID-19 pandemic. From the very beginning of the crisis, Community Health Centers began finding innovative ways to provide preventative and primary care to their patients.  Click the link to learn more about National Health Center Week: https://healthcenterweek.org/

At Girls on the Run Panhandle, teaching critical life skills is the cornerstone of our research-based programs. Meeting in small teams, trained volunteer coaches inspire girls of all abilities to strengthen confidence and other important life skills through dynamic, interactive lessons and physical activity.   The Girls on the Run researched-based curriculum is structured around understanding ourselves, valuing relationships and teamwork, and recognizing how we can shape the world at large. Participants gain critical life skills that strengthen their potential at a time when societal pressures and conflicting messages about how to feel and act can cause doubt and uncertainty.  

GOTR Website: https://www.gotrpanhandle.org/

Phone: 850-296-2884

Join us on Saturday, June 25th at the Donald L Tucker Civic Center to bid on amazing artwork by some of the best local and regional artists. Artopia boasts over 300 pieces of art in the silent auction and 10-15 best-in-show pieces in the rousing live auction! The best part is you don’t need to be an art critic to enjoy this lively event. As a matter of fact, there’s just about something for everyone—beautiful art at a reasonable price—in just about every form you can think of.  Artopia is made possible because of the generous donations from artists and community members like YOU. All proceeds from the event stay in the Big Bend and provide prescriptions, food, COVID-19 vaccines, and other medical care to those in need – at no cost to them!  Register For Artopia: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA... Volunteer For Artopia: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA... Contact Serene Smallwood at [email protected]  https://bigbendcares.org/ Instagram: @bigbencares

Jasmine Thornton joined the team in January 2021 as the FIMR Program Coordinator & Outreach Specialist. She works with the community and providers to address the infant mortality rate and to connect families to services that will help them to have an optimal pregnancy outcome. Jasmine is from Jacksonville, FL and she came to Tallahassee, FL where she attended Florida State University and earned a degree in Family and Child Sciences. Jasmine has experience working in child welfare, college campus ministry, and leading the women’s ministry at her church. In her free time, she enjoys making art, reading, being in nature, dancing, singing, and listening to music.  Capital Area Healthy Start Website: https://capitalareahealthystart.org/  Jasmine Thornton email: [email protected] Phone: 850.488.0288 ext. 102

Lisa Sherry is the new Community Outreach Coordinator with DISC Village.  She has worked in the field of Social Work for 34 years.  The majority of her career was spent in juvenile justice with over a decade working for state government and two decades working in the non-profit sector as the supervisor of the Leon County Juvenile Assessment Center/Juvenile Services Unit.   Ms. Sherry has been a resident of Tallahassee, FL since 1972 and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Social Work in 1988 from Florida State University.  Ms. Sherry’s career has been dedicated to serving youth and families in the Big Bend region with a focus on criminal justice reform and advocating for services for those underserved by systems.  In her new role as Community Outreach Coordinator she is assigned to the Adult Services Unit with DISC Village, serving the Big Bend region from Franklin County to Taylor County.  As a Community Outreach Coordinator, the goal is to bring awareness to individuals in the communities being served with a variety of concepts pertaining to substance misuse, such as new treatment options, harm reduction strategies, reducing stigma around substance use and mental health and how to access treatment and services. Anyone needing more information in these areas can contact Lisa Sherry at [email protected] or 850-567-8609.

Mind Your Body & Soul: The Healthy Podcast is hosted by Joseph Ward, Mathias Sweet, and Mrs. Alana Steaple. Mind Your Body & Soul is an educational podcast that focuses on all things health related, to help our listeners learn more about various health topics and information they may not have had access to. We seek to inform, empower, uplift, and mobilize our listeners to become the healthiest versions of themselves.   Dr. Matthew Lawson is a board-certified neurosurgeon with Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and Tallahassee Neurological Clinic. Dr. Lawson attended Harvard University for his undergraduate studies before receiving his medical degree from the University of Florida, where he also completed his residency. He performs general neurosurgery along with subspecialized care in endovascular and cerebrovascular surgery at TMH.   Dr. Lawson was the first neurosurgeon in the region to perform brain aneurysm coiling, AVM embolization, and acute stroke intervention.  He helped bring cutting edge neuroendovascular care to the Tallahassee area.  Dr. Lawson also has a thriving general neurosurgery practice and cares for patients with brain tumors, hydrocephalus, disorders of the spine, and disorders of the peripheral nerves.  Website: http://matthewlawsonmd.com/

Karen D Henry is the Admissions / Marketing Director for Miracle Hill Nursing and Rehab Center. Karen has worked for years as a healthcare marketing expert in the Big Bend area. Coming from the rural County of Gadsden County, she saw early on, the importance of people being able to have access to quality health care. Her background in journalism and marketing have helped her to promote the healthcare organizations she has worked with. She has worked in hospice, assisted living and skilled acute care over the years.   When she is not working, she spends time with her large family, blogging, and working on her extensive family tree which has impressive ancestry in Africa, the United Kingdom and Sephardim.    Karen Henry Phone: 850-443-6363 Miracle Hill: 850-224-8486 https://www.miraclehillhealthcare.com/

Brittany Seachrist is the Director of Humble House Ministries in Tallahassee, a 12-month faith-based residential recovery program for women. Brittany holds a certification with the state of Florida as a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, certified in Genesis Process (a Relapse Prevention/Compulsive Behavior counseling tool), and formerly served in the Most Excellent Way ministry and taught classes and church at the Bay County Jail in Panama City and Gadsden Prison for the last 6 years. In addition, she previously worked as a Program Manager/Case Manager at Bethel Village, a women's faith-based recovery program in Panama City. She has a heart for women who are struggling with addiction and has the desire to duplicate the ministry that helped set her free from her own drug addiction 7 years ago. Brittany is married to Kyle Seachrist, and has been married since August 2020. They have two children, Kayden and Kiley and are members of Red Hills Church in Tallahassee.

Nicole Moltimore has served the Tallahassee community for 22 years promoting health and wellness as a physical therapist.  She has Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy and Psychology from Florida A&M University, a Master's in Public Administration from Florida State University, and she is currently working towards her Doctoral in Public Health with an emphasis in Behavioral Health and Health Education from Florida A&M University. Nicole is an Adjunct Professor in the Division of Physical Therapy at Florida A&M University and operates her own business, Enjoy Life, where she is a consultant at a local long-term care facility and more recently has accepted the position as Community Engagement coordinator for the South City Foundation.  Nicole is dedicated to her community (with a focus on the Southside of Tallahassee) to promote physical, mental, financial, and public health through the promotion of education.    South City Foundation: https://southcityfoundation.org/  Email: [email protected]

Shaqualyn M. Shedrick, better known as Ms. Quay, was born and raised in Miami, FL. She grew up with the support of her family and community. She graduated from Florida A&M University with a Bachelors in Criminal Justice and a minor in Psychology. She has a strong passion for teaching, encouraging, and supporting women of all ages, specifically adolescent young women. Through various life experiences throughout her teen years and various encounters with other teen girls, she noticed a difference in happiness; this is the driving force that keeps her involved in the community daily. She dreamed of a better support system, a stronger community and a space where women of all ages could find confidence in themselves. Thus, She Academy, Inc. was born. “You get what you work for, not what you wish for.” – Ms. Quay  She Academy’s Mantra: “Supporting Her Endeavors” Ms. Quay’s day regularly includes pushing herself to do her best, to stand up for others, and to encourage other women to do the same; she believes in hard work. Her love for God, pushes her to uplift, encourage, and serve others. Being the first in her family to create an organization like She Academy, Ms. Quay has experienced the difficulty and hard work that it takes to reach her dreams. She focuses on being a problem-solver, on learning from mistakes and pushing to be better, in efforts to be an example for other girls and young women who have big dreams. This is the goal of She Academy, to set strong examples of hard work and dedication in order to inspire others to reach their goals and know that they have all they need within themselves to get where they want to be. It only takes a little practice, patience, rest, and self-discipline. Through her hard work at She Academy, Ms. Quay is teaching girls and young women that nothing should stand in the way of your dreams. She Academy is an extension of Ms. Quay and everyone involved is family. We applaud Ms. Quay for her hard work and dedication and all of the amazing things she continues to do for She Academy and the community of Tallahassee! Fun Facts about Ms. Quay:  ·       She is the oldest child in her family; she has a younger brother and a younger sister. ·       She thrives off self-care. Her hobbies include going to the spa, eating, dancing, traveling, and doing hair.  “Not all superheroes wear capes. Some of us wear polos, most of us wear smiles. The only one stopping you is you. If you get out of your own way, you can succeed in everything that you do.”  SHE Academy Website: https://www.sheacademyinc.com/