Mental Health and Wellness in the Community

Wyandanch, NY – Long Island Mental Health in Color Coalition is a collective of diverse licensed mental

health providers. In recognition of Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness

Month, also known as BIPOC Mental Health Month, the Coalition is hosting The Culture of Care Block

Party: Celebrating Mind, Body and Community. This community gathering will be held on Saturday,

July 25, 2026 from 12:00PM – 3:00PM at Wyandanch Plaza 40 Station Drive Wyandanch, NY 11798.

The Culture of Care Block Party aims to:

Increase awareness of mental health and wellness resources

Promote wellness through interactive activities and health screenings

Celebrate cultural diversity through music, and community engagement

·Strengthen connections between providers and the communities they serve

Multiple providers will be onsite promoting well-being through a variety of interactive experiences.

The Culture of Care Block Party brings together licensed mental health therapists, fitness instructors,

physical therapists, medical massage therapists and other health and wellness professionals whose

identity reflects the local community. The Coalition envisions an afternoon where community is cared

for in a culturally responsive manner. Participants will have opportunities to get their bodies moving

with double dutch, line dancing, pilates and yoga. They can also experience stress reduction and

mindfulness techniques that support mental health. Molloy University’s mobile health clinic will

provide health screenings such as blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index and referrals to

community providers for ongoing health services.

People who attend The Culture of Care Block Party will enjoy music, movement, refreshments and

giveaways. Wellness resource information will also be provided, including a directory of diverse mental

health providers on Long Island. Long Island Mental Health in Color Coalition has curated this familyfriendly

event and looks forward to gather in community to celebrate culture and care!

Kelsunn Communications, Featuring The" Kelsunn-on-the-Air Social Work Podcast" Brings you this special MLK Day of Service "Vox Populi" (Latin for "Voice of the People"). We were on location at Molloy University in Rockville Center, NY on January 19, 2026. This multi-media montage brings you sound bites from some of the attendees sharing their thoughts on that day's program. There are also graphics and quotes highlighting important aspects of the late Dr. Martin Luther King's Mission and Message!!

Here's the trailer of a Vox Populi (Voice of the People) Production done on location at Molloy University in NY. Listen up for a brief sneak-peek of the full production. You'll also find details on how to listen to the entire production.

Analysis of "The Cold Within" By James Patrick Kinney I provide a monologue I recorded live, where I introduced the poem and connect it to today's current social and humanitarian state. Following that I do an oral interpretation of the poem with an original music track called "The Chill" playing in the background.*************************************************************************(*** The following full analysis of "The Cold Within" By James Patrick Kinney is provided by "AI").*************************************************************************"The Cold Within" by James Patrick Kinney is a mid-1960s narrative poem that serves as a powerful allegory for the destructive nature of human prejudice. It depicts six individuals trapped in "bleak and bitter cold," each holding a stick of wood that could sustain a dying fire and save their lives. However, they all freeze to death because their internal biases—racism, classism, religious intolerance, and greed—prevent them from sharing their resources. The Characters and Their Prejudices - Each of the six "humans" (a word Kinney uses to emphasize their universal humanity) represents a specific societal divide: The Racist (White): Refuses to share their wood because they see a Black man in the group.The Bigot (Religious): Withholds their wood because someone else is not of their "church."The Poor Man: Refuses to help the "idle rich," viewing them as unworthy of his meager resource.The Rich Man: Obsesses over protecting his wealth from the "lazy shiftless poor" and keeps his stick.The Black Man: Seeks revenge for past injustices by withholding his wood to "spite the white."The Opportunist: Only gives to those who give to him, treating survival as a cynical "game." Core Themes -Selfishness vs. Survival: The poem illustrates that holding onto personal resources out of spite or greed leads to collective ruin.The "Cold Within": This central metaphor refers to the lack of warmth, empathy, and compassion in the human heart. The poem concludes that the characters did not die from the external cold, but from the spiritual coldness of their own hearts.Human Sin: Kinney explicitly labels their refusal to share as "proof of human sin," drawing on Christian parables of charity and self-sacrifice. Symbolism:The Dying Fire: Represents the "common good" or the collective spirit of humanity.The Sticks of Wood: Represent the individual's abilities, resources, or potential for kindness.Irony: The ultimate irony is that by trying to withhold resources from others they disliked, the characters guaranteed their own death.

Ms. Alisa West Cahill, LSW is a licensed social worker with an administrative specialty. Her education and skill set encompass program development, prioritizing data-driven policy and practice, and transdisciplinary collaboration. She leads the Division of Aging Services at the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. This Division is home to the Behavioral Health Forum on Aging, which seeks to collaboratively design and implement an age-informed standard and system of care for the older adults of today and tomorrow. In 2016, the Network for Social Work Management selected Alisa as a Senior Policy Fellow for her work in aging.**********************************Ms. West Cahill is a professional working in the field of healthcare and behavioral health, with a focus on integrated care and support for the healthcare workforce. She is associated with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the University of Oklahoma, and she is an advocate for #HealthyAging and #SubstanceUseDisorder prevention.*********************************She has had the opportunity to work primarily with, and/or on the behalf of, older adults & respective caregivers as well as w/ people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. My path began about 25 years ago as a new MSW at the Community Council of Central Oklahoma. This role included leading the collaborative efforts w/incredible stakeholders of the homelessness services sector & resulted in Oklahoma City being one of the early HUD Continuum of Care Communities to implement a Homeless Management Information System. Further, we were able to propel OKC to a pivotal leadership role w/in the then emerging National Human Services Data Consortium. In 2010 my work turned toward specializing in aging, including work at a Veterans Center & providing legislative testimony along with the NASW-OK Exec. Director focused on promoting enhanced living experiences & Family Council development w/in nursing home settings. More recently, & from its inception in 2016, I served as the lead of the Positive Aging Initiative at the Zarrow School of Social Work's Knee Center for Strong Families, now Ruth (and Jr.) Knee Institute for Transformative Scholarship. This Initiative engaged in original research, dissemination, & practice development central to inter-professional workforce competencies that promote the opportunity for older adults to experience positive health & well-being. A highlight was the collaborative development & expansion of an Inter-Professional Positive Aging Continuing Education Track, which was scaled to deliver content recognized by multiple licensure boards & attended by professionals & advocates representing diverse disciplines. I have had the privilege of working w/ stakeholders from multiple jurisdictions, states, & the province of Alberta & have provided an array of presentations at the local, state, national, & international level, many of which highlight the importance of data-driven & inclusive practice. I'm thrilled to share I am now the Aging Services Project Manager w/ the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services, where I get to continue the essential work of collaboration, partnership, & capacity development to help ensure all Oklahomans have an opportunity to experience health & well-being as we age. Lastly, as a volunteer over the last 3 decades, I've been granted a range of experiences including being a founding board member of the Central Oklahoma Human Rights Alliance, serving on the NASW-OK nursing home reform ad-hoc committee, & am a member of the Medical Reserve Corps.

✨ In March of this year, to celebrate Social Work Month 2025 – Highlighting this year’s theme – “Social Work – Compassion + Action”, I Wrote an essay in Memory of My Foster Mother, the late Mrs. Ruth Alexandra Cox.

The essay was featured nationally in the "New Social Worker Magazine" (https://www.socialworker.com/extras/2025-social-work-month-project/compassion-my-foster-mother-late-ruth-alexandra-cox/) and the National Association of Social Workers (#NASW) Newsletter, Social Work Smart Brief.🎙️ Now, I’ve brought that story to life in a multi-media montage, blending spoken word, visuals, and music as a further, lasting tribute to her. It speaks of the lasting impact she had on my brother Paul and I, whom she raised along with her husband, Mr. Oden E. Cox, our Foster Dad. You’ll also learn of the greatest gift that she bestowed on my brother Paul and I. It also is recognition of the power of the profession of social work itself.📖 Watch, listen, and join me in celebrating her healing compassion and kindness, in highlighting her legacy of love!!!#SocialWork #FosterCare #SocialWorkAdvocate #LegacyOfLove

Today’s Guest for Episode #2 of our series entitled “Aging in America - The New Realities” Series is Ms. Michele Woodard.Ms. Woodard shares her unique situation that has her serving as the primary caregiver for two immediate family members. In this episode she shares some of the challenges and joys that she experiences personally in this dual role. She also shares some advice about self-care for those in similar situations. Here is a little background on Ms. Woodard:* Michele is a highly accomplished leader in charitable services and corporate philanthropy with exceptional knowledge of donor-advised funds in the finance industry.* She has substantial management experience with local and national nonprofits focused on youth-at-risk, mental health and advocacy.* She served as Vice President of Charitable Services and the Office of Corporate Engagement at Ayco, a Goldman Sachs Company for over 20 years, with an emphasis on donor-advised funds and working with donors to facilitate local, national and global giving.* Michele began her college education studying at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University at Albany, State University of New York and went on to earn a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling also from the University at Albany, State University of New York.* Ms. Woodard previously launched a highly successful podcast series entitled “Philanthropy Infusion”. She did so during a collaboration with Kelsunn Communications, Inc. The slogan for her podcast series was – “Infusing Equity into Your Philanthropy”.

Kelsunn Communications invites you to look and listen to this trailer advertising the 2nd Episode in our new series entitled "Aging in America - The New Realities". Listen as Ms. Michelle Woodard shares her challenges and joys as a primary care-giver for her mother and another elderly family member.

Dawn E. Shedrick, LCSW is the Current NASW-NYS Suffolk Division Director. She is a clinical social worker, consultant, educator, and writer whose work focuses on the health and wellbeing of family caregivers, trauma survivors, and queer people. She is the founder and principal consultant of JenTex Training & Consulting, a continuing education and professional development firm for health and human services professionals.

Dawn weaves her extensive experiences as her mother’s primary caregiver since 1996. She is a mental health practitioner, trainer, educator, and holistic healer who creates experiences and tools for caregivers to heal from stress and burnout. She also helps health and human services professionals develop the skills to support them in their healing.

 On October 31, 2024 NPR (highlighted her experience in a full feature article detailing her personal journey as her mother’s primary caregiver.

(https://bit.ly/3ZSli6T)

 She is also the author of Courageous Contemplation: A Guided Journal for Family CareGivers of Chronically Ill, Disabled, and Elderly Loved Ones.

 Here reputation as a Subject Matter Expert on the personal joys and challenges of caregiving was skillfully detailed in the online publication “Sisters of AARP”. (https://www.sistersletter.com/author/dawn-e-shedrick-lcsw)

Kelsunn Communications invites you to look and listen to this trailer advertising the 1st Episode in our new series entitled "Aging in America - The New Realities". Listen as Ms. Dawn Shedrick shares parts of her challenging and rewarding journey as a primary care-giver for her mother.