Posts by Giovanna Rossi

On the Well Woman Show today I interview Dr. Wendy Ellis, Assistant Professor in Global Health and the Founding Director of the Center for Community Resilience at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University. I met Dr. Ellis at a summit on early childhood, childcare and workplace policy – one of my all time favorite topics. And when I heard her speak about resilience and her take on the Adverse Childhood Experience model (known as ACES), I just knew I had to have her on the show. While the world, and the US in particular, might be in breakdown, there are leaders that are already rebuilding, and actually facilitating the emergence of a new version of the systems and structures that we not build for or by women and certainly not women of color. Dr. Wendy Ellis is one of those leaders.

She is an Assistant Professor in Global Health and the Founding Director of the Center for Community Resilience at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University. Dr. Ellis has spent the last fifteen years developing and working to grow a ‘resilience movement’ to address systemic inequities that contribute to social and health disparities that are often transmitted in families and communities from generation to generation.

The Center for Community Resilience seeks to improve the health of communities by enabling cross-sectoral partners to align policy, program and practice to address adverse childhood experiences in the context of adverse community environments–or as Dr. Ellis has coined it “The Pair of ACEs”. This innovative framing of ACEs, with an explicit focus on equity and prevention, has had a substantial influence on local initiatives, programs, public health initiatives and local, state and federal policy. Using the Pair of ACEs framing, Building Community Resiliencenetworks have successfully led systems and policy change focused on addressing long-standing economic, social and health disparties by partnering with community, integrating service delivery and building political will for change.

The strengths-based approach is aimed at building the infrastructure to disrupt cycles of structural racism, foster equity and promote resilience in communities by improving access to supports and buffers that help individuals ‘bounce back’ and communities thrive.

Leveraging her extensive background in communications, in 2022 Dr. Ellis produced a documentary, “America’s Truth: Cincinnati” that follows her team’s innovative approach to centering conversations on structural racism that galvanized a resilience movement to foster equity through systems and policy change. Dr. Ellis holds several leadership positions in public health including Chair of the National Academy of Sciences, Enhancing Community Resilience in the Gulf States Committee, Scientific Advisor to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Prevention and Injury Center and the National Academy’s Culture of Health Advisory Board. In 2018 Dr. Ellis was selected as an Aspen Institute Ascend Fellow to support her leadership in developing cross-sector strategies to address childhood trauma, foster equity and build community resilience.

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We discuss:

Being unafraid in the face of change.

Betting on yourself when it comes to your dreams and goals.

and

Leading with faith & focus as a leader.

As always, all the links and information are at  wellwomanlife.com/322show

The Well Woman Show is thankful for support from The Well Woman Academy™ at wellwomanlife.com/academy. Join us in the Academy for the community, mindfulness practices, and strategy to live your Well Woman Life®.

This week on the show I interview Marianne Williamson, bestselling author, political activist, and spiritual thought leader who is running for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in the 2024 election cycle. For over three decades, Williamson has been a leader in spiritual and religiously progressive circles. She is the author of 15 books. four of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers. Williamson founded Project Angel Food, a non-profit organization that has delivered more than 14 million meals to ill and dying homebound patients since 1989.

The group was created to help people suffering from the ravages of HIV AIDS. She has also worked throughout her career on poverty, anti-hunger and racial reconciliation issues. In 2004, she co-founded The Peace Alliance and supports the creation of a U.S. Department of Peace. Williamson ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020.

We discuss:

• Economic bill of rights / economy of well-being
• Childcare / women in the workforce
• Reparations / dismantling patriarchal economic and social systems
• How do we close the wealth inequality gap in America today?

For all information mentioned, go to wellwomanlife.com/321show for more information

The Well Woman Show is thankful for support from The Well Woman Academy™ at wellwomanlife.com/academy. Join us in the Academy for the community, mindfulness practices, and strategy to live your Well Woman Life.

Today, we delve into the groundbreaking work of Dr. Adia Gooden, a licensed clinical psychologist focusing on unconditional self-worth, imposter syndrome, and Black women and mental health. And, we’ll hear about Gloria Feldt’s efforts with Take The Lead and the ambitious goal of achieving gender parity by 2025.  Let’s start by talking about the gender gaps in self-esteem and power. These gaps still persist in our society, affecting various marginalized groups, especially women and in particular, Black, Indigenous and women of color. The self-esteem gap refers to the disparity in how individuals perceive their worth and value, and it can have significant implications for personal and professional growth. On the other hand, the power gap refers to the uneven distribution of decision-making authority and influence between genders. As we continue our program today, think about how you would rate your won self esteem and your power, or decision making authority and influence. Is it strong? Is it where you want it to be?

One researcher who has been shedding light on this issue is Dr. Adia Gooden. She has focused her work on understanding self-worth and its impact on mental health, particularly among black women. Dr. Gooden’s research highlights the unique challenges faced by black women in society and the importance of fostering self-esteem and self-worth for overall well-being. Her work serves as a powerful reminder of the need to address these disparities and to support the leaders doing this work.

Now, let’s shift our attention to Gloria Feldt, a renowned author and activist who has made it her mission to achieve gender parity by 2025. She co-founded Take The Lead, an organization that empowers women to embrace leadership roles and break through barriers that have held them back. You also may remember her as the former head of Planned Parenthood at the national level. Feldt’s efforts have been instrumental in advocating for equal opportunities for women and challenging systemic biases.

Join the Power Up Conference and Concert with Gloria Feldt and Take The Lead in Los Angeles!

The Power Up Conference and Concert, happening on August 26th, will bring together inspiring speakers, industry leaders, and performers to discuss and celebrate women’s empowerment. This year, the event will be held both in-person and virtually, allowing everyone to participate, no matter where you are. It’s an excellent opportunity to network, gain insights, and support the incredible work being done to close the gender gaps.

Well Woman Show is a media partner for Power Up Conference 2023

Use our special discount code for 20% off tickets: POWERUPWWS  Power Up Concert & Conference

As always, The Well Woman Show is thankful for support from The Well Woman Academy™ at wellwomanlife.com/academy. Join us in the Academy for community, mindfulness practices, and strategy to live your Well Woman Life.

All the links and information from today’s show are at wellwomanlife.com/radio

Links:

Self esteem gender gap article: Self-esteem gender gap more pronounced in western countries

Connect with Dr.Adia:

Twitter: @dradiashani

Instagram: @dradiagooden

Book Recommendation: Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Kristin Neff