The Healing Academy

08/28/2026

THANK YOU, COMMUNITY! 💚🧡

The Culture of Healing Block Party was a beautiful reminder of what is possible when we come together. From learning healing tools and connecting with community resources to enjoying music, movement, art, and the outdoors—coming together truly is healing.

We want to give a HUGE thank you to everyone who made the day possible!

Thank you City Motivators and Playstreets for bringing the whole vibe!

CAMP 1302 — thank you for sponsoring the water!

Rai Symone — thank you for creating space for relaxation and healing by volunteering your beautiful singing bowl session.

The Healing Academy Board — thank you for coming out and volunteering your time!

And where would we be without our incredible Executive Volunteers? Thank you for always showing up and helping make the work happen.

A special shoutout to the 64th Street Drummers for bringing incredible energy and culture to the block party!

We are also grateful for the community organizations and partners who supported us:

Crack in a Cup
South Side Healthy Community
Friend and Family Health
Peace of Mine
Black Fire Brigade
Art Center of Englewood
Pilsen Wellness Center
Mather
Brown Sugar Balloons
True Believers
and many more!

Thank you to everyone!

And thank you to the 7th District officers, including Officer Cox, for being there with our community, as well as 6th Ward alderperson candidate Allyson Scrutchens for joining us.

We believe healing happens in many ways. It happens when we learn tools that help us care for ourselves. It happens when we move our bodies and spend time outside. It happens when we laugh, dance, listen to music, share resources, and build relationships with our neighbors.

Healing happens in community.

Thank you to EVERYONE who showed up, participated, volunteered, sponsored, performed, partnered, shared resources, or simply came out to enjoy the day.

We can't wait to see how much bigger and stronger the Culture of Healing Block Party can become next year!

Until then, keep healing. Keep connecting. Keep showing up for one another. 💚

— The Healing Academy

08/26/2026

THANK YOU, COMMUNITY! 💚🧡

The Culture of Healing Block Party was a beautiful reminder of what is possible when we come together. From learning healing tools and connecting with community resources to enjoying music, movement, art, and the outdoors—coming together truly is healing.

We want to give a HUGE thank you to everyone who made the day possible!

Thank you City Motivators and Playstreets for bringing the whole vibe!

Camp 1302 — thank you for sponsoring the water!

Rai Symone — thank you for creating space for relaxation and healing by volunteering your beautiful singing bowl session.

The Healing Academy Board — thank you for coming out and volunteering your time!

And where would we be without our incredible Executive Volunteers? Thank you for always showing up and helping make the work happen.

A special shoutout to the 64th Street Drummers for bringing incredible energy and culture to the block party!

We are also grateful for the community organizations and partners who supported us:

Crack in a Cup Coffee
South Side Healthy Community
Friend and Family Health
Peace of Mine
Black Fire Brigade
Art Center of Englewood
Pilsen Wellness Center
Mather
Brown Sugar Balloons
True Believers
and many more!

Thank you to everyone!

And thank you to the 7th District officers, including Officer Cox, for being there with our community, as well as 6th Ward alderperson candidate Allyson Scrutchens for joining us.

We believe healing happens in many ways. It happens when we learn tools that help us care for ourselves. It happens when we move our bodies and spend time outside. It happens when we laugh, dance, listen to music, share resources, and build relationships with our neighbors.

Healing happens in community.

Thank you to EVERYONE who showed up, participated, volunteered, sponsored, performed, partnered, shared resources, or simply came out to enjoy the day.

We can't wait to see how much bigger and stronger the Culture of Healing Block Party can become next year!

Until then, keep healing. Keep connecting. Keep showing up for one another. 💚

— The Healing Academy

08/18/2026

08/18/2026

Ok!
Let’s do this again!
We started The Healing Academy Culture of Healing fair back in 2020!
We are not the only organization focused on healing through action but we’re here to partner with as many organizations doing the work as possible!
Coming together to heal a community is the culture of The Healing Academy.

07/10/2026

Dr. Obari is a father, author, educator, and grassroots mental health advocate dedicated to the emotional and cultural wellness of Black communities. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hampton University and a Ph.D. in clinical and community psychology from Georgia State University. Dr. Cartman is the CEO of MANifest Wellness, LLC, a cultural wellness company that provides African-centered mental health programming, rites-of-passage initiatives, professional development trainings, and community healing experiences for schools, agencies, and grassroots organizations. He is the immediate past president of the Chicago Association of Black Psychologists and continues to serve on the board. Dr. Obari is the current vice president of the Midwestern Underground Railroad Network.

Dr. Paulette R. Eason-Williams PhD. LCPC CADC recovered from a hopeless state of mind and body in 1987. She has two master’s degrees- the first in criminal justice and the 2 nd in counseling and organizational psychology. She has been a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor since 1998 and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor since 2003. She is a Licensed CEU Sponsor and can provide trainings to professionals, organizations and individuals and provide Continuing Education Credits. She opened a private practice Heuristic Healing, Inc. (previously named Heuristic Quest Foundation) in 2003. Her practice has remained in the Brainerd community for 20 years. She has dedicated her time to working with underserved populations and hopes to help African Americans recover from historical and intergenerational trauma. She is a National Merit Scholar and NBCC Minority Fellowship Recipient. She continued the work by moving to a handicapped accessible facility in 2014 and obtained her Substance Use Facility license in 2021. HQ2 will provide prevention, education, Level I outpatient services and psychiatric services. Her mission is to create a safe environment and healthy people.

07/10/2026

Join us today for a mental health discussion!

Shaw El is the Founder and Lead Consultant of Elite Path Consulting, a community engagement and public affairs consulting firm that helps organizations build strategic partnerships, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and connect communities with meaningful resources and opportunities. He also serves as Community Affairs Manager for the Illinois General Assembly, where he leads community engagement initiatives, legislative outreach, and cross-sector partnerships that advance public service and strengthen constituent relationships.

In addition, Shaw is the Founder and National Coordinator of the Alliance for Moorish-American Progress (AMAP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to civic education, leadership development, and community empowerment through collaboration, advocacy, and strategic partnerships.

Jasmin Ford is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner whose work centers on helping individuals and communities better understand mental health beyond diagnoses alone. Drawing from years of experience in psychiatric care, nursing education, and public speaking, she is passionate about addressing the ways trauma, chronic stress, culture, identity, and social conditions shape mental wellness. Jasmin believes mental health education should be accessible, culturally responsive, and empowering, and she enjoys creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and equipped with practical tools for healing. She is the owner of a private psychiatric practice, serves as a professor of nursing at the University of Illinois, and is the founder of a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing youth mental health education and wellness programming into community settings.

06/27/2026

This week at the Ancestors in Training our Artist Apprentices from the Art Center of Englewood collaboration showed up to ask questions of the elders at Willow Rawls Manor. Join us next month if you want to participate in storytelling and also learning some wisdom about what life was like in Chicago.