Mad, I am Still Ni@@a: Facilitating Empowerment Groups for People of Color

Conference Strand

Practice, Strategies, Techniques, and Interventions

Abstract

Due to the increase in outward expression of racial tension, level of legal action against African Americans and the level of societal “wokeness,” the Black Experience has become another Civil Rights Movement with social media and multiple forms of art being its platform. You will learn to utilize different art forms to build authentic, brave and vulnerable spaces.

Description

“Mad that I am Still Ni@@a,” is derived from two songs. Mad is in reference to Solange’s album, Seat at the Table, featuring a song titled Mad. Still Ni@@a references Jay-Z’s album 4:44, featuring a song titled The Story of OJ. A 12-week Black Men/Women Empowerment Group was created to explore the stressors and frustrations of being Black in a Predominately White Institutional. The group is centered around exploring different music and art as it relates to society’s opinion of the African Americans to either; further perpetuate a negative perception of African Africans or cause society to become “woke” to the depth of which race plays a role in the treatment African Americans. The Black Women Empowerment group explores Seat at the Table, while the Black Men Empowerment group explores 4:44. Though each group can benefit from listening the to the opposite sex’s album, each album is written from the perspective of that sex. Each group explores every song on the album while incorporating current events, poetry, and art as it relates to that particular song of the week. This session will provide tools of how to effectively build rapport, teach the group how to utilize one another for comfort and support, how to explore different forms of art to bring out authentic reactions that create vulnerability, and create a space that empowers to live in truth and all of an experience. This session will address different techniques, strategies, practices, and interventions of how to effectively engage a group that often times is overlooked or expected to be “alright” due to their always having to be alright.

Evidence

-The Theory and Practice Group Psychotherapy by Irvin D. Yalom

-Development of Small Group- Irvin D. Yalom

-Student Development Theory

-Racial Identity attitudes, self-concept, and perceived family cohesion in Black college students. - John W. Wilson, Madonna G. Constantine

Format

Individual Presentations

Biographical Sketch

Delton Harris MSW, LCSW

Delton Harris graduated with Master of Social Work Degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2016. Harris further his career with delivering Family Centered Treatment with adolescents and families, primarily males of color. Harris then maneuvered to Outpatient Therapy, while facilitating a Black Men's Empowerment Group at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Aayla Alexander MSW, LCSW

Aayla Alexander graduated from University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2016 with her Master of Social Work degree. Alexander furthered her therapeutic career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Post MSW Fellow in the Counseling Center. Here, Aayla created the Black Women’s Empowerment Group, first of its kind at UNC-Chapel Hill. Aayla is now full-time staff at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the Counseling Center.

Location

PARB 227

Start Date

2-8-2019 1:00 PM

End Date

2-8-2019 2:15 PM

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS
 
Feb 8th, 1:00 PM Feb 8th, 2:15 PM

Mad, I am Still Ni@@a: Facilitating Empowerment Groups for People of Color

PARB 227

Due to the increase in outward expression of racial tension, level of legal action against African Americans and the level of societal “wokeness,” the Black Experience has become another Civil Rights Movement with social media and multiple forms of art being its platform. You will learn to utilize different art forms to build authentic, brave and vulnerable spaces.