Radical Self-Care & Wellness

March 3, 2021

Do I Want More Turkey? A Model for Making Hard Decisions About the COVID-19 Vaccine


Life in America has always been fraught with a plethora of difficult decisions. Who should I vote for? Is buying stocks a good investment? Do I REALLY want more turkey or should I wait for sweet potato pie? The pandemic has raised the stakes on many things that used to be common, everyday decisions like going to the grocery store or gathering with family for the holidays. The arrival of the long anticipated vaccine has raised hopes that the end of the pandemic is in sight, however, it also further complicates the decisions that we now have to make. Will I be in the front of the line to get vaccinated? Will I wait and see? Will I opt out of vaccination altogether? The decision involves a personal risk analysis that is likely influenced by fears, myths, doubts, scientific data, and the public and personal health impacts of vaccination. This session will present a model and information to help you navigate decisions about the COVID-19 vaccination.

Featured Speakers:

Dr. Tamara Tucker-Ibarisha received her doctorate in cell and molecular biology from the University of Michigan. In addition to her training as a research scientist, she has been a college biology educator for the last 10 years. She is currently a Lecturer at Eastern Michigan University where she teaches and coordinates the non-majors course for introductory biology. While being well versed in molecular biology and microbiology, she prides herself in being able to take complex concepts and make them interesting, relevant, and accessible to a general audience. She shares her love of science beyond the classroom through a variety of STEM-outreach activities and mentoring where she promotes equal access and increased diversity in STEM fields and careers.


Dr. Othelia Pryor received her doctorate in Quantitative Methods from Michigan State University and a Masters in Public Health from the University of North Carolina. She is employed at Michigan Medicine in the Office for Health Equity and Inclusion at the University of Michigan. Dr. Pryor conducts seminars on health equity topics to physicians, medical professionals, community residents, and undergraduate and high school students. Michigan’s legislative Black Caucus awarded her two State of Michigan Seals for her long standing commitment and innovative work in addressing health disparities in underrepresented communities.


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March 11, 2021

Featured Speaker: Dianne Bondy

Dianne Bondy is a social justice activist, author, accessible yoga teacher, and the leader of the Yoga For All movement. Her inclusive approach to yoga empowers anyone to practice—regardless of their shape, size, ethnicity, or level of ability. Dianne is revolutionizing yoga by educating yoga instructors around the world on how to make their classes welcoming for all kinds of practitioners.

Change Agent in Modern Yoga

Dianne’s commitment to increasing diversity in yoga has been recognized in her work with Pennington’s, Gaiam, and the Yoga & Body Image Coalition, as well as in speaking engagements at Princeton, Duke, University of Buffalo and UC Berkeley on Yoga, Race, and Diversity. Her writing is published in Yoga and Body Image Volume 1, Yoga Renegades, and Yes Yoga Has Curves.

Master Yoga Teacher

Dianne is the author of the international best selling book, Yoga for Everyone (DK Publishing, Penguin Random House), co-author of Yoga Where Yoga Are (to be released in December 2020), and a frequent contributor to Yoga International, DoYou, Yoga Girl, and Omstars. She has been featured in publications such as The Guardian, Huffington Post, Cosmopolitan, Mashable, and People.

Find Dianne online at diannebondyyoga.com, yogaforalltraining.com, and yogaforeveryone.tv

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March 17, 2021

An Imposter's Guide to Health & Fitness

Featured Speaker: Dr. Kari L. Jordan

Dr. Kari L. Jordan is an AFAA certified group exercise instructor, licensed in all Zumba Fitness formats and Les Mills Bodypump. Kari has taught large and small group exercise for over 17 across the United States, Poland, the Caribbean, Hungary, and Germany. She truly believes that fitness is for everyone, and is passionate about helping others find a fitness format that suits their needs.

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March 25, 2021

Stress, or really the failure to manage stress, is killing us.

Featured Speaker: Dr. Marya Shegog

In order to close the gap of health disparities, people of color have the unique opportunity to examine, define and reimagine how they understand and manage stress. By doing so health outcomes will be improved, the occurrence and impact of conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes will be reduced and ultimately the needle on achieving health equity will shift in a positive direction.

This session will define stress and identify how it impacts our life course. How understanding stress provides us mechanisms to mitigate its impact. Helpful hints on managing stress: tools and tips.

About the Speaker

Dr. Shegog is the Health Equity and Diversity Coordinator for the Lazarex Cancer Foundation. She has earned a B.A. in Biology from Hampton University, an MPH, Ph.D., and Women’s Studies Graduate Certificate from the University of South Carolina. From over twenty years of research focused on health disparities one major theme has become apparent to Dr. Shegog. Quite simply: “Stress, or really the failure to manage stress, is killing us.”

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  • Recording | Presentation slides