Heal, Grow, Thrive: The Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Rhonda Bryant speaks with Dr. LaNail R. Plummer, Chief Executive Officer of the Onyx Therapy Group. As a leading professional in the mental health field, Dr. Plummer is committed to improving the lifestyles of others through the aspects of mental health and character development.
A United States Military Veteran and the CEO and Clinical Director of Onyx Therapy Group -- an organization she founded in 2013 -- Dr. Plummer has over 15 years of experience working with a multitude of clients and specializing in the care of young women; the Black community; and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Grounded in the values of integrity and awareness, Dr. Plummer believes that emotional, spiritual, and cultural healing is attainable for all.

*The views and opinions expressed by our guests do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Forward Promise, The Moriah Group, or its employees.

Our guest for this episode is Dr. Dana Crawford, a pediatric and clinical psychologist. She is a graduate of Howard, Temple, and Miami universities and has degrees in African-American studies, education, and psychology, and certifications in practical nursing, medical hypnosis, and biofeedback. She is also a Scholar-in-Residence in Columbia University's Zuckerman Institute. Finally, she is the developer of the Crawford Bias Reduction Theory & Training (CBRT) and has provided hundreds of trainings across the US.
In our conversation with Dr. Crawford, she breaks down how we must "move our jaws" to disrupt dehumanization rooted in racism, prejudice, and bias - or the other STD's...Socially Transmitted Diseases and shares some practical, yet transformative approaches for doing so!
Episode Resources:
1. Cornell University's annual conference on DEI keynote “Turning Awareness into Action”
2. Cultural Reflections, Reducing Bias podcast (15 minutes): https://open.spotify.com/show/4HSpcWB2rYcw9yWJxya1dg
3. Short talk I gave with a brilliant colleague on racism, the brain and a call to action https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYY4bJjafT4
4. Crawford Bias on News 12 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa9nBYL23Ak&t=89s
*The views and opinions expressed by our guest do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Forward Promise, The Moriah Group, or its employees.

We are kicking off Season 4 of our podcast with an amazing episode and guest: William Jennings is a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America where he studied Culinary Arts and Applied Food Studies where he gained a professional understanding of the culinary industry. Seeking to gain additional knowledge of the food system, he pursued the Applied Food Studies program where he gained a clear understanding of food systems, ethics surrounding food, and ecology. He is disrupting dehumanization by fighting against food insecurity and injustice in his community.
William is a Maryland native, who currently lives in Prince George’s County where he also interned this Summer with the Prince George’s Food Equity Council as the Summer Healthy Food Access Intern. When he isn’t learning about our current food system, he is spending his time practicing photography and painting.
Learn more or connect with William on LinkedIn

In this episode, the last of our Summer Youth Series, we have a very candid conversation with youth social justice advocate, Meti Regassa. Meti was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and moved to the heart of Minneapolis with her family in 2003. Watching her community work through trying seasons is what inspires her to be an active member of her community. She is a team player, a strong leader and her past work experiences and cultural upbringing have helped her to develop strong interpersonal skills and personal character. As an Act Six scholar, Meti lives with the reminder that the members of her community trusted in her ability to succeed in college and beyond. She is excited to continue to work and learn alongside the other Act Six fellows to create a positive ripple effect together.
*The views and opinions expressed by our guests do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Forward Promise, The Moriah Group, or its employees.

In this episode, we speak with Ifeoma Okeke, a Public Health Science major at the University of Maryland, an aspiring pediatrician, and a passionate advocate for maternal and child health. She shares her perspectives on the impact of public health disparities on COVID-19 outcomes, vaccine hesitancy, and maternal and child well-being.
As a student, Ifeoma is currently part of several campus organizations including Honors Ambassadors and the Charles R. Drew Pre-Health Society. Her future plans are to become a pediatrician and advocate for maternal and child health.

*The views and opinions expressed by our guests do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Forward Promise, The Moriah Group, or its employees.