Eluna Community Conversation: Grief Through the Lens of Black Communities

The Grief Through the Lens series continues on June 23rd, 2022 exploring grief responses and traditions among Black communities with moderator Jennifer Lewis-Hall of PHL-17. Our panel includes social workers, psychologists, public health advocates, and diversity experts who specialize in understanding the impact of intergenerational trauma, building resiliency, and supporting grieving children and families. Meet the panelists below!

Resources:

Books, resources, & websites authored and provided by our panelists:

• Tapestries
• Tapestries: A Creative & Inclusive Approach to Grief Support for Youth & Communities by Alesia K. Alexander and V Kottavei Williams
• Sunflowers and Rainbows for Tia: Saying Goodbye to Daddy by Alesia K. Alexander
• A Mural for Mamita/Un Mural Para Mamita by Alesia K. Alexander
• Dream Clouds by Alesia K. Alexander
• Roberta’s House – A Family Grief Support Center
• Baby 1st Network | Infant safe sleep education, community outreach and family support
• Lovern Moseley, PhD | Psychiatry (bu.edu)
• Transformnational: Journey of a Bastard by Lamont Robinson

Picture books on grief by Black authors:

• Cape by Kevin Johnson
• The Day My Dad Turned Invisible by Sean R. Simmons
• A Day for Rememberin’: Inspired by the True Events of the First Memorial Day by Leah Henderson
• Everett Anderson’s Goodbye by Lucille Clifton
• Missing Daddy by Mariame Kaba
• Momma, Can I Sleep with You Tonight? Helping Children Cope with the Impact of COVID-19 by Jenny Delacruz
• My Forever Guardian: Healing with friends from the loss of a loved one by Kristina Bingham Jones
• Hugs From the Sky by C. Reed
• Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Adult books on grief by Black authors:

• Grief Is Love: Living with Loss by Marisa Renee Lee
• Grieving While Black AN ANTIRACIST TAKE ON OPPRESSION AND SORROW by Breeshia Wade

Picture books on grief:

• A terrible thing happened by Margaret M. Holmes
• It’s not your fault, Koko Bear by Vicki Lansky
• Hands are not for hitting by Martine Agassi
• More recommended books on grief from the Eluna Resource Center

Additional resources:

• BIPOC Therapists: Empowering the Community through Education and Awareness
• Black Emotional & Mental Health Collective (BEAM)
• Therapy for Black Girls
• Call Blackline
• NAACP
• National Association of Black Social Workers
• National Association of Black Counselors
• National Black Child Development Institute

Lovern R. Moseley, PhD
Licensed Psychologist at Empowermeent Counseling and Psychotherapy Center

Dr. Moseley is a Licensed Psychologist with nearly 30 years of experience in the mental health field across the lifespan. She is currently on staff in the Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at Boston Medical Center and is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine. Dr. Moseley is also the CEO of Empowerment Counseling and Psychotherapy Center. Dr. Moseley has worked extensively with parents and children struggling with emotional and behavioral disorders and those with traumatic exposures. She specializes in Christian counseling, marriage & family therapy including work with interracial couples, multiracial individuals, blended families, foster care/adoption, and individuals of Caribbean descent. She has done work in the area of disaster mental health through her involvement with the Bahamas Psychological Association in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas as well as work related to the global COVID-19 pandemic. LinkedIn

Lamont Robinson
Director of Supplier Diversity at AmerisourceBergen

Lamont Robinson was born in a violent and drug-infected neighborhood in Chicago. To seek opportunities, he attended Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, PA through the A Better Chance college preparatory program. He then returned to Illinois for his undergrad and graduate degrees before eventually moving down to Texas. Lamont has been a leader in supplier diversity for the past 17 years and has led supplier diversity efforts for various healthcare companies before leading Nielsen’s program for 6 years. After leaving Nielsen in 2018, Lamont launched his own consulting firm, Robinson LaRueCo Consulting LLC. His most treasured achievement is receiving the 2010 Corris Boyd Leadership and Diversity award from the Federation of American Hospitals. Lamont joined AmerisourceBergen in February 2021 as the Director of Supplier Diversity and is looking forward to building a global world class supplier diversity program. LinkedIn

Stacy Scott, PhD, MPA
Executive Director at Baby 1st Network

Dr. Stacy Scott is an Ohio native and a 30-year public health advocate. She serves as executive director of Baby 1st Network, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, dedicated to uniting families, caregivers, and researchers with government, business, and community service groups to reduce infant mortality in Ohio and to provide grief and bereavement support to families that have lost an infant from sudden unexpected infant death. In 2018, Scott was elected co-chair of the Ohio Collaborative to Prevent Infant Mortality, a statewide partnership to eliminate infant mortality and advocate for equity in birth outcomes. Scott has leveraged her expertise in the development of culturally appropriate materials, programming, and campaigns to eliminate health disparities and achieve health equity for communities. She is a member of the International Society for the Study and Prevention of Perinatal and Infant Death. Currently, she is earning a certificate in social justice from Harvard University. LinkedIn

Moderated By:

Jennifer Lewis-Hall
Journalist and Producer at PHL-17

Network television journalist Jennifer Lewis-Hall is the host and producer of PHL17’s public affairs program “In Focus” where she shines a spotlight on issues impacting our communities. In 2022, she was awarded the Pennsylvania Broadcasters Award for Outstanding Television Feature Story for her story “Two Women On The Frontlines Of The Opioid Epidemic.” Jennifer holds a master’s degree in Journalism from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University. She has been a news anchor and correspondent for over two decades and is the author of three books, including a new children’s story, “The Tale Of The Sly Mongoose: Bianca And The Anguilla Island Adventures.” Ms. Lewis-Hall has received many awards and accolades, including the Camden County Medal of Freedom in 2021. Jennifer also recently finished serving two terms on the Rutgers University Board of Trustees. She is a speaker sought after by Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit and national organizations. LinkedIn