University of Phoenix sponsors Social Roots mental health summit

Event focused on exploring mental health concerns and supportive resources for African American women

University of Phoenix is proud to support the Social Roots, LLC event “ATTITUDE: A Mental Health Summit for African American Women 2023” to be held at the University campus in Phoenix, January 14–15, 2023.

“The Social Roots mental health summit provides a much-needed venue for African American women to explore mental health in the context of historical trauma and systemic barriers that disproportionately affect women of color,” Director of Student Diversity & Inclusion Tondra Richardson shares. “By supporting the Social Roots mental health summit, we aim to facilitate a safe space for women to share their experiences, learn practical techniques to support mental health and foster a sense of community and belonging.”

The Social Roots event, created by and for the African American community, aims to challenge attitudes and stigma about mental and behavioral health experienced in African American communities. The event is intended to provide opportunities to engage and explore mental health concerns with African American women professionals. Attendees will have the opportunity to choose from diverse and culturally relevant workshops, including sessions on grief and healing, infertility, storytelling, sound therapy and yoga.

Founded by Roicia Banks, MSW, Social Roots, LLC, provides a wide range of social work services focusing on African American and Indigenous communities. Banks is a first-generation college graduate who earned double bachelor's degrees in African & African American Studies and Political Science at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. Banks, through her work at Social Roots, seeks to creatively and culturally impact those who disproportionately experience trauma.

The Social Roots mental health summit is part of a series of events with which the University of Phoenix Office of Educational Equity (OEE) engages aiming to foster cultural awareness, thought leadership and community alliances to promote and sustain educational equity and diversity initiatives.

The OEE supports students and faculty year-round with programs like Educational Equity Webinar Series, Inclusive Leadership Summit and an internal offering for staff and faculty, The Inclusive Café. The University’s second annual Inclusive Leadership Summit and Career Fair, May 2-4, 2023, will focus on developing skills as an inclusive leader and providing opportunities for networking connection and employment. The virtual event is free, open to the public, and is designed to bring together participants and leaders across industries to explore how to prioritize mental health and belonging at the core of strategic operations in the workplace.

Learn more here about Social Roots, LLC.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, and Career Services for Life^® help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

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