Women’s Wisdom in Action

Wellness & Wellbeing

for Families & Teachers in a Time of Transition

by Nancy Roybal

Under the direction of Dr. Nahid Angha, the Sufi Women Organization (SWO), a humanitarian, non-political organization, held its semi-annual speaker presentation program, Women’s Wisdom: Women in Action, on May 4, 2021. Founded by Dr. Angha and established under the International Association of Sufism (IAS) in 1993, throughout its 25-year history, SWO has worked locally and internationally to promote the well-being, advancement, education, social awareness, and fundamental rights of women and girls. It is a forum for women of diverse backgrounds. IAS was established also as a nonprofit organization and a United Nations NGO/DPI.

Through the Women’s Wisdom: Women in Action Program, SWO honors leaders, activists, and humanitarians who have provided exemplary services, and seeks to bring people together to learn, to build community, and to cultivate ways of living and working that are oriented toward dignity, health and service.

On May 4, 2021, SWO hosted a virtual conversation between five health care providers and educators for a discussion focused on the “Wellness & Wellbeing for Families & Teachers in a Time of Transition.” It was an evening of an inspiring conversation between the panelist as both mental health professionals and educators shared their experiences of the last school year. The panelists offered their reflections, thoughts, practices, ideas, and resources for families and teachers as they prepare students and themselves for the close of this school year and the beginning of the year ahead. The evening was also intended to have application for anyone navigating family life and the stress and uncertainty experienced during the pandemic.

The panelists discussed the following topics and themes, and more:: • How they have seen and experienced the impact of covid on kids, parents, teachers, and family systems at this time of the pandemic. • Their own personal challenges over this school year as teachers, counselors, health care providers, parents, and what helped them navigate through them. • The challenges they’ve most noticed in children over this last year, what resources have helped, and some of the things they feel would make the greatest difference now and moving forward. • Common fears and excitements they have been noticing as kids complete this year and transition forward, and what they are finding in their work that helps students, families and teachers manage either the fear or the excitement. • The challenges of the pandemic being an opportunity for growth, and how to take those lessons forward in healing and sustaining ways. • Their practices or spiritual path that sustains them during this time, with recommendations of tools/resources.

“This is a time of discernment…I believe that what we’ve all been through over this past year and a half has prepared us for what’s coming next and, as much as possible, this is a time for us to stay stable be a calm reassuring presence for our own selves and for our children.” – Katherine Preston

Carin Rhodes (top left) is an has been an educator for over 25 years, and holds a Master’s Degree in Curriculum Design and Instruction.

Chrissy Nichols (top center) spent 20 years as a classroom teacher in locations all over the world before becoming the founder and CEO of The Chrissy Concept, LLC, and transitioning her work to serve as a life coach and educator who focuses her work on serving teachers.

Katherine Preston (top right) is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has been practicing for over 30 years, and currently serves as the mental health specialist for a private school in San Francisco.

Christina Fass (lower left) manages the Marin County Office of Education’s Early Intervention Program in Marin, California, which provides services to families and students with special needs.

Jenae Casalnuovo (lower right) is an educator and program designer in California, and is passionate about environmental justice, human rights, and the cultivation of hope and agency in students.