Drafts by Uzo Nwankpa
The educational landscape is shifting toward learner-centered approaches, with heutagogy emerging... more The educational landscape is shifting toward learner-centered approaches, with heutagogy emerging as a framework. Heutagogy emphasizes self-determined learning, departing from traditional pedagogy. The purpose of this study was to explore how a heutagogical framework, applied within a faculty Innovation Fellowship, influenced participants' development of innovation competencies, self-directed learning behaviors, and overall wellbeing in an academic healthcare setting. This paper focuses on the application of the heutagogy framework within an Innovation Fellowship, focusing on how it fosters innovation, wellbeing, and lifelong learning in healthcare education. We implemented a heutagogical framework by encouraging self-directed exploration of innovation concepts in a self-selected cohort of innovation fellows over the course of five years. A total of 48 fellows have engaged in flexible, collaborative learning. Thematic analysis revealed insights to 'structure of fluidity', where fellows highlighted the importance of balancing structured guidance with freedom for self-directed learning. The flexible approach fostered autonomy and creativity in learning. The integration of heutagogical principles enabled fellows to enhance innovation capacity while promoting personal wellbeing. The heutagogy framework shows transformative potential in fostering innovation, wellbeing, and lifelong learning within healthcare education. The 'structure of fluidity' underscores the necessity of integrating flexibility and guidance in heutagogical approaches.
Sigma Theta Tau- Creating Healthy Work Environments Conference , 2024
Introduction
This quality improvement project assessed the impact of facilitating a wellness
ses... more Introduction
This quality improvement project assessed the impact of facilitating a wellness
session on the confidence and interest of senior nursing students as part of
their transition to practice experiences. We explored the role of collaborative
wellness activities led by students and their effects on overall wellbeing.
About 60% of U.S. college students show signs of mental health disorders
(Lipson et al., 2022). The mental health challenges are rising, making it crucial
to address their overall wellbeing. There's a significant correlation between
clinical trainees' burnout, depression, and increased risk of suicidal thoughts
(Menon et al., 2020). The three core barriers to wellness identified were
pressure from instructors, the behavior of staff nurses, and perceptions of
untrustworthiness (Amattayakong et al., 2020). Interventions that reduce
academic stress can offer substantial health benefits to students while
enhancing academic outcomes (Gawlik et al., 2021; Wei et al., 2021).
Purpose
The aim was to integrate wellness into the curriculum, drawing inspiration from
AACN sub-competencies 2.8 and 10.1 emphasizing self-care. This integration
aimed to open up leadership opportunities, provide rationale for chosen
wellness initiatives, alleviate stress, and introduce innovative clinical
experiences.
Methods
A community leadership wellness activity with a nursing focus was incorporated
into the senior synthesis course. Out of 42 participating students, 18
volunteered to lead 30-minute wellness sessions weekly before the start of
seminar classes. After the course's conclusion, these student leaders filled out
a survey about their self-care habits. They also rated their confidence in leading
such sessions using a Likert scale (1-5, 5 being highest), and stated their post-
graduation intentions regarding wellness leadership.
Results
Exercise was the top self-care activity among participants, with music and
stretching following closely. Journaling, reading, and writing saw fewer takers,
while even fewer opted for meditation. The average confidence level of students
increased post-session, indicating these sessions positively influenced students'
readiness and willingness to lead wellness initiatives after graduation.
Limitations
Challenges arose due to the accelerated class format, limited time, competing
academic priorities, and technological constraints. Restricting the study to one
class session potentially reduces its broader applicability. Additionally, the
scales used might not wholly represent the intricate emotions of the
participants.
Conclusions/Implications for Practice
Embedding wellness into academic structures can significantly enhance student
wellbeing and cultivate a sense of community. Students perceived immense
value in the sessions, highlighting personal growth, teamwork, and expressing
unanimous support for their continuity. To truly understand the sessions' impact,
comprehensive research encompassing diverse student populations is
paramount.
Title: Communal Healing through Expressive Arts: Addressing Burnout among Healthcare Workers in A... more Title: Communal Healing through Expressive Arts: Addressing Burnout among Healthcare Workers in African Centered Arts-Based Practice.
This quality improvement project explores the use of communal healing through expressive arts as a novel approach to tackle burnout among Black and African American healthcare workers, with a specific focus on African centered arts-based practices. The objective was to virtually bring together healthcare professionals and utilize arts-based interventions to deepen their physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being. The study highlights the significance of fostering group bonds and cultural competency in healing programs aimed at the African American community.
The purpose was to provide African centered expressive arts interventions tailoring interventions for diverse needs within Black/African American communities, determining effective processes, and establishing cost-effectiveness for provider and patient outcomes. A pre- and post-session survey was conducted, where participants were asked to describe their well-being using one to four words related to physical, emotional, spiritual, and social aspects. Data analysis was performed using NVivo 12 to assess changes in well-being perspectives. The Black Spirituality and Creativity Scale was used to measure the attitudes and beliefs regarding spiritual creativity towards and associated with cultural empowerment.
Four 90-minute expressive arts sessions were conducted virtually via a video conferencing platform. The sessions encouraged group interactions, leveraging the potential of arts-based interventions to foster connections among participants. This facilitated an open dialogue about needs and fears in the African American community, while promoting creative programming and cultural competency in healing practices.
The analysis indicated no statistically significant differences between pre-session and post-session measures across all dimensions. However, participants expressed significant pleasure in their participation, displaying a positive attitude towards the concept of healing. Approximately 56 percent reported feeling calm, 26 percent expressed cheerfulness, and the remaining participants demonstrated a highly positive attitude towards their perceived well-being. These findings emphasize the need for further research on the Black experience, healthcare provider experiences, and arts-based healing interventions, especially in culturally congruent environments facing provider shortages.
Keywords: communal healing, expressive arts, burnout, healthcare workers, Black healthcare providers, African centered arts.
Conference Presentations by Uzo Nwankpa
Western Institute of Nursing , 2022
Background
African American/Black healthcare workers face elevated levels of race-based stress, c... more Background
African American/Black healthcare workers face elevated levels of race-based stress, collective grief, and burnout, often without access to culturally relevant wellness resources. African-centered expressive arts may offer healing and empowerment by integrating cultural identity and creative expression into wellbeing practices.
Objective
To evaluate the impact of a virtual African-centered expressive arts curriculum on the physical, emotional, spiritual, and social wellbeing of African American/Black healthcare providers.
Methods
This quality improvement pilot project engaged 12 healthcare providers in four virtual 90-minute expressive arts sessions. Guided by the RICHER model—Reflection, Integration, Choreography, Evaluation, and Reflection—each session included ritual, African-centered movement, and mindfulness. Participants completed pre- and post-session reflections, describing their wellbeing in 1–4 words across four domains. Responses were analyzed using content analysis to assess changes in emotional and holistic states. The Black Spirituality and Creativity Scale (BSCS) was also administered to measure spiritual and cultural empowerment.
Results
Participants reported enhanced wellbeing across all pillars, with increased expressions of joy, calm, connection, and clarity. The BSCS revealed strong alignment between participants’ spirituality and creative self-expression. Despite low attendance relative to registration (12 of 53), those who participated reported positive attitudes and a sense of healing.
Conclusion
African-centered expressive arts interventions are feasible and impactful for supporting the wellbeing of Black healthcare providers. While limited by virtual format and funding, the pilot underscores the need for expanded, culturally rooted wellness programming in healthcare.
Sigma Theta Tau-Creating Healthy Work Environments Conference , 2022
Background
Healthcare providers face increasing levels of burnout, which negatively impacts patie... more Background
Healthcare providers face increasing levels of burnout, which negatively impacts patient care, clinical relationships, and provider wellbeing (Martinez-Hollingsworth et al., 2021). Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring provides a holistic framework for addressing provider wellbeing through intentional practices rooted in love, spirituality, and presence (Watson’s Caring Science Institute, 2020). Expressive arts offer a reflective, creative approach to self-care and healing.
Objective
To create a reflective space for current and future healthcare professionals to explore their wellbeing through expressive arts at the end of their community/public health clinical rotations.
Methods
Between 2019–2021, five cohorts (n = 50) of BSN students participated in a 90-minute expressive arts session. The intervention included written self-reflection, mindful breathing, movement with music, and the creation of collage art using simple materials. Each student shared their collage story in a two-minute peer presentation. Sessions were held in-person at the end of each semester.
Results
Participants reported increased emotional openness, self-awareness, and connection to peers. The process promoted use of the creative brain, vulnerability, and a sense of shared humanity. Word maps revealed improved emotional and spiritual states post-session. Formative evaluation suggests the need for structured tools to further measure impact.
Conclusion
Expressive arts are a low-cost, accessible strategy to support healthcare provider wellbeing. Institutions should consider integrating such practices into wellness curricula and collaborate with artists to support implementation and training.
⸻
References
Martinez-Hollingsworth, A. S., et al. (2021). Wellness in healthcare providers: Addressing burnout and building resilience. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 39(1), 6–15.
Watson’s Caring Science Institute. (2020). Caring science and human caring theory. https://www.watsoncaringscience.org
Cheney, C. (2021). Combating burnout in healthcare. HealthLeaders Media. https://www.healthleadersmedia.com
Samuel Merritt University Scholarship Symposium , 2024
Background
Black and Indigenous health and community care workers—especially those who are immigr... more Background
Black and Indigenous health and community care workers—especially those who are immigrant and queer—often lack access to culturally responsive wellness resources. This exclusion contributes to chronic stress, burnout, and social isolation (Mental Health Disparities, n.d.; APA, 2023). African Indigenous healing arts, grounded in Unitary Caring Science (Watson’s Caring Science Institute, 2022), remain underutilized in clinical education and care settings despite their potential for supporting holistic wellbeing.
Objective
To explore the impact of expressive arts grounded in African Indigenous healing traditions on the emotional and social wellbeing of BIPOC health workers and students.
Methods
This quality improvement project included six communal healing sessions over a 15-week period in Fall 2023, hosted by Freedom Community Clinic in Oakland, CA. Interventions included altar building, sound healing, journaling, mindful movement, and art-making. Sessions were offered in community, academic, and clinical settings. Participants included health professionals, students, and community caregivers. Pre- and post-session wellbeing reflections were collected and are undergoing thematic analysis.
Results
Preliminary data show a positive shift in participants’ emotional states. Words such as “anxious,” “stressed,” and “grief” were common before sessions, while post-session reflections included “relaxed,” “peaceful,” and “energized.” Students emphasized the need for safe spaces, interdisciplinary connection, and creative expression.
Conclusion
Culturally responsive expressive arts practices can improve emotional wellbeing and relational connection among BIPOC care workers and students. Future efforts should expand mentorship, clinical integration, and data collection to strengthen outcomes and accessibility.
References
American Psychological Association. (2023). Physiological & psychological impact of racism and discrimination for African-Americans. https://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/ethnicity-health/racism-stress
Mental Health Disparities: Diverse Populations. (n.d.). American Psychiatric Association. Retrieved April 29, 2024, from https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/diversity/education/mental-health-facts
Nwankpa, U. (2023). Using Indigenous Healing Arts Practices for Emotional Self-Regulation: A Nursing Journey of Healing and Connection. AHNA Beginnings Magazine, 43(5), 6–8.
Watson’s Caring Science Institute. (2022). Caring science and human caring theory. https://www.watsoncaringscience.org/jean-bio/caring-science-theory/
Hawthorne, B. (2023). Who are People of the Global Majority and why it matters. https://britthawthorne.com/blog/people-global-majority/
Rakena, T. O. (2019). Tears of the collective: Healing historical trauma through community arts. Action, Criticism, and Theory for Music Education, 18(2), 130–146. https://doi.org/10.22176/act18.2.130
National Black Nurses Association Conference , 2024
Background
Black and Indigenous healthcare and community care workers often face systemic exclusi... more Background
Black and Indigenous healthcare and community care workers often face systemic exclusion from culturally relevant wellness resources, resulting in chronic stress and emotional exhaustion (Mental Health Disparities, n.d.; Carter & Forsyth, 2019). Communal healing and expressive arts offer culturally grounded, nonverbal pathways to recovery (Malchiodi, 2020; Nwankpa, 2023).
Objective
To explore the effects of African-centered expressive healing arts practices on the physical, emotional, spiritual, and social wellbeing of BIPOC health and community care workers.
Methods
A series of six two-hour sessions titled Honoring Our Ancestral Gifts were held at Freedom Community Clinic in Oakland, CA. Each session included ancestral altar building, live sound healing with African drums and bowls, recorded African diaspora music, healing herbs, journaling, and guided movement. Participants (7–15 per session) included community health workers, caregivers, and activists. Pre- and post-session self-assessments were gathered through the prompt, “How do you feel now considering your physical, emotional, spiritual, and social wellbeing?” Responses were shared on sticky notes and visually analyzed.
Results
Initial responses reflected stress, anxiety, and fatigue. After each session, participants reported increased feelings of peace, clarity, joy, and connection. These shifts suggest that African-centered expressive arts practices support emotional regulation, reduce burnout symptoms, and enhance relational and spiritual wellbeing.
Conclusion
Culturally rooted healing spaces can positively influence the holistic wellbeing of BIPOC healthcare workers. Expanding access to such interventions may foster resilience and repair within historically marginalized healthcare communities.
⸻
References
Carter, R. T., & Forsyth, J. M. (2019). Historical and racial trauma: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and Black Americans.
Malchiodi, C. A. (2020). Trauma and Expressive Arts Therapy. Guilford Press.
Mental Health Disparities: Diverse Populations. (n.d.). American Psychiatric Association.
Nwankpa, U. (2023). Using Indigenous Healing Arts Practices for Emotional Self-Regulation. AHNA Beginnings Magazine, 43(5).
Doctors of Nursing Practice Of Color Conference , 2024
Background: Expressive arts therapy has been shown to effectively enhance resilience among univer... more Background: Expressive arts therapy has been shown to effectively enhance resilience among university students during the pandemic, emphasizing processes over stable traits and utilizing diverse art modalities to address psychological issues and create social change (Li & Peng, 2022). Communal Healing, on the other hand, offers a transformative approach for health professions students, integrating expressive arts practices to address holistic wellbeing (Malchiodi, 2019). This methodology fosters social support networks and enhances emotional resilience (Cohen et al., 2020). Methods: This project conducted four communal healing sessions over two semesters, fall 2023 and spring 2024, involving a total of 58 health professions students from nursing, podiatry, occupational therapy, physician assistant, and physical therapy programs. Grounded in Unitary Caring Science, sessions provided a safe space for students to explore their emotional and social wellbeing together (Watson's Caring Science Institute, 2020). Interventions included sound bowl healing, journaling, coloring mandalas, essential oils, and connecting exercises. Findings: Preliminary findings suggest a positive impact on participants' emotional states, transitioning from anxiety to relaxation. Participants expressed a desire for continued connectivity and interdisciplinary interactions. Recommendations: To further support students, recommendations include conducting a survey to evaluate the sessions' effectiveness, granting academic credit for attendance, and integrating communal healing into curricula to enhance student wellbeing. Conclusion: Communal Healing offers a promising approach to enhance emotional wellbeing and connectivity among health professions students, reinforcing the importance of holistic approaches in healthcare education.
National Black Nurses Association Conference , 2024
Communal Healing is the transformative process of repair and recovery in the body, mind and spiri... more Communal Healing is the transformative process of repair and recovery in the body, mind and spirit moving toward self-realization within a group of people that have shared connectedness. This offers a nonverbal approach facilitating individuals to access, explore, and express genuine emotions through visual, musical, physical, or written mediums. This aids participants in confronting and reflecting on traumatic experiences, fostering better coping mechanisms contributing to the establishment of social support networks and strengthening relational bonds within the workplace (Reed et al., 2020). This workshop will demonstrate the effects of African indigenous healing arts practices on the wellbeing of nurses. Participants will engage in an experiential workshop and discussion that explore the effects of movement and music on the body, mind and spirit. This will be done using the RICHER model-A 5 step process to lead a wellness session in a community setting (Nwankpa, 2023). This model is grounded in the Unitary Caring Science which welcomes the discovery and honoring of humanity that includes metaphysical phenomena such as spirit, the sacred, love, consciousness, and caring (Watson's Caring Science Institute, 2020). The desired outcome is for the participants to explore ways to implement the unitary caring science in nursing practice. This is applicable to RNs in all settings including academic, clinical and administration.
Uploads
Drafts by Uzo Nwankpa
This quality improvement project assessed the impact of facilitating a wellness
session on the confidence and interest of senior nursing students as part of
their transition to practice experiences. We explored the role of collaborative
wellness activities led by students and their effects on overall wellbeing.
About 60% of U.S. college students show signs of mental health disorders
(Lipson et al., 2022). The mental health challenges are rising, making it crucial
to address their overall wellbeing. There's a significant correlation between
clinical trainees' burnout, depression, and increased risk of suicidal thoughts
(Menon et al., 2020). The three core barriers to wellness identified were
pressure from instructors, the behavior of staff nurses, and perceptions of
untrustworthiness (Amattayakong et al., 2020). Interventions that reduce
academic stress can offer substantial health benefits to students while
enhancing academic outcomes (Gawlik et al., 2021; Wei et al., 2021).
Purpose
The aim was to integrate wellness into the curriculum, drawing inspiration from
AACN sub-competencies 2.8 and 10.1 emphasizing self-care. This integration
aimed to open up leadership opportunities, provide rationale for chosen
wellness initiatives, alleviate stress, and introduce innovative clinical
experiences.
Methods
A community leadership wellness activity with a nursing focus was incorporated
into the senior synthesis course. Out of 42 participating students, 18
volunteered to lead 30-minute wellness sessions weekly before the start of
seminar classes. After the course's conclusion, these student leaders filled out
a survey about their self-care habits. They also rated their confidence in leading
such sessions using a Likert scale (1-5, 5 being highest), and stated their post-
graduation intentions regarding wellness leadership.
Results
Exercise was the top self-care activity among participants, with music and
stretching following closely. Journaling, reading, and writing saw fewer takers,
while even fewer opted for meditation. The average confidence level of students
increased post-session, indicating these sessions positively influenced students'
readiness and willingness to lead wellness initiatives after graduation.
Limitations
Challenges arose due to the accelerated class format, limited time, competing
academic priorities, and technological constraints. Restricting the study to one
class session potentially reduces its broader applicability. Additionally, the
scales used might not wholly represent the intricate emotions of the
participants.
Conclusions/Implications for Practice
Embedding wellness into academic structures can significantly enhance student
wellbeing and cultivate a sense of community. Students perceived immense
value in the sessions, highlighting personal growth, teamwork, and expressing
unanimous support for their continuity. To truly understand the sessions' impact,
comprehensive research encompassing diverse student populations is
paramount.
This quality improvement project explores the use of communal healing through expressive arts as a novel approach to tackle burnout among Black and African American healthcare workers, with a specific focus on African centered arts-based practices. The objective was to virtually bring together healthcare professionals and utilize arts-based interventions to deepen their physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being. The study highlights the significance of fostering group bonds and cultural competency in healing programs aimed at the African American community.
The purpose was to provide African centered expressive arts interventions tailoring interventions for diverse needs within Black/African American communities, determining effective processes, and establishing cost-effectiveness for provider and patient outcomes. A pre- and post-session survey was conducted, where participants were asked to describe their well-being using one to four words related to physical, emotional, spiritual, and social aspects. Data analysis was performed using NVivo 12 to assess changes in well-being perspectives. The Black Spirituality and Creativity Scale was used to measure the attitudes and beliefs regarding spiritual creativity towards and associated with cultural empowerment.
Four 90-minute expressive arts sessions were conducted virtually via a video conferencing platform. The sessions encouraged group interactions, leveraging the potential of arts-based interventions to foster connections among participants. This facilitated an open dialogue about needs and fears in the African American community, while promoting creative programming and cultural competency in healing practices.
The analysis indicated no statistically significant differences between pre-session and post-session measures across all dimensions. However, participants expressed significant pleasure in their participation, displaying a positive attitude towards the concept of healing. Approximately 56 percent reported feeling calm, 26 percent expressed cheerfulness, and the remaining participants demonstrated a highly positive attitude towards their perceived well-being. These findings emphasize the need for further research on the Black experience, healthcare provider experiences, and arts-based healing interventions, especially in culturally congruent environments facing provider shortages.
Keywords: communal healing, expressive arts, burnout, healthcare workers, Black healthcare providers, African centered arts.
Conference Presentations by Uzo Nwankpa
African American/Black healthcare workers face elevated levels of race-based stress, collective grief, and burnout, often without access to culturally relevant wellness resources. African-centered expressive arts may offer healing and empowerment by integrating cultural identity and creative expression into wellbeing practices.
Objective
To evaluate the impact of a virtual African-centered expressive arts curriculum on the physical, emotional, spiritual, and social wellbeing of African American/Black healthcare providers.
Methods
This quality improvement pilot project engaged 12 healthcare providers in four virtual 90-minute expressive arts sessions. Guided by the RICHER model—Reflection, Integration, Choreography, Evaluation, and Reflection—each session included ritual, African-centered movement, and mindfulness. Participants completed pre- and post-session reflections, describing their wellbeing in 1–4 words across four domains. Responses were analyzed using content analysis to assess changes in emotional and holistic states. The Black Spirituality and Creativity Scale (BSCS) was also administered to measure spiritual and cultural empowerment.
Results
Participants reported enhanced wellbeing across all pillars, with increased expressions of joy, calm, connection, and clarity. The BSCS revealed strong alignment between participants’ spirituality and creative self-expression. Despite low attendance relative to registration (12 of 53), those who participated reported positive attitudes and a sense of healing.
Conclusion
African-centered expressive arts interventions are feasible and impactful for supporting the wellbeing of Black healthcare providers. While limited by virtual format and funding, the pilot underscores the need for expanded, culturally rooted wellness programming in healthcare.
Healthcare providers face increasing levels of burnout, which negatively impacts patient care, clinical relationships, and provider wellbeing (Martinez-Hollingsworth et al., 2021). Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring provides a holistic framework for addressing provider wellbeing through intentional practices rooted in love, spirituality, and presence (Watson’s Caring Science Institute, 2020). Expressive arts offer a reflective, creative approach to self-care and healing.
Objective
To create a reflective space for current and future healthcare professionals to explore their wellbeing through expressive arts at the end of their community/public health clinical rotations.
Methods
Between 2019–2021, five cohorts (n = 50) of BSN students participated in a 90-minute expressive arts session. The intervention included written self-reflection, mindful breathing, movement with music, and the creation of collage art using simple materials. Each student shared their collage story in a two-minute peer presentation. Sessions were held in-person at the end of each semester.
Results
Participants reported increased emotional openness, self-awareness, and connection to peers. The process promoted use of the creative brain, vulnerability, and a sense of shared humanity. Word maps revealed improved emotional and spiritual states post-session. Formative evaluation suggests the need for structured tools to further measure impact.
Conclusion
Expressive arts are a low-cost, accessible strategy to support healthcare provider wellbeing. Institutions should consider integrating such practices into wellness curricula and collaborate with artists to support implementation and training.
⸻
References
Martinez-Hollingsworth, A. S., et al. (2021). Wellness in healthcare providers: Addressing burnout and building resilience. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 39(1), 6–15.
Watson’s Caring Science Institute. (2020). Caring science and human caring theory. https://www.watsoncaringscience.org
Cheney, C. (2021). Combating burnout in healthcare. HealthLeaders Media. https://www.healthleadersmedia.com
Black and Indigenous health and community care workers—especially those who are immigrant and queer—often lack access to culturally responsive wellness resources. This exclusion contributes to chronic stress, burnout, and social isolation (Mental Health Disparities, n.d.; APA, 2023). African Indigenous healing arts, grounded in Unitary Caring Science (Watson’s Caring Science Institute, 2022), remain underutilized in clinical education and care settings despite their potential for supporting holistic wellbeing.
Objective
To explore the impact of expressive arts grounded in African Indigenous healing traditions on the emotional and social wellbeing of BIPOC health workers and students.
Methods
This quality improvement project included six communal healing sessions over a 15-week period in Fall 2023, hosted by Freedom Community Clinic in Oakland, CA. Interventions included altar building, sound healing, journaling, mindful movement, and art-making. Sessions were offered in community, academic, and clinical settings. Participants included health professionals, students, and community caregivers. Pre- and post-session wellbeing reflections were collected and are undergoing thematic analysis.
Results
Preliminary data show a positive shift in participants’ emotional states. Words such as “anxious,” “stressed,” and “grief” were common before sessions, while post-session reflections included “relaxed,” “peaceful,” and “energized.” Students emphasized the need for safe spaces, interdisciplinary connection, and creative expression.
Conclusion
Culturally responsive expressive arts practices can improve emotional wellbeing and relational connection among BIPOC care workers and students. Future efforts should expand mentorship, clinical integration, and data collection to strengthen outcomes and accessibility.
References
American Psychological Association. (2023). Physiological & psychological impact of racism and discrimination for African-Americans. https://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/ethnicity-health/racism-stress
Mental Health Disparities: Diverse Populations. (n.d.). American Psychiatric Association. Retrieved April 29, 2024, from https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/diversity/education/mental-health-facts
Nwankpa, U. (2023). Using Indigenous Healing Arts Practices for Emotional Self-Regulation: A Nursing Journey of Healing and Connection. AHNA Beginnings Magazine, 43(5), 6–8.
Watson’s Caring Science Institute. (2022). Caring science and human caring theory. https://www.watsoncaringscience.org/jean-bio/caring-science-theory/
Hawthorne, B. (2023). Who are People of the Global Majority and why it matters. https://britthawthorne.com/blog/people-global-majority/
Rakena, T. O. (2019). Tears of the collective: Healing historical trauma through community arts. Action, Criticism, and Theory for Music Education, 18(2), 130–146. https://doi.org/10.22176/act18.2.130
Black and Indigenous healthcare and community care workers often face systemic exclusion from culturally relevant wellness resources, resulting in chronic stress and emotional exhaustion (Mental Health Disparities, n.d.; Carter & Forsyth, 2019). Communal healing and expressive arts offer culturally grounded, nonverbal pathways to recovery (Malchiodi, 2020; Nwankpa, 2023).
Objective
To explore the effects of African-centered expressive healing arts practices on the physical, emotional, spiritual, and social wellbeing of BIPOC health and community care workers.
Methods
A series of six two-hour sessions titled Honoring Our Ancestral Gifts were held at Freedom Community Clinic in Oakland, CA. Each session included ancestral altar building, live sound healing with African drums and bowls, recorded African diaspora music, healing herbs, journaling, and guided movement. Participants (7–15 per session) included community health workers, caregivers, and activists. Pre- and post-session self-assessments were gathered through the prompt, “How do you feel now considering your physical, emotional, spiritual, and social wellbeing?” Responses were shared on sticky notes and visually analyzed.
Results
Initial responses reflected stress, anxiety, and fatigue. After each session, participants reported increased feelings of peace, clarity, joy, and connection. These shifts suggest that African-centered expressive arts practices support emotional regulation, reduce burnout symptoms, and enhance relational and spiritual wellbeing.
Conclusion
Culturally rooted healing spaces can positively influence the holistic wellbeing of BIPOC healthcare workers. Expanding access to such interventions may foster resilience and repair within historically marginalized healthcare communities.
⸻
References
Carter, R. T., & Forsyth, J. M. (2019). Historical and racial trauma: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and Black Americans.
Malchiodi, C. A. (2020). Trauma and Expressive Arts Therapy. Guilford Press.
Mental Health Disparities: Diverse Populations. (n.d.). American Psychiatric Association.
Nwankpa, U. (2023). Using Indigenous Healing Arts Practices for Emotional Self-Regulation. AHNA Beginnings Magazine, 43(5).