by Donna Stiglmeier, Director
On the evening of January 30th, Casserly House coordinated a collaborative “Community Workshop on Health and Wellbeing.” Immigrants, refugees, and asylees who live, work and study in Roslindale gathered to learn about the signs and symptoms of stress, to share challenges and to discuss coping strategies and available resources. Sixty-five (65) people gathered at the Roslindale Branch of Boston Public Library with the Behavioral Health Team of Greater Roslindale Medical and Dental Center as presenters.
The evening was complete with a mindfulness breathing practice and small groups in first language, while the City of Boston offered large group interpretive services in Haitian Creole and Spanish. Resource tables offered a variety of services (BMC’s Community Behavioral Health Center, MA Behavioral Health Line, etc) for future connection intermingled with healthy snacks, including tea from the local business V!Healthy. The Workshop exit surveys revealed: I learned how to breathe and manage stress, the importance of speaking with others, and organizations available to help immigrants. The major challenges noted were adapting to the US culture, learning a new language, and immigration. “With the fear due to immigration issues, I try to ask God for strength, direction, and help with adaptation to the new language.” Other responses, “I really liked how we interacted with each other. Questions were asked. We will learn more about rights.”
The Health and Wellbeing workshop was sponsored by Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, the City of Boston, and First Literacy. Visit “In the News” at Casserlyhouse.org soon to see more about the “Know Your Rights” Workshops of February 27 and March 3.
Featured above: Rankalo of GRMDC had the difficult task of presenting available resources to immigrants, though fewer now with the current shifting of the immigrant landscape.
Pictured above: Donna welcomes attendees, checking that the Haitian Creole Speakers are listening to Channel 1 on their headsets, and Spanish Speakers are listening to Channel 2! Grateful for the gifts of Stef and Steve (Rosetta Languages via City of Boston) who interpreted the large group, while Gemima (GRMDC) translated exit surveys from Haitian Creole into English.
Featured above: Gerli of GRMDC offered her own immigrant story, highlighting common challenges (though every person’s story is unique!), signs and symptoms of stress, and coping strategies.
Pictured above: Paula of GRMDC engages participants in a “Common Ground Activity,” after a mindfulness breathing practice. Later, Donna and Paula offered prompts for the small groups and fielded their discussion points in large group, all of us learning from each other.