PBH Affinity Circles April Newsletter
Hello and welcome to our end-of-month April newsletter.
Thank you for being a part of our journey towards wholeness and well-being. Your support and engagement are integral to the success of our initiatives and the cultivation of a healthier, more connected community.
We are excited to provide you with updates from last month. We partnered with The Hear Foundation and have successfully completed the Most³ Moms affinity cirlces healing cohort in early April. It was such an amazing experience being present, each week with the Moms. We are looking forward to staying in circles with them in the future. During this month we also had a fantastic bus tour sponsored by the Center for Shared Prosperity, hosted at Pittsburgh Hispanic Development District and attended by local funders, non-profit leaders, and community organizers. Together we visited the city and toured The Kingsley Association one of our circles home. Lastly, we secured a partnership with the Chasing M's Foundation. These achievements represent significant milestones for our program and will also allow us space to continue our circles programming. All of this supports us in our collective journey toward healing and community empowerment.
We look forward to continuing this journey together and sharing more exciting updates with you soon. If you know anyone who would like to support us please feel free to donate to us here or have them reach out to us at pbhaffinitycircles@gmail.com
Warm regards,
April and the PBHAC Team
Pictured below is April Jackson - CEO and the funders from the Center for Shared Prosperity bus tour at The Kingsley Association
World Autism Month
World Autism Month is a global initiative held annually in April to raise awareness about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and promote acceptance, inclusion, and understanding of individuals with autism. Throughout this month-long observance, various activities and events are organized to educate communities, support individuals and families affected by autism, and advocate for policies that improve the quality of life for those with ASD.
During World Autism Month, the focus is on fostering acceptance and celebrating the unique talents and abilities of individuals on the autism spectrum. It's also an opportunity to highlight the importance of early diagnosis, access to appropriate support services, and the promotion of inclusive educational and employment opportunities.
Most³ Moms' Cohort Completion
The Most³ Moms healing circle cohort was a profoundly moving experience. We shared intimate moments that we will cherish deeply throughout our time together. Bonding with these moms created a sacred space to connect, support each other, and honor our shared experiences. The connections we formed and the support we provided was needed, creating a meaningful and healing journey for all of us.
Thank you to The Hear Foundation for supporting us to do the work with the Most³ Moms cohort.
Mindfulness Practice - Take a Walk
Walking is a wonderful way to help us be mindful and support our physical health. It supports our ability to think, opens our senses to ideas and perspectives, and can improve our social abilities. Just taking a few moments to get outside does all of this as well. We use walking in a general way and know that if we use support devices to move (wheelchair, walker, cane, or another person to assist) it all works and gives the same benefits!
Regular physical activity enhances our cognitive, emotional, and creative capacities in numerous ways, while also contributing to our overall health.
Research shows that interrupting prolonged periods of sitting by standing up positively affects us.
Walk with a friend.
Walk outside around the block or find your way to a community park.
You can also walk around your room or with the windows open to achieve similar results.
If you are using a device to help you with accessibility (a wheelchair, walker, cane, etc.) know that moving your body gives you the same benefits as walking.
The season of late Spring and Summer provides a great opportunity to get some Sun (Vitamin D), some outside air, and time in nature even if it is just by a tree. Focusing on the nature (the meditative aspect of this) around you allows us to be mindful and helps us all release a bit of stress.
More food more choices:
The food bank has a program to help.
See link below.
Sessions for Affinity Healing Circles will resume in the Summer. Let us know if you would like to be a part of an upcoming circle or know someone interested in participating in East Liberty or McKees Rocks. Please contact us at PBHAffinityCircles@gmail.com
We take pride in our accomplishments and are enthusiastic about continuing our endeavors. Your support in sharing our news and considering a donation would be greatly appreciated. To donate now, please click the link below.
