8th Phenomenal Women’s Conference
By Rev. Dr. Alice Hubbard Crenshaw, 8thEpiscopal District
The Rev. Dr. Alice Hubbard Crenshaw, the pastor of Solomon Chapel AME Church in Cleveland, Mississippi, continues her crusade of bringing about imperative women’s issues awareness in the Delta of Bolivar County. The 8thPhenomenal Women’s Conference entitled “Saving Our Sisters” (SOS) was held on August 3-4. Sessions included “God’s Mission for Humanity through Religion and Psychiatry,” “Closet Issues ‘Me Too,’” “Promoting Healthy Skin Care,” “How to Combat Human Trafficking,” “Avoiding Abuse of Opioids,” “Domestic Violence and Abuse Awareness,” and “HIV/AIDS Awareness and Preventive Methods.” God continues to liberate women with knowledge to become free from wounds that were inflicted during the childhood and young adult stages of their lives. Financial co-sponsors for this conference were Attorney W. Chad Stelly, Dr. Martha Stewart, Bryan Schexnayder of State Farm Insurance, Dr. Fred Miller, the Rev. Archie Smith of Allstate Insurance, and the Rev. Dr. Crenshaw.
The Rev. Leona Spears of Amite, Louisiana, showed how religion and psychiatry recognize that an individual’s psychological and spiritual functioning are intimately related. This discipline encourages open examination of one’s spiritual beliefs and interpretations with a person’s psychological functioning in an environment of diverse and heterogeneous belief.
DeVoyce Morristaught that “Me Too”has been one of the most pervasive and devastating sins throughout history; and, for years we have failed to deal with it. We must take our heads out of the sand, throw off the cloak of secrecy, and address this travesty head-on. This session focused on the church’s response to this “unspeakable sin” through awareness, education, prevention, and intervention.
Veronica D. Sanders, R.N., B.S.N., provided consultation and thorough skin analysis and wholistic care. She said there was joy in knowing we can take back our bodies, reclaim our health, and restore ourselves to balance. We can take power over what and how we eat. We can rejuvenate and recharge ourselves, bringing healing to the wounds we carry inside us and bringing to fuller life the wonderful person within us.
Diane Amos, the founder and executive director of the New Orleans Dream, gave us practical tools to prevent and combat human trafficking. We learned that victims of trafficking may suffer from several physical and psychological problems because they are often coerced or forced into dangerous situations or condition.
Margaret Mulvihill, R.N., is a certified peer support specialist with Denton House A&D in Greenwood, Mississippi.She educated the group on the abuse and effects of opioids. More than two million Americans have become dependent on or abused prescription pain pills and street drugs. Opioids are drugs formulated to replicate the pain-reducing properties of opium. They include both legal painkillers like morphine, oxycodone, or hydrocodone prescribed by doctors for acute or chronic pain, as well as illegal drugs like heroin or illicitly-made fentanyl.
Valencia Martin, M.D., shared that it has been 38 years since the HIV/AIDS epidemic began. While major strides have been made, stigma and misinformation remain. Itis a virus that destroys the body’s CD4 cells or T-cells, the cells that usually help the body fight off infections and diseases. If the body can’t get rid of this virus, you have it for life. HIV develops in stages from the time of infection; but if treated with the proper medications, a person can live healthily for many years. Once AIDS develops, the immune system is unable to protect itself from simple infections, cancers, and other immune diseases. Without treatment, most people living with AIDS will only live for about three years.
Attorney Gail P. Thompson spoke on domestic violence and abuse awareness. Physical and sexual assaults or threats to commit them are the most apparent forms of domestic violence and are usually the actions that allow others to become aware of the problem. Although physical assaults may occur only once or occasionally, they instill the threat of future violent attacks and allow the abuser to take control of the woman, child, or man’s life and circumstances. It has been firmly established as a pattern of intimidation and control in the relationship.
