Dr. Dana E. Crawford, a pediatric and clinical psychologist, will discuss mental health at the Desmond Center’s upcoming Black History Month event, The Healing and Mental Health Arts Showcase, on February 26. She is seen here delivering the keynote address at the Desmond Center’s recent inaugural conference at Mount Saint Mary College in late 2023.
The Desmond Center for Community Engagement and Wellness, a Mount Saint Mary College initiative, will host their Healing and Mental Health Arts Showcase on Monday, February 26 from 6 to 8 p.m., in honor of Black History Month.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place on campus in Guzman Hall room 111.
The showcase will feature works by local Black artists, including a visual art presentation by Emmanuel Ofori, a mixed media artist from Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; poetry readings by Ahmad Cohen, Mariah Henry, and Curtis Walker; as well as a mental health presentation by Dr. Dana E. Crawford, a pediatric and clinical psychologist.
Crawford, who was recently the keynote speaker at the Desmond Center’s “Healthy Communities: A Shared Responsibility Towards Wellness” conference, developed the Crawford Bias Reduction Theory and Training (CBRT), a systematic approach to reducing bias, prejudice, and racism. In recent years, she has worked with the National Black Caucus to create legislation for Black maternal health equity and conducted hundreds of trainings and presentations in private, non-profit, public, and government sectors.
The Desmond Center provides wellness and educational services for underserved individuals and families. The center offers accessible and equitable educational, health, and wellness services for community members and families in the local area.