Excelsior Wellness’ Post

🌍✨ Embrace African Heritage: The Link Between Heritage and Well-being ✨🌍 At Embrace African Heritage, we believe that our cultural heritage plays a significant role in our overall well-being and sense of identity. Our African heritage is rich in history, traditions, and values that can positively impact our mental, emotional, and physical health. By embracing and celebrating our heritage, we connect with our roots, strengthen our sense of belonging, and promote a positive self-image. Understanding the link between heritage and well-being is essential in cultivating a holistic approach to wellness that honors our past and shapes our future. It is crucial to educate more people about the importance of embracing their heritage and the positive impact it can have on their well-being. By learning about and appreciating different cultures, we can foster inclusivity, compassion, and a sense of unity among diverse communities. Let's come together to educate, inspire, and empower individuals to embrace their heritage and prioritize wellness. By sharing knowledge, stories, and experiences, we can create a more connected and culturally enriched society that values diversity and promotes overall well-being for all. Join us in spreading awareness and understanding about the profound connection between heritage and well-being. Let's celebrate our heritage, honor our traditions, and embrace wellness as a way of life. Together, we can create a world where everyone feels proud of their roots and nurtures their well-being with love and respect. 🌿🌟 #EmbraceHeritage #WellnessJourney #CulturalWellness #HeritageAndWellbeing #EducateEmpowerEmbrace

Join Annita McPhee’s Cultural Safety Course on September 16! 🌿 Creating a safe and inclusive environment for Indigenous people in the workplace is essential for fostering respect, understanding, and equity. Annita McPhee’s upcoming Cultural Safety Course will provide participants with the knowledge and tools needed to build inclusive workspaces. This one-time, limited offer course will cover: ✨ Cultural Competency Training: Learn about Indigenous histories, rights, and the ongoing impacts of colonization. ✨ Inclusive Policies: Gain insights into how to develop policies that promote equity and cultural safety for Indigenous employees. ✨ Respect for Traditions: Understand the importance of recognizing and respecting Indigenous cultural practices in the workplace. ✨ Open Dialogue: Create spaces where Indigenous voices are heard and valued. ✨ Mentorship & Allyship: Learn to build supportive networks and become effective allies for Indigenous colleagues. This course will provide you with actionable insights and practical tools to implement these key strategies in your workplace. 🕒 Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM 📅 Date: September 16 📍 Location: Online 💲 Price: $500 Don’t miss this limited opportunity to enhance your understanding and take meaningful steps toward reconciliation and inclusion. Sign up today and make a difference in your workplace. #ReconciliationMonth #CulturalSafety #IndigenousInclusion #ResourceDevelopment #BeAGoodAlly #AnnitaMcPheeStrategies #LimitedOffer

🌟 Honoring Juneteenth: Empowering Through Hospitality and Travel 🌟 Today, we pause to honor Juneteenth, a landmark in our history that symbolizes freedom and the end of slavery in the United States. This day is a powerful reminder of resilience, courage, and the ongoing journey towards equality. At the heart of our industry—the hospitality and travel sector—we hold a unique opportunity to drive social empowerment and make a lasting impact. Here's how we can lead the way: 🏨 Championing Inclusivity and Representation: Diversity isn't just a buzzword; it's the essence of a vibrant, innovative industry. By embracing inclusive hiring practices and cultivating environments where everyone feels welcomed and respected, we enrich not only our businesses but also the lives of our employees and guests. Representation matters, and it starts with us. ✈️ Fostering Cultural Exchange and Education: Travel is a bridge to understanding. When we promote and respect cultural heritage, especially the rich histories of African American communities, we foster a world of empathy and appreciation. Let’s use our platforms to educate and inspire, turning every journey into a story of connection, learning and respect. 🌍 Driving Economic Opportunities: Our support for Black-owned businesses and local enterprises can spark significant economic growth in underrepresented communities. By highlighting and partnering with these businesses, we can channel resources and attention their way, paving the path for sustainable development and prosperity. 🤝 Engaging with Our Communities: True impact starts at the grassroots. By participating in local initiatives, forming strategic partnerships, and organizing community events, we strengthen our bonds and support meaningful causes. Let’s make our establishments hubs of dialogue, unity, progress and endless opportunities. As we celebrate Juneteenth, let’s commit to leveraging the power of hospitality and travel to foster a more inclusive and equitable world. Together, we can champion change and empower future generations. #Juneteenth #SocialEmpowerment #DiversityAndInclusion #HospitalityIndustry #TravelIndustry #EconomicEmpowerment #CulturalExchange #CommunityEngagement #BlackExcellence #Unity

Carrie Lamb offers wise words to ground and centre reflecting on and understanding how reconciliation and decolonization is embodied and practiced throughout your organization, team, institution. Emotional, cultural and spiritual well-being rounds out holistic well-being along with mental health and wellness. #IndigenousWisdom #IndigenousLeadership #Decolonization

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we are delighted to introduce Carina Cruz as this week’s spotlight. Carina is the Store Manager at one of our stores in Connecticut. Her passion and commitment not only enriches our workplace but also highlights the beauty of cultural diversity. Through her responses, Carina shares her career story and the traditions that shape her identity. Join us in celebrating her journey! Q. What do you love most about your job? A. What I love the most about my job is the amount of people I get to meet; the impact I can create on my employees and the connections I have created with my customers and colleagues. Q. What challenges have you faced in your career? A. In my career, I have had to learn how to manage with a clear mind, and to never take decisions based on feelings. Never let your emotions control your actions. Q. Do you have any favorite hobbies or interests outside of work? A. I love to travel to different countries and learn about different cultures. Q. Can you tell us about a tradition or custom from your culture that you enjoy participating in? A. I enjoy the Dominican Carnival. It is a vibrant festival that celebrates the country's history, culture, and identity. Q. What’s one thing you wish more people knew about your heritage or cultural traditions? A. The Dominican people and their customs have predominately European cultural origins consisting of basis, with both African and native Taíno influences. We are a mix of ethnicity. Q. How do you celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, and what does it mean to you personally? A. In my house we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by going to festivals and getting together cooking a nice big meal with pernil, rice, beans and little bit of everything. #HispanicHeritageMonth #AssociateSpotlight #EmployeeSpotlight #CitiTrends #CelebratingDiversity

This week's 'Start Where You Are' Challenge: Look up how cultural observances are celebrated. As we wrap up Celebrate Diversity Month, this is a good time to be mindful of how cultural observances are celebrated. We see holidays and observances on our online calendars and we likely scroll right by the ones that aren’t familiar or hold a particular meaning for us. But seeing them is actually a great prompt to expand our awareness. Consider making it a habit to look up holidays or observances as they pop up on your calendar. Take time to look up not only their significance but the common practices for recognizing them. This is an important distinction because understanding the associated practices could help you understand activities you see around you but don’t typically pay attention to. For example, it took me years to make the connection between the surge in restaurants’ fish sandwich commercials in the spring and the traditional Catholic practice of not eating meat on Fridays during Lent. It’s also helpful to understand dietary restrictions associated with some observances to ensure that you offer appropriate options during office gatherings, for example. Other observances may also impact our colleagues’ availability to participate in social activities during certain times of the day or year. These oversights have likely had impacts for colleagues you work closely with but you didn’t have the knowledge to pick up on them. All of this information is right at our fingertips - we just have to make good use of it! New information and new considerations can go a long way in making people feel seen and honored. And we all benefit from having a better understanding of the diversity around us. REMINDER: Follow the ‘Start Where You Are’ blog on MEDIUM: https://lnkd.in/g6kXV7C #startwhereyouare #diversityequityinclusion #diversityequityinclusionbelonging #inclusion

As we approach Truth and Reconciliation Day, we're called to reflect on the profound impact of historical and ongoing injustices against Indigenous Peoples in Canada. This day serves as a solemn reminder of our collective responsibility to acknowledge the past, educate ourselves, and actively work towards a more equitable future. In honor of this important day, I'm dedicating my next month to an in-depth exploration of Indigenous experiences at work. October’s article will delve into the unique challenges being faced by Indigenous Peoples in today’s workplace, and explore opportunities for fostering truly inclusive work environments that respect and celebrate Indigenous heritage and wisdom. To ensure this work authentically represents Indigenous voices and perspectives beyond the peer-reviewed literature, I want to extend an open invitation to individuals of Indigenous heritage. Your voice is the most important one. What aspects of Indigenous workplace experiences should be highlighted? If you want to share, I want to listen. Your input is instrumental in shaping an article that not only raises awareness but also provides actionable strategies for organizations committed to meaningful reconciliation and inclusion. It is my aspiration that this works will provide support to employers who want to pave the way of endeavouring to cultivate a truly equitable and safe environment in modern day North America. Let’s engage in this crucial conversation together. We all have a place in contributing towards workplaces that honor the rich tapestry of Indigenous cultures and contribute to the broader journey of reconciliation. Please reach out to me at workwellnessboutique@gmail.com to share your insights or make a request for key points that should not be missed. If you are not of Indigenous/Metis/Inuk/First Nations decent or otherwise of heritage which has been impacted then please make a note in your email to say you are simply sharing an outside opinion. Thank you for your consideration in this endeavour to educate myself more deeply in navigating all aspects of work wellness with due expertise and dedication to ongoing mastery in a field that is my honour and privilege to work in. Today I would like to respectfully acknowledge that I live on the unceded lands of the Sylix People.

We asked leaders this question: What is the best inclusive holiday book that celebrates diverse cultures? Here's how they responded.

Well worth putting on the top of your list for your next mini break or retreat!