Last Saturday, Dr. Wendi Williams, CEO of the Well and president of the American Psychological Association, brought together women leaders and community members for an immersive event honoring and celebrating women.
Among those sharing their stories at “The Well: A Day of Empowerment,” held at the Table restaurant in Jersey City, New Jersey, were Dr. Leeja Carter, CEO of the Coalition for Food & Health Equity and a former collegiate athlete; and Dr. Kensa Gunter, director of NBA/WNBA Mind Health and a leading clinical and sports psychologist.
“Dr. Wendi Williams created the Well as a safe space for women leaders for them to essentially come to a well to be poured into, to be replenished, and to really invest in themselves and the infrastructure of their leadership as they move forward,” said Carter, whose work addresses eliminating food insecurity. “There are components to the Well: remembrance, recovery, repair, regenerate, and reemerge.”
Other participants included New Jersey State Senator Angela V. McKnight and Congresswoman LaMonica McIver. Each speaker addressed one of the themes as it related to her story of being a woman in the world.
Speaking about recovery and repair, Gunter said, “A part of the conversation was acknowledging the context in which we were having this conversation. Given that the focus was on leaders, it truly is a notion of thinking not just how do you lead, but how do you maintain your wellness. A part of that message was … you have to find community.”
In her practice, Gunter engages in both mental health and mental performance. Excellence in sports and in life, she noted, is not without adversity and challenge; it speaks to how a person navigates those obstacles and even grows from them. Also, sports teams come together for a shared goal, and the Well reflects that.
“When we talk about what it means to be human, what it is to thrive and to flourish, and what it is to navigate adversity, whether we’re talking about that on a court or a field or in a corporate office, many of those strategies and skills can be the same,” Gunter said. “The everyday person is trying to thrive in their lives in the same way that the elite athlete is trying to thrive. We talk about what you need to be able to perform at your best when you need to the most, regardless of what the setting is. Health is foundational to performance.”
Carter, who was a pole vaulter and discus thrower in college and played basketball in high school, also emphasized teamwork and community. “These events are constant reminders … that we can be unified and collectively build a movement to move our collective wants and needs forward,” she said.