Carry: a panel discussion on motherhood

Join us for a conversation between Dr. Giavana Jones and poet Maelynn Seymour-Major about the themes in “Carry” moderated by Jodi Minnis.
"Carry", a solo exhibition by Tessa Whitehead, explores themes of motherhood, femininity, and the landscape through oil paintings and mixed media drawings.
Dr Gia is an Applied Social Psychologist and trained mental health professional who wears a number of hats. Her primary work is for a philanthropic, grantmaking organization based in Nassau, The Bahamas. At her core, Dr Gia is passionate about service and healthy communities and as such, she serves as the Pastor of Health at Legacy Church Global, provides therapy in her private practice, The Safe Space Counseling Center and is cofounder of a nonprofit with a mission of mental health help and wellness.
Dr. Gia, b. Nassau, The Bahamas, completed a MA and Ph.D in Applied Social Psychology from University of Windsor, Canada. Her dissertation focused on hope and resilience in Bahamian youth. She also holds an MSc in Mental Health Counselling and a BA in Psychology. Her personal motto is to foster hope and build communities. Providing resources such as the book, “The Strong One: Redefining Strength and finding freedom in your true identity,” and its supporting workshops are ways to support more people on their journey to healing and wholeness. She married her college sweetheart, Dayton and together they have two beautiful children, Daelyn Grace, age 10 and Davyn Giovanni, age 7.
Maelynn Ford (she/her) is a poet with an academic background in English literature and poetics. Her poetry is influenced by nature, and she primarily writes about Black Caribbean experiences of love. Her poetry has been featured in art exhibitions, including: “Jack Son Burn Side Junkanoo, As We Knew Him - One Family’s Tribute to Jackson Burnside, National Art Gallery of The Bahamas,
February 2012; “Bahamian Woman Long Island Roses”, Bahama Mama, Public Treasury Art Programme, September 2011, “Historic Nassau: Excerpts from a life”, Historic Nassau, Transforming Spaces, April 2018 and “Refuge”, National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, December 2019.
Maelynn has been working with a dedicated group of writers since spring 2018. She experiments with book-arts, paints and is an avid reader. You can find her publication history on maelynnbacchus.com. She is on Instagram @maelynn.writes posting poems, inspiration and writing prompts.

[@sharonferguson690]

I really enjoyed this sharing tonight! It made me reflect on my experiences as a mother! This was good! Happy Mother’s Day to you ladies!

[@CrystalAdderley]

Oh wow that’s beautiful…. Taking notes

[@CrystalAdderley]

Yes I think about my kids constantly.

[@CrystalAdderley]

lol I love crab cakes too lol

[@CrystalAdderley]

“Not a burden but carries weight”…

[@CrystalAdderley]

Lol