PRESS
audio + video
Losing a pet is hard. Here’s how to cope. [Life Kit]
Losing a pet can be devastating. Here’s how to process the loss of your special friend and open yourself up to the love and lessons they left beind.
Vibe Check: A Community Conversation about Mental Health
Taking care of your mental health is the most badass thing you can do. DoSomething hosted a a welcoming and engaging space for young people to discover strategies and resources to support better mental health for themselves and their peers.
articles + such
With mutual aid focus, Oakland Black Pride flies rainbows high into July—and beyond [48 Hills]
The organization’s newly formed relationship with Get Some Joy, a national creative wellness agent, has Austin excited.
“They’re orchestrating the navigating grief workshop,” they said. “I’ve experienced some grief the last couple of years, as have most of us, but I’m a joy dealer. During the pandemic when we were developing Oakland Black Pride, there was a space and time I needed to grieve, but I also needed joy. This is a workshop about finding joy within that space that feels icky sometimes.”
Oakland Black Pride returns with expo, brunch
The next event is virtual, "Navigating Grief + Loss Through Joy," which is Thursday, June 29, at 5 p.m. and is being offered through partnership with creative wellness agency GetSomeJoy.
"Through grounding activities, reflection, introspective writing, and group discussion in a safe, affirming environment, we unpack emotions related to grief and mourning and collaborate on tools and strategies for moving through spiritual ashiness," the website states.
Chef Chat with John Vitale of Caffe Anello
JV: Mental health awareness is definitely a component. We met with a gentleman named Alex Hardy. He runs a mental health awareness program called Get Some Joy. Part of the movement is to be open and talk about things, but it’s not always the case that someone in your staff wants to come to you because they’re depressed or having bad thoughts or an addiction issue. This is [one] outlet for staff to have a conversation with someone outside of the kitchen world.
So I Just Became a Mental Health First Aid Instructor And Here Is What I Learned
Fortunately, no matter how much your inner empath or goodest intentions lead you reach for that cape, it doesn't require or empower you to diagnose and "fix" people or wipe people's woes away. You won’t be a therapist after a week. Stand down, future Iyanla.
Keynote speakers announced for FOCUS 2023 Conference [Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency]
"Ready for Change" is the theme of this year's conference. This learning experience for ALL educators blends a variety of inspiring and informative keynote speakers and breakout sessions. It’s an opportunity to catch your breath and reflect, but also a time to engage in learning, plan, and focus forward.
The insidious link between racism and depression [NY Post]
“In the beginning, I didn’t even know what it was,” Hardy, now 33, tells The Post. “I would lie on the floor, hyperventilating, just trying to calm myself down. I was crying a lot and not functioning. I couldn’t get through things without going down this whole rabbit hole of, ‘You’re a piece of s–t.’”
Black Joy and Black Tears | Healing with Wellness Warrior Alex Hardy
In this conversation, we spotlight the healing practices queer people have developed by building communities outside of social restrictions.
KTVU: Olaywa Austin on Oakland Black Pride’s partnership with GetSomeJoy
“GetSomeJoy is our mental wellness partner this year. And we didn't know we needed one until we had one. I absolutely love GetSomeJoy. They are a creative wellness agency and their specialty is joy dealing.”
Black Joy and Black Tears | Healing with Wellness Warrior Alex Hardy
In this conversation, we spotlight the healing practices queer people have developed by building communities outside of social restrictions.
Alex Hardy curated a list of grief resources on Twitter that’s really good, and also created Get Some Joy, an incredible multidimensional resource for anyone grieving or going through tough times.
Five Ways to Use Food as a Tool for Practicing Mindfulness, Fostering Connection, and Centering Joy
These covert food-based wellness check-ins are part of the GetSomeJoy experience: You get a reminder to take off your superhero cape and recharge. I get new recipes to consider and an unintimidating entry into conversations on wellness.
Mental Health First Aid Summit Opening Plenary
Join us as we kick off the 2022 Instructor Summit! The last two years have been full of ups, downs and everything in between.
Oakland Black Pride Hosts Events Celebrating Black Queerness [Oakland Post]
“Oakland Black Pride collaborates with organizations with similar missions. One is GetSomeJoy, a creative wellness agency that focuses on mental health, grief therapy, and coping with sadness, which is incredibly useful for those navigating racism, homo/transphobia in their everyday lives or simply anyone who wants to get some joy in their lives.”
Join us for a virtual community cook-along as MCCC joins with Georgian Court University's Educational Opportunity Program for this festive culinary event. On the menu are curry chicken, white rice and fried plantain.
Grief Resources for All [Say Hey Lenée]
This is a non-exhaustive list of resources I have found helpful in my personal grief work, and in my work with others.
5 Ways to Inspire Joy and Connection at Your Next Event or Meeting [HopIn]
Today, when our calendars are filled with predictable meetings and gatherings that could have been emails, even the smallest bit of joy can be the difference between a mundane experience and one we all look forward to.
Inside Oakland Black Pride: a 5-day festival centering queer people of color [We The People]
I had a lot of loss in 2021 and 2022. So, when we aligned ourselves with GetSomeJoy, our creative wellness partner, without me mentioning the grief that I was going through, [founder] Alex Hardy said, “You know, we have this workshop, ‘How to Navigate Grief and Loss Through Joy.’” As soon as we started developing the program, the community was like, “Thank you for this!”
Literary Therapy: Joy, Grief, Healing, and Recovery [Dominican Writers Association]
A four-part introspective writing program offering community space to navigate life in this raggedy moment in history. With custom Literary Therapy exploration Workbooks.
Week 1: Joy, Boundaries, and Restorative Practices
Week 2: Grief + Post-Traumatic Growth
Week 3: Intergenerational Healing + New Family Narratives
Week 4: Recovery + Self-Love
