Sister Spokesman ends 2023 with self-care event at Northpoint

The first question at the Sister Spokesman’s event on Saturday, December 2, was: “What is self-care?” The end-of-year “Season of Self-Care” event was timely for those dealing with the winter blues. 

Sister Spokesman founder Tracey Williams-Dillard greeted attendees and introduced the many small-business vendors offering self-care products and services in keeping with the December theme. Kylee Jackman, MSR/Sister Spokesman entrepreneur, described the fresh MSR and Sister Spokesman swag and new merchandise available leading up to the 90th Anniversary celebration in August 2024.  

Health and wellness expert Dr. Inell Rosario and therapist Erika Keaton led the panel discussion on the nature of self-care, and what resources and activities are available. They stressed the importance of getting a good night’s sleep, massage therapy, and increasing one’s physical activity. 

Dr. Rosario pointed out that increasing physical activity can increase the body’s chemical responses and hormones in our system that can alleviate anxiety and depression instead of medication. And thanks to YouTube, there are many workout routines that don’t cost anything.

Dr. Rosario is the president of Andros ENT and Sleep Center, and founder of Enhance MD Body and Skin Clinic, both with locations in Inver Grove Heights and Roseville Minnesota.

Erika Keaton is a counseling practitioner at LynLake Centers for Wellbeing. She also works as a mental wellness therapist at Ujamaa Place, counseling African American men ages 18-30. For more information, visit https://ujamaaplace.org/.

Held at Northpoint Health and Wellness Center at 1256 Penn Ave. N., Suite 5100, in North Minneapolis, the afternoon included lively games, lunch, shopping with the small business vendors, and drawings for cash and prizes. A custom Sister Spokesman playlist provided a steady stream of funk, pop and R&B, while attendees shopped, networked, and celebrated the end of a wonderful year of Sister Spokesman enrichment, education and community unity.

Sister Spokesman’s next event, “Do More in 2024,” takes place on Jan. 4 from 12-3 p.m. at LifeSource, 2225 West River Road N., in Minneapolis. Visit @SisterSpokesman on Facebook for the latest.  See more photos by Chris Juhn below.