Ashlea M. Nicholson LMAC, LMFT

02/14/2025

In a landmark moment for representation in Hollywood, Hattie McDaniel became the first African American performer to win an Academy Award in 1940, honored for her compelling performance as a loyal enslaved governess in Gone With the Wind.

02/13/2025

02/12/2025

Madam C.J. Walker rose from humble beginnings on a Louisiana cotton plantation to build a business empire with her groundbreaking line of African American hair care products, inspiring countless others with her remarkable success. She went on to establish Madame C.J. Walker Laboratories and was also renowned for her generosity.

02/11/2025

In 1968, Shirley Chisholm shattered glass ceilings as the first African American woman elected to the House of Representatives, proudly representing New York. Her unwavering dedication to progress led her to make history once more in 1972 as the first major party African American candidate and the first female presidential candidate, empowering a new generation of leaders.

02/10/2025

Sparked by the urgent need for racial justice in the early 20th century, and galvanized by the 1908 race riots in Springfield, Illinois, a coalition of forward-thinking African American leaders joined forces to create the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), a beacon of hope for a more equitable future.

02/09/2025

Black History Month was born out of the necessity to acknowledge and celebrate African American accomplishments, which had been neglected in traditional historical narratives and textbooks, and to challenge the inaccurate representation of Black history in media like The Birth of a Nation (1915).

02/08/2025

Kent State University in Portage County, Ohio, played a pivotal role in shaping the history of Black History Month, which began taking form in 1969. The collaborative efforts of Black educators and students led to a successful inaugural celebration in 1970, setting the stage for President Gerald Ford's official recognition six years later.

01/25/2025

Self-care is so vital. Often we are taught that we should take care of others before we take care of ourselves and that leaves us feeling empty and drained. It is vital that we learn to fill up our own bucket first because we cannot give of ourselves if our bucket is empty. Practicing 20 minutes of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual self-care daily can help fill us up and make us feel whole.

Self-care is not selfish, it is utterly essential that we take time to nourish our spirits and replenish our hearts, for we cannot afford to deprive ourselves of the self-love we so desperately need and we cannot pour from an empty vessel.

12/12/2024

In 2015, governments worldwide made a historic pledge by adopting the Sustainable Development Agenda, committing to pioneer innovative policies and practices that secure universal access to superior health services, shield all people from financially calamitous expenses, and promote all-encompassing well-being throughout every life stage. These commitments were reaffirmed with steadfast commitment in the political declarations adopted during the High-Level Meetings on Universal Health Coverage in 2019 and 2023. Despite this, 4.5 billion people remain without access to essential health services.