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    BROKEN At The Civil Rights Institute In Riverside

    Like chairs with hidden cracks, people carry pain that often goes unnoticed. BROKEN is where art and mental health meet, and healing begins. Empower You Edutainment utilizes performing arts to provide engaging theater, dance and music experiences that promote resilience, empowerment and overall wellness among youth and young adults.

    RIVERSIDE, Calif.—Like chairs with hidden cracks, people carry pain that often goes unnoticed. “BROKEN is where art and mental health meet, and healing begins,” said Sharron Lewis, president and co-founder of Empower You Edutainment.

    Broken is on Sunday, April 27th, at 3 p.m. at the Riverside Civil Rights Institute in the Bank of America Diversity Center, 3933 Mission Inn Avenue, Suite 102, in Riverside.  Doors open at 2:30 p.m.

    According to Lewis, BROKEN is a unique healing experience that blends music, spoken word, storytelling, and the powerful symbolism of a broken chair to explore how we heal—emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

    “This event is more than a gathering. It’s a sacred space for release, reflection, and restoration. Just like a cracked chair or a splintered table can be repaired and made whole again—often stronger and more beautiful—so can we,” said Deborah McDuff Williams of The Links Incorporated, San Bernardino Valley (CA) Chapter.

    Empower You Edutainment, a non-profit organization promoting health awareness, presents “Broken.” This unique event aims to shed light on the often-unnoticed pain that individuals carry and explore the healing power of art.

    “Art has the incredible ability to reveal hidden emotions and provide a therapeutic outlet for those struggling with mental health issues,” said Lewis.

    Empower You Edutainment utilizes the performing arts to provide engaging theater, dance and music experiences that promote resilience, empowerment and overall wellness among youth and young adults. Attendees can engage in various artistic activities designed to foster healing and self-expression.

    “Through this event, we hope to create a supportive environment where individuals can find solace and understanding. We invite everyone to participate in this transformative experience and join a community that values mental health and artistic expression,” said Lewis.

      Guest Artist Deborah McDuff WilliamsGuest Artist Deborah McDuff Williams

    Guest Artist Deborah McDuff Williams is a multifaceted artist whose work delves into themes of social justice, African heritage and the human experience. In addition to her visual art, Williams incorporates poetry to amplify her healing messages.

    BROKEN is sponsored by: Empower You Edutainment, The Links Incorporated, San Bernardino Valley (CA) Chapter, the Civil Rights Institute, Inland Southern California, and Dameron Communications. .

    For more information about BROKEN or to register for this free event at EventBrite.com, search for Broken or email Empower@empoweryouedutainment.org.

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    About Empower You Edutainment

    Empower You Edutainment is a non-profit organization founded in 2016. The dedicated team of talented educators and skilled artists leverages their rich background in the performing arts to deliver engaging theatre, dance and music experiences that foster resilience, empowerment and overall wellness among youth and young adults.

    Our mission is clear: We strive to dismantle social and economic barriers, providing empowerment, education and transformation to the often voiceless. We aim to inspire and uplift through the powerful mediums of song, interpretive dance, spoken word, music, improvisation and theater.

    From our humble origins, we have enriched the Inland Empire with community theatre that draws attention to pressing social issues and positively impacts the lives of many.

    About The Links Incorporated, San Bernardino Valley (CA) Chapter

    The Links Incorporated, San Bernardino Valley (CA) Chapter, a not-for-profit corporation, established in 1946. It is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other people of African ancestry.

    About The Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California

    As the voice of civil rights for Inland Southern California, the Institute provides public programming and children’s programs focusing on civil rights and the region’s civil rights history. It offers programs, exhibits, and performances that support civil rights activities. The Institute is developing a digital archive of regional civil rights materials and conducts oral history projects, supporting the production of civil rights audio and video through the media center.  Additionally, it recognizes the region’s civil rights leaders and their impacts.

    Tea for the Soul: Empowering Black Women in Self-Care and Wellness

    "Jewel Diamond Taylor will share her transformative message from stages around the world, offering strategies for overcoming self-doubt and building confidence,” said Sharron Lewis, the Coalition for Black Health and Wellness Committee chair.

    “Jewel Diamond Taylor will share her transformative message from stages around the world, offering strategies for overcoming self-doubt and building confidence,” said Sharron Lewis, the Coalition for Black Health and Wellness Committee chair.

    Moreno Valley, CA—The Coalition for Black Health and Wellness announces an African American Tea for the Soul. In this supportive environment, Black women can explore essential practices of self-care, mental health, wellness, and healing. The Tea is Sunday, May 4, 2025, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at CrossWord Church,  21401 Box Springs Road, Moreno Valley, CA. Doors will open at 2:30 PM, and dinner will be served at 3:15 PM.

    Sharron Lewis, the Behavioral Health Committee chair, said, “The highlight of the afternoon will be renowned guest speaker Jewel Diamond Taylor, affectionately known as ‘The Self-Esteem Dr.’ Jewel has been a leading motivational speaker since 1984, empowering millions with her holistic approach to faith, culture, psychology, emotional well-being, and personal success.”

    As the author of bestselling titles such as Success Gems and ShiFt Happens, Jewel utilizes humor and storytelling to encourage resilience and inner peace among her audience. In addition to receiving an honorary doctorate in divinity in 2019, she also garnered an Emmy Award in 2021 for her work on a documentary about race relations in Norway.

    This event is sponsored by the Coalition for Black Health and Wellness, Behavioral Health Committee, Riverside Community Health Foundation, and Dameron Communications in collaboration with CrossWord Church.

    Empower You Edutainment provides entertainment for the event. Upon arrival, participants will be welcomed by African drumming. The entertainment also includes spoken word performances, a live band, storytelling, participatory dancing, a theatrical presentation, and dancers.

    “Join us for an inspiring afternoon of growth, connection, and empowerment as we support the mental and emotional well-being of Black women in our community.  You don’t want to miss Jewel Diamond Taylor, who brings her transformative message from stages across the globe, sharing strategies for overcoming self-doubt and building confidence,” said Lewis.

    Space is limited for this sponsored opportunity, so we encourage everyone to save their spot at https://bit.ly/tea4thesoul25?r=qr.

    The Coalition for Black Health and Wellness Behavioral Health Committee members are Sharron Lewis, Chair; Phyllis Clark, Dr. Carolyn Murray, and Shor Denny.

    For more information or to become a vendor, text Sharron Lewis at 213-359-8639.

    About The Coalition for Black Health and Wellness

    The Coalition for Black Health and Wellness is a voluntary multi-sector group providing leadership, ensuring continued information flow, and galvanizing action. The Coalition addresses health disparities improvement actions for Riverside and Jurupa Valley.  To be effective agents of change to eliminate health disparities affecting the Black community and achieve the highest possible level of health through the education and mobilization of leaders, partners, policymakers, and community stakeholders. We strive for a community free of health and healthcare disparities.