Community Conversation: “What Counts as Addiction?”
The Mental Health and Wellness Program of the National Benevolent Association of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is committed to promoting mental health justice and wellness equity through faith-rooted spaces of dialogue, reflection, and healing.
As part of our ongoing commitment to create brave and relevant spaces for honest conversation, this guided conversation will explore the question: What counts as addiction? In churches and society at large, some addictions are taboo while others are tolerated or even encouraged. This informal, faith-rooted conversation will name the range of behaviors that can become addictive including alcohol, drugs, gambling, technology, work, food, exercise, and even religious performance.
Together, we will reflect on how addiction shows up in our lives and communities, challenge common assumptions, and imagine what healing and compassion might look like for all who are struggling.
This webinar will take place on Wednesday, September 10th at 7:00pm ET/6:00pm CT. There is no cost to attend but registration is required.
Speakers:
Cameron Cunningham, M.Div., NBA Mental Health and Wellness Program Coordinator, is a dedicated clergy, religious educator, and social advocate with a strong commitment to building faith communities and advancing holistic and social equity. Cameron’s work is driven by the belief that faith can serve as a catalyst for creating and nurturing strong unified communities. He brings exceptional dedication and meticulous preparation working at the intersection of faith and mental health as he has collaborated with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), to further enhance his expertise in addressing mental health and substance use disorders within faith communities.
Rev. Joselyn Spence, LPC, ATR, RYT-500 serves as the Director of the NBA’s Mental Health and Wellness Initiative. In this role, Joselyn works to design and implement programs that promote holistic wellness across all NBA programs. This work is done through the creation of learning resources for clergy and community leaders, addressing the needs of pastors in a variety of ministry settings, sharing the stories that help to eliminate stigmas related to mental health and wellness. She is passionate about mental health care, holistic wellness, communal care ethics, and spirituality. As a holistic wellness specialist, she has worked at the intersection of these passions to develop research and provide empathic care to all she is called to serve.
Cameron Foster is the Director of Prevention Services at the Addiction Service Council and has been a prevention champion for over 31 years. He serves on the PF! Community Engagement Team and is active in the Hamilton County Addiction Response Coalition (HCARC) where he serves as a member of the Hamilton County Addiction Response Coalition’s African American Engagement Workgroup (AAEW) and has led faith-based prevention strategies. At the state level, Cameron is a Peer Recovery Supporter Facilitator/Supervisor and contributes to the Community Collective Impact Model at the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS). Cameron is the author and innovator of the Kuuma Summer Enrichment Camp for youth. One of his most significant contributions was his leadership role at the People of Color Wellness Alliance (POCWA), a former Drug-Free Communities funded coalition. He is a graduate of Anderson Theological Seminary.