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How Four Black Women Bosses Define Wellness

MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN-RECORDER — Four Black women leaders in Minnesota discussed their definitions and practices of wellness. Reverend Joan Austin of Endure Women’s Ministries, Kelsey Joson of InControl, Dr. Ayanna Rakhu of Sankofa Swim International, and arts leader Serena Wright shared their perspectives on what wellness means across their diverse fields.

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3 months ago

July 15, 2026

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How Four Black Women Bosses Define Wellness

What Wellness Really Means: Four Black Women Leaders Share Their Practice

Contributing writer Tiffany Johnson talks with four Black women leaders in Minnesota, Reverend Joan Austin of Endure Women’s Ministries, Kelsey Joson of InControl, Dr. Ayanna Rakhu of Sankofa Swim International, and arts leader Serena Wright, about what wellness means across their very different fields. Their answers reveal common threads: protecting daily rituals, finding movement in small joys, and building community that tells the truth with love.

When you hear the word wellness, what comes to mind?

I posed that question to four Black women leaders across sectors in Minnesota: Reverend Joan Austin, founder of Endure Women’s Ministries, a nonprofit supporting women in ministry; Kelsey Joson, founder and CEO of InControl, a wellness hub for adults with disabilities; Dr. Ayanna Rakhu, founder and CEO of Sankofa Swim International, promoting healing for Black and brown bodies through water; and Serena Wright, arts leader and former director in the University of Minnesota’s Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs.

I invited each of them to share her perspective on what wellness means and how it shapes different areas of life. What emerged was a reservoir of wisdom, revealing the many ways wellness takes root, and the many ways these women have built their own leadership around it.

Boss1 — Reverend Joan Austin Credit: Endure Women’s Ministries

Reverend Austin has served as an ordained minister for more than 25 years, and for the past decade she’s run her own nonprofit. “To me, wellness means being well-rounded spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically. It’s about nurturing each of those aspects of ourselves as we navigate the different experiences and challenges of life,” she said.

“I was at a point where I wanted to give up in ministry, and during prayer, the Lord told me not to give up. He said ‘He needed me to endure,’ and that’s where the name came from.” The name is also an acronym: Equipped, Nurtured, Devoted, United, Renewed and Empowered.

Boss2 — Kelsey Joson (right) Credit: InControl

Joson, founder of InControl, has built her career around others’ wellness. “When I hear wellness, what comes to mind is how someone takes care of their body, and not just physically. Wellness was never meant to be one dimensional. It is everything that goes into being a whole human being, the mental piece, the emotional piece, the spiritual piece, all working together to create a firm foundation,” she said.

“InControl is devoted to solving the quality of life crisis for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Minnesota. We provide in-home coaching focused on physical health, nutrition and social emotional wellbeing, meeting clients exactly where they are and helping them build real agency and independence in their own lives.”

Dr. Rakhu leads Sankofa Swim International and serves on the board of V3 Sports, a wellness hub in North Minneapolis, teaching communities from Minnesota to Grenada. “When I hear the word wellness, I picture a set of scales,” she said. “Sometimes one side is heavier than the other, and sometimes they’re perfectly aligned. But the scales are always adjusting. That’s how I think about wellness.”

Boss3 — Dr. Ayanna Rakhu (right) with her daughter and mother. Credit: Sankofa Swim International

It’s no coincidence that Rakhu’s specialty exists in the world of water, where balance is essential for survival. She’s passionate about restoring healing in the Black community around its historic relationship with water, challenging stereotypes about Black people and swimming while acknowledging the historical trauma of the transatlantic slave trade and the African diaspora.

“I describe my work as liberation work because I believe healing our relationship with water is liberating,” she said. “The communities I serve are Black people and people of African descent. I’m especially concerned about that relationship. That’s where my work lies.”

Wright, a leader in Minnesota’s arts and education community, finds sanctuary in nature. “Nature has always been a part of who I am. I literally take the time to look at a leaf, because that brings me to life.” Her connection to nature feels fitting given her recent recognition at Flowers Now!: A Celebration of Black Elders of the Arts Community, presented by the Givens Collection of African American Literature in May 2026.

“Wellness is a body, mind and spirit connection,” Wright said. “It’s checking in with myself first, being willing to ask questions, seeking honest feedback and pushing through discomfort. I don’t want to be paralyzed by fear, because that’s how I continue to grow.”

Though Wright recently retired from her longstanding role at the University of Minnesota, she doesn’t see it as an ending, but as “a reset,” continuing part-time at the university while staying deeply engaged in the arts community.

These four women, different in practice, revealed real overlap in how they approach wellness, and leadership.

On community: “You don’t need people tearing you down. You need people who will tell you the truth with love,” Wright said.

On showing up over perfection: “I protect my mornings as time for myself first, before I give my attention to anything else,” Joson said.

On movement: “I really love to roller skate. It reminds me of my capability, reminds me of my joy,” Rakhu said. “Wellness doesn’t have to look like a gym. Movement can be the smallest things we do every day,” Wright added.

On where to start: “Start with prayer, because I know God will lead, guide and direct,” Austin said. Rakhu suggested something simpler: “Make a list. It gets things out of your head and into this world of manifestation.” Wright summed it up: “Wellness isn’t about taking one big step. It’s about the little things you do every day.”

Wellness looks different for everyone, but these women point to one universal truth: caring for ourselves allows us to better care for others. By investing in their own physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health, they’ve become stronger leaders, building lasting impact in the communities they serve.

To learn more, visit Endure Women’s Ministries at endurewomensministries.org, InControl at incontrolmn.com, or Sankofa Swim International at sankofaswim.com.

Tiffany Johnson is a contributing writer for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. She welcomes reader responses at tjohnson@spokesman-recorder.com.

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Tiffany Nicole Johnson

Tiffany Nicole Johnson is a marketer, writer and musician based in Minneapolis. Tiffany is a contributing writer for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. She is also the associate director of marketing at… More by Tiffany Nicole Johnson

Based on reporting by Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

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WCCUSD Joins Statewide Organic School Food Purchasing Cooperative

Other districts involved include: Alameda USD, Albany USD, Berkeley USD, Capistrano USD, Cupertino Union SD, Hayward USD, Laguna Beach USD, Lagunitas Elementary SD, Mt. Diablo USD, North Monterey County USD, Pajaro Valley USD, San Leandro USD, San Ramon Valley USD, Santa Clara USD, Sausalito Marin City SD, Tahoe-Truckee USD and West Contra Costa USD.

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West Contra Costa Unified School District food services team members pose for a photo at Back-to-School Night. Photo courtesy of WCCUSD.

By Richmond Standard Staff

Seventeen California public school districts, including West Contra Costa Unified (WCCUSD), have joined a purchasing cooperative to pool their buying power and expand access to organic food in school meals.

The nonprofit Conscious Kitchen recently announced the launch of the Conscious Organic School Food Purchasing Cooperative. Its founding districts serve more than 300,000 students combined.

The cooperative partnered with food distributors UNFI and Sysco to expand the organic products available to participating districts. Combining schools’ purchasing demand helps distributors plan with suppliers while creating more dependable markets for organic farmers and food makers, according to Conscious Kitchen.

Other eligible California school districts can access the cooperative’s products and pricing through its existing contracts without conducting their own bids. Mt. Diablo Unified School District serves as the lead district for the cooperative’s grocery bid.

Barbara Jellison, WCCUSD’s executive director of food services, said the cooperative builds on years of work bringing fresh, organic food into school kitchens.

“The next challenge has always been how to make that possible for more districts,” Jellison said. “The Co-op gives schools a way to take what we have learned and move it to a completely different scale.”

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Democrats, Community Groups Back Measure EE to Change How Oakland Is Governed

Along with clearer executive responsibility, the Charter reform would also create new checks and balances, including an independent Budget and Legislative Analyst office, City Council confirmation of key appointments, expanded council hearing and subpoena authority, and give the council the ability to override a mayoral veto with six votes.

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October 13, 2026

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Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee. Courtesy of Mayor Barbara Lee’s office.

By Oakland Post Staff

The Alameda County Democratic Party has voted to endorse Measure EE, the Oakland Charter reform measure on the November 2026 ballot. The party’s endorsement is announced alongside a broad coalition of organizations spanning labor, business, faith, and community advocacy, including Oakland Rising Action that are also supporting the measure.

Those supporters include:

League of Women Voters of Oakland
AFSCME Council 57
SPUR
Bay Area Council
Black Women Organized for Political Action
Faith in Action East Bay
Oakland Chamber of Commerce
Oakland Rising Action
Revitalize East Bay
Empower Oakland

Measure EE would reform Oakland’s hybrid governance system by establishing a strong-mayor structure, making the mayor the city’s chief executive, responsible for delivering effective, efficient services.

The measure would also reform and expand responsibilities of City Councilmembers.

Measure EE would create clearer lines of responsibility for the performance of city government, allowing voters to evaluate the mayor based on how effectively the city delivers services and produces results.

“Oakland voters deserve a City Hall where they know exactly who’s responsible when something goes wrong and exactly who to credit when it gets fixed. Measure EE puts that responsibility squarely with the mayor, backed by real checks and balances, so Oakland can finally move as fast as its problems demand. That’s why the Alameda County Democratic Party is proud to stand behind it,” said Igor Tregub, chair of the Alameda County Democratic Party.

Oakland Rising Action, a collaboration of racial, economic, and environmental justice organizations, has also issued a press statement explaining its support for Measure EE.

Measure EE “represents a critical opportunity for residents to clarify the governance role of the Oakland Mayor and City Council, so we, as residents, know who to hold accountable for the execution of voter-approved and budgeted services within city departments,” the statement said.

Measure EE would reform Oakland’s Charter, which is the city’s Constitution, strengthening “the role of the mayor as the CEO of Oakland, with the city administrator being hired and managed by the mayor explicitly.”

The measure would also strengthen oversight of city departments by mandating reporting directly to the City Council and provide the mayor with veto power in approving policies and the budget.

Measure EE was placed on the ballot by the Oakland City Council in June 2026. For more than half a year, the mayor’s working group on Charter reform engaged residents and elected officials on the options for governance of Oakland, which led to Measure EE.

“Oaklanders need clarity about who is responsible for the management of our city departments, our tax dollars, and our voter-approved ballot measures,” said Pecolia Manigo, executive director of Oakland Rising.

“The average resident believes that we already have a strong mayor system,” she continued. “However, this is simply not the truth in our City Charter. It is time for us to stop talking about the Charter changes Oakland needs. This is the first of many Charter reforms that are needed to improve conditions in Oakland, especially the flatlands. It’s time all voters start paying attention to who is making decisions for Oakland. This election allows us to say how we believe Oakland should be governed.”

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Veterans Housing Project Proposed for South Richmond

According to the development team’s presentation, the project has an estimated total cost of nearly $158 million. The presentation outlines five phases encompassing entitlement and construction documents, community outreach, soil remediation and utility work, podium and building construction, solar technology integration, and interior buildouts.

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October 13, 2026

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Artist’s rendering of the complex that will have xx units for veterans. Courtesy image.

A proposed mixed-use development at 338 Carlson Blvd. could bring hundreds of homes and support services for military veterans to South Richmond.

Led by the Richmond-based Veterans Resource Program in partnership with Eagle Environmental Construction & Development, the proposal covers an approximately 2.3-acre property the nonprofit acquired in 2018.

The proposal features a multi-building residential development with various apartment sizes, though city documents and developer materials cite conflicting totals ranging from 226 to 268 units.

The proposal also includes approximately 40,000 square feet of commercial and retail space, about 200 parking spaces, and an entrepreneurial training and job-development component intended to connect veterans with economic and workforce opportunities.

Founded in 2011, the Veterans Resource Program provides housing assistance and other services to veterans, including those experiencing homelessness or transitioning from incarceration.

The proposal aims to advance Richmond’s affordable housing goals while connecting veterans with housing and supportive services. Details of affordability and veteran eligibility remain to be clarified.

The Richmond City Council was scheduled to receive an informational presentation on the project at its Oct. 6 meeting, following a continuance from Sept. 22. The item does not seek project approval or city funding. Any future request for city financial assistance or other public resources would require separate consideration and approval.