LIVE: Transforming Racial Lines in Health and Social Care

Jan Froehlich has been teaching occupational therapy at the University of New England for over 30 years. Primary courses include mental health occupational therapy; communication, culture and group process; therapeutic use of self and group intervention; and research. As an occupational therapy practitioner, she worked primarily in the mental health field where she became increasingly aware of the profound influence of trauma and all forms of oppression on mental health and wellbeing. She blended artful and compassionate listening with the transformative power of occupation to promote recovery, growth, and healing. Her scholarship addresses racially and culturally effective communication in health and social care, interprofessional education, women’s mental health, the complex occupation of motherhood. 

June received her B.S.W and her M.S.W in Social Work from the University of Kansas.  Her expertise is in clinical social work with an emphasis on cultural diversity.  An activist, June brings a social justice perspective to her work.  Believing deeply that the personal is political and the spiritual is at the core of the personal, June incorporates an understanding of the nature of oppression, emotional healing, interpersonal dialogue, and group processing, in a spiritually grounded approach. June is known for her efforts to expand the boundaries of systems thinking to address issues of social justice, anti-Black racism, and equity including issues of culture and race. Her ongoing theoretical and practice work pushes the boundaries of the dominant world of psychotherapy to consider a white privilege and internalized racism as a major influence within the therapeutic process. June’s scholarship includes op-ed publications in local newspapers and in self-published blogs on www.Medium.com.

Regina Phillips is the co-founder and full-time Chief Operations Officer for Cross Cultural Community Services. Previously to that, Ms. Phillips worked for the Westbrook School Department as both their Equity Resource Coordinator and Grants and Community Engagement Coordinator. For 19 years, she worked for the City of Portland managing their Refugee Services, and Family Shelter Programs. Ms. Phillips has been an adjunct professor at both the University of New England (UNE) and the University of Southern Maine. Ms. Phillips serves on the Coastal Enterprises, Inc. and Maine Network Partners Board of Directors. Ms. Phillips is a strong advocate and activist for the underserved, especially within the BIPOC community. Ms. Phillips is a ninth-generation Mainer who has an undergrad from Curry College, Master of Social Work from UNE, and Doctor of Social Work from Tulane University.