SFBOTC Blog

We had our annual Black History Month brunch last weekend where we celebrated the 7th recipient of the Sandra Barker Dunbar-Smalley Leadership Scholarship as well as the recipient of the new Nardia Aldridge Award. This year’s Sandra Barker Dunbar-Smalley Leadership Scholarship was presented to Mikayla Dunn, a second-year OTD student at Nova Southeastern University. Mikayla was the former president of the Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) and is known for her continued engagement in community outreach both within and outside of her program. We are proud to celebrate her - congratulations Mikayla! We see you and we are cheering you on! 

In addition, our board members wanted to do something special for a member who pours her heart and soul into SFBOTC. Nazarah, who previously served as Student Liaison and was newly elected as Vice President, was recognized for her tremendous contribution to the profession and our organization. She became the first recipient of the prestigious Nadia Aldridge Award. Nazarah acts as a great leader and mentor to others in the field. Dr. Nardia Aldridge believes that we should show recognition and appreciation for those who always contribute and Ms. Williams received her flowers. The Nardia Aldridge Award will now become a new tradition at our Black History Month Brunch to continue recognizing future OT/OTA practitioner leaders in our caucus. 

We also celebrated a special milestone — The SFBOTC turned 10 years old! Kudos to us! This organization continues to serve as an avenue for mentorship, fieldwork conversations, work-life balance conversations, and a community where OT students and practitioners can belong. We could not have reached this milestone without the dedication of our members and the support of everyone involved. A huge thank you to all who attended and contributed to making this celebration unforgettable. With a big attendance of our recipient's loved ones, many of our members, positive vibes, great meals, and gelato … this was a brunch to remember. We hope you can celebrate with us next year!

Kyrah Maduro OTD/S

February 27th 2025

December has been a busy month with awards and "firsts" for many of our members. We also welcomed a couple of new members along the way.

Student-Members Kyrah (NSU class Pi Theta Epsilon President) and Lydia both attended their first FOTA conference and volunteered with Dr. Nardia Aldridge for the Don Daley Annual Jamaica Medical Outreach trip. This was Dr. Aldridge's 7th outreach trip!

FOTA 2023 was a huge success! Many of our members either attended or actively contributed in a meaningful way. There were loads of presentations!

Additional December Excellence:

• Dr. Nardia Aldrigde received the FOTA Award of Recognition which, "pays tribute to remarkable efforts in advancing the recognition and advocacy of occupational therapy in Florida..." recognizing, "substantial contributions through active involvement with FOTA, dedication to OT education, and impactful advocacy."
• Lydia facilitated COTAD's networking event which focused on discussion of timely DEI topics. She was also nominated for the Stuey Award at NSU and accepted as an AOTA/AOTF Institute for Future Scientists in Occupational Therapy participant.
• Mikayla (NSU SOTA President) participated in her white coat ceremony, became part of the NSU Interprofessional Diabetes Education and Awareness Team and is the NSU PCHCS Interprofessional Representative.
• Akida received IRB approval for her capstone and became the Miami Ambassador for the social interest group, "Black in Rehab"
• Chauntel, co-founder of social interest group, "Black in Rehab" hosted her first medical outreach trip in Jamaica. The outreach was through another co-founded venture, "Mediluxe Escapes". Chauntel also got married!
• Kyrah participated in her white coat ceremony.
• Our Student Liaison Naz wrapped up the NBCOT and obtained her license.

We cannot wait to see what the new year has in store for our members and look forward to continued successes!

  

The holiday season is here. While it's often associated with joy and celebration, it's vital to recognize that it can be a challenging time for many.

Let's be mindful:

• Some may be missing loved ones during this season.
• Others may be facing financial or personal difficulties.
• Loneliness and stress can intensify for some individuals.
• During this time, let's extend our compassion:
• Reach out to friends and family who might need support.
• Offer a listening ear to those who wish to talk.
• Consider donating or volunteering to help those less fortunate.

Remember that it's perfectly okay to seek help if you're struggling.

Together, let's make the holiday season a time of kindness, understanding, and support for all.

"30 Days of Gratefulness, 30 Days of Giving"

This month, we are supporting Serving with GRACE with their food drive. The drive will run all November. Interested parties can drop-off at 2 locations - 1 in Broward, 1 in Miami - in addition to purchasing items through their Amazon wishlist.

Food Drive Link on Website - Click Here

Drop-off Details:

Broward: Grace's Closet, 2035 Harding Street, Suite 101, Hollywood, FL 33020

Tuesdays/Fridays - 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

Saturdays - 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Donation box will be in front of their door

Miami: Sun Life Title, LLC, 14400 NW 77th Court, Suite 200, Miami Lakes, FL 33016

​Drop off during regular business hours (MON - FRI 9 am - 5 pm)

Who you're supporting:

Serving with GRACE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2016 by husband and wife duo Kino and Evangeline Clarke. They are a fully volunteer-operated organization serving South Florida with an emphasis on Broward County.

Their mission is to help rebuild the lives of children, families and individuals experiencing economic challenges by providing essential items, household goods and clothing.

G.R.A.C.E. stands for Giving, Restoring, Aiding, Caring, and Empowering.

Did you know we have a job board available on our website? Tiers are available for 30, 60 and 90-day postings. Members can upload resumes.

Both members and non-members are invited to consider posting to help create a valuable resource to the OT community.

https://sfbotc.wildapricot.org/https/sfbotc.mcjobboard.net/jobs

This year, FOTA 2023 will be in St. Petersburg, FL at Nova Southeastern University from 11/4 - 11/5. The keynote speaker will be our very own (and very illustrious) Dr. Douglene Johnson, with the education topic of "Imagining an Evolved Occupational Therapy Profession."

SFBOTC Members will be participating in various presentations throughout the conference weekend. Keep an eye out for:

1. SC-22: Phenomenological Study Experiences of Black OT Students & Practitioners

2. SC-23: Supporting student success in Fieldwork: Considerations for diverse students

3. SC-157: Journals of Outkast: Using Hip Hop Prompts for Student Reflection in FW

4. WS-21: Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges: Cultivating Belonging for Black Students

5. WS-158: The Future of Occupation is Hip Hop: A Provocation

6. SP-25 (Nova Southeastern-Ft. Lauderdale): Identifying Trends for Students with Disabilities Accessing Services During Postsecondary Transition: A Literature Review

7. SP-78 (FAMU): The Examination of Psychological Distress in African American Female College Students

8. SP-79 (FAMU): The Perceived Effects of Stress and Anxiety on Student-Athlete Occupational Performance

9. SP-94 (FAMU): How Does Music Affect Stress and Anxiety in College Students?

10. SP-98 (FAMU): The Effects of Employment on the Autistic Adult Population

11. SP-99 (FAMU): Negative Effects and Struggles of Non-majority Student Population at Universities

12. SP-167 (Nova Southeastern - Fort Lauderdale) What are the experiences of patient and family faculty participating in a Patient and Family Engaged Care interprofessional educational experience?

(SP - student poster, SC - short course, WS - workshop)

Stop by to share educational material, engage in thought-provoking discussions and reconnect in person. Looking forward to seeing you all!

Our OT Unwind Event - Flights and Bites was a success! We connected with a few more of our members who made introductions, shared stories and offered insight on various topics such as mental health in the profession, resources for new grads, test-taking tips, yoga and meditation retreats and great restaurants :-)

From appetizer to dessert, Chef Judith Able left our mouths watering and our bellies filled. Swirl Wine Bistro lives up every bit to the hype which proceeds it and our server for the evening, Jamie, added the perfect amount of knowledge, razzle dazzle and good humor for the evening. We also engaged in a wine tasting with 4 flights of wines and education provided by wine master Mike.

Psst! Here are few September Member highlights. A round of applause and celebrations are in order for both of these brilliant members! Looking forward to seeing many great things continue to come from them!

Volunteer orientation was such a wonderful experience today! We met with volunteer coordinator Antonella Salerno and learned about all the amazing opportunities available for volunteers. We have the ability to go in the homes as well as joining or leading activities at the center. What do you think about a falls prevention class??

We are looking forward to being able to give back and serve the aging population and our community through Heart2Heart.

     

Look out everyone! Dr. Aldridge has obtained 2 more publications under her belt. The first article is listed in the Journal of Occupational Therapy Education's October edition -  "Belonging: A Phenomenological Study of Systemic Racism Experienced Among Black Students in Occupational Therapy Programs."

The second article was published in the Summer 2023 edition of The Peace Chronicle through the Peace and Justice Studies Association under title, "A Reflection on Black Occupational Therapy Students' Sense of Belonging," (pages 87-94) co-authored by Sierra Green, OTR/L and Chloe Hill, OTR/L. This article states that, "belonging addressed how the participants view how supported they are in occupational roles and their sense of connectedness and shared identity in the classroom or clinic. The lack of inclusivity and diversity in the profession led to Black occupational therapy (OT) students, practitioners, and educators lacking a sense of Belonging. This also contributes to them being unable to handle problems about systemic racism and difficulty connecting to others."

These topics and themes resonate well within the black community of OT practitioners and students. It demonstrates there is still a lot of work to be done to foster a feeling of inclusivity and create safe, diverse spaces for practitioners and students alike. We are happy to see representation in action within a publication and having the latitude to plainly speak about issues of race.

*image citation, Aldridge, N., Green, S., Hill, C. A reflection on black occupational therapy students' sense of belonging, 87-94.The Peace Chronicle. Peace and Justice Studies Association.