Care Cafe staff, DRIP SWEAT instructors , and guests

  By Kimberly Moore Director, Care Café On May 23, 2022, ’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work Care Café joined Kilsy Hidalgo of Long Live Our Butterfly (LLOB), a domestic violence prevention organization, to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month at DRIP SWEAT Community Fitness Center in Washington Heights, New York. Drip Sweat’s Owner, Janice Rodriguez, welcomed LLOB and Care Café, to support a full day of member outreach onsite. Jointly, Care Café and LLOB provided individual and group psychoeducation presentations introducing the symptoms of mental illness, resources for treatment for adults and families, and supportive listening for those who wanted to share privately. Kilsy Hidalgo of LLOB, offered an inspirational story about her family’s tragic loss as a result of domestic violence and reminded us of the importance of observation and inquiry and quickly connecting to support as a means of prevention. Other information included a review of tips and strategies for improved emotional health, stress management, PPE, and in-home COVID tests. The capstone event was held at 7 p.m., where a special free Candle Lit Yoga class was conducted for community members.  With a packed house, the evening’s Yoga Instructor, Nicole, provided guided meditation and movement class. From the lavender aromatherapy to the flickering of the candles thoughtfully positioned by Janice in the group workout space, the serene environment of DRIP SWEAT created a space of solitude. You could almost hear a pin drop!     After class, the group members emerged from the candle lit space refreshed and ready for fellowship. Swag bags included a delicious fresh-squeezed fruit juice made at the DRIP SWEAT juice bar. Other reference materials about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Suicide Awareness prevention along with adult stress relief coloring books, journals, and motivational water bottles were distributed.     A very special Thank You Team Butterfly and Team DRIP SWEAT for your ongoing commitment and for such a fun and transformative evening. We look forward to our next venture together! Learn more about and reach out to Kilsy at at . For additional resources and support, feel free to reach out to the Care Café team at carecafe@yu.edu or 646.592.6827. Be Well!