Mental Health Trainings and Book Discussion with Ahmed Hassan

85 Bedford Street,Portland ME 04101

12 December, 2022

Description

In Partnership with University of Southern Maine, Generational Noor, and COA, Gateway Community Services would like to invite you to please join us for a day with Ahmed Hassan, author of the new children’s book Fire and Ashes: A Boy and An African Proverb. Ahmed Hassan has a Master's degree from St. Mary's University of Minnesota and is currently a doctoral candidate at Minnesota State University, Mankato. He is a licensed therapist and a program director at Summit Guidance. His experience includes providing individual, group, and play therapy. He started Summit Guidance, which offers a variety of services including psychotherapy, assessment, CTSS, and ARMHS. Summit Guidance also provides school-based mental health services. Mr. Hassan worked at the Community University Healthcare Center as a mental health practitioner working with immigrants and refugee clients. He provides consultation to mental health providers and agencies that are working with East African clients. He recently provided training to all of Ramsey County’s Human Services personnel. Mr. Hassan was a co-facilitator of the lmam training project run by Fairview foundations for the past two years. He is currently a doctoral candidate at Minnesota State University and the author of the new book Fire and Ashes. Fire and Ashes, A Boy and an African Proverb, the debut story in a series of children’s picture books, brings the relevance of African proverbs to our modern world. ---------------------------------------EVENT------------------------------------------- Mr. Hassan will be presenting a paid training from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM at Talbot Auditorium, in USM’s Luther Bonney building. Following this training, he will be holding a FREE book discussion from 4:00 – 6:30 PM. Please see below for the schedule of events. AM Session: Cultural Conceptualizations of Illness: This session will explore cultural elements of experiencing mental illness and how this is perceived by immigrant communities. Mr. Hassan will discuss culturally appropriate ways to work with refugees and immigrants who are living with a mental illness or other condition affecting their well-being. PM Session: Mental Health in the Somali Culture: This session will be looking at how the Somali culture perceives mental health and how cultural values influence how mental health is discussed and managed. Somali proverbs will be used to further the exploration of how mental health is conceptualized by this population. This will lead the audience into the 4 PM book discussion. Book Discussion (free): 4:00 – 6:30 PM: Book Discussion focusing on Fire and Ashes, which centers on the story of Warfa, a Somalian refugee, who struggles to adapt to his new elementary school. Haunted by distressing memories, he turns to his grandmother and her sage African proverb: Ninna dab buu ka baqaa, ninna dambaas buu ka baqaa. One man fears fire; another man fears ashes. This picture book is a story, lesson, guide, and inspiration to all children, but especially to those dealing with trauma. This and future wisdom-rich African proverb stories are intended to expand the narrative of nonfiction inclusion in social and emotional learning.