💗FEATURED SPEAKER: Dr. Mekel Harris

Tuesday, May 12th, Dr. Harris will discuss BIPOC pet owners specific and unrecognized grief, the pressure to quickly move on and get a new pet and leave us with tips for ongoing preservation.

🎓 Dr. Mekel Harris received a B.A. in Psychology from Baylor University, M.A. in Psychology from Houston Baptist University, and a Ph.D. in Clinical/School Psychology from University of Houston. Further, she completed her pre-doctoral internship and two-year post-doctoral fellowship at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Since then, Dr. Harris has served in higher education, along with community- and hospital-based mental health programs. She currently works in private practice as a licensed psychologist and CEO of Harris Psychological Services, LLC, offering mental health support across the lifespan. She is also the co-founder of Bloomwell Partners, LLC, a consulting firm that equips corporate entities with the skills necessary to afford grief-informed leadership and care within the workplace.

Throughout the past decade, Dr. Harris has presented at >30 domestic and international conferences and has been interviewed on several podcasts, with topics ranging from grief and loss to community mental health and trauma. She has authored both a memoir, Relaxing Into the Pain: My Journey Into Grief & Beyond, and a forthcoming grief devotional, Riding the Waves: 52 Devotions to Anchor the Grieving Heart. Dr. Harris has also created The Grief Anatomy Toolkit and the Re-Imagining Life After Loss, Mindful Grieving, a therapeutic curriculum for coping with grief and loss.

💡 Dr. Harris has been featured as a mental health expert on FOX13 Memphis and has published articles in the Washington Post, Care.com, and SELF. Finally, she currently serves on the board of New Hope Christian Academy. In her personal time, Dr. Harris enjoys spending time with her family, traveling the globe, writing, volunteering in her community, and collecting all things butterflies.

🎙 Special Thanks to Maddie’s Fund @maddiesfund. Support like theirs allows us to provide speakers like Dr. Harris to attend our gathering. #thankstomaddie …

🔊 Data centers are built to run all day, every day, which also means 24/7 noise pollution.

But don`t be fooled by the low hum of the cooling systems and generators: data center noise pollution is harmful enough to create lasting impacts on our physical and mental health.

👂🏽 A 2026 study in Frontiers @frontiersin_ on the `Health implications of the rapid rise of data centers in Virginia` found that nearby residents are exposed to constant sound levels between 40 and 59 decibels. These levels can approach or exceed public health guidelines, especially in residential areas.

Long-term noise exposure is associated with hypertension, heart disease, sleep disruption, and stress-related conditions. For children, exposure above 55 dBA has also been linked to learning and concentration challenges.

💔 As data center development expands across the country, we must consider the long-term impacts of noise exposure on our communities.

💡 Visit the Frontiers website to read the full report:
"Health implications of the rapid rise of data centers in Virginia: an exploratory" assessment …

The Gathering was created to center the biggest hearts in our community, and that includes making this space more accessible to those who have historically been left out of these conversations.

🎫 BIPOC Tickets: $99

Includes:
• Welcome Night
• 2 Days of Mentorship Classes
• Professional Headshots
• Breakfast and Lunch (both days)
• Reception Night
• Games

💫 If you’ve been looking for a space to learn, connect, and be in community, this is your invitation!

💗 Extra Special Thanks to Maddie`s Fund @maddiesfund for making The Gathering possible.

#thankstomaddie #thegathering4 #caregathering #humananimalwellbeing …