Posts Tagged “Community”

**Content warning: This is one person’s story; everyone will have unique experiences in recovery and beyond. Some stories may mention eating disorder thoughts, behaviors, and symptoms. Please use your discretion when reading and speak with your support system as needed.

Pam Sanderson Lyon lives in Durham, North Carolina, in a home full of animals, people, colored pencils, and half-filled journals.

I don’t know about you, but I have never needed encouragement to think more or live in my head.

“Dig in.”
“Analyze your every thought.”
“Stew on it.”

All unnecessary statements.

I never forget them. They come easy.

**Content warning: This is one person’s story; everyone will have unique experiences in recovery and beyond. Some stories may mention eating disorder thoughts, behaviors, and symptoms. Please use your discretion when reading and speak with your support system as needed.

A graduate of the University of Miami’s College of Engineering, Abbey Griffith (she/her/hers) is an Eating Disorder Recoveree, N.A.S.M. Certified Personal Trainer, and Certified Body Positive Facilitator. She owns Clarity Fitness, Georgia’s first body-positive, weight-inclusive, eating disorder-informed fitness studio, and has devoted her life to helping people of all ages, shapes, and sizes find a wellness routine they truly enjoy. Abbey sees the dangers that come from an obsession with fitness and nutrition, and believes it’s time for us to see our bodies in a positive, empowered way — regardless of the number on the scale.

Like many of us out there, I am sad to say that I grew up absolutely hating my body. Diet culture found me young and convinced me that smaller meant better, more lovable, more attractive, more worthy, and I desperately wanted all of the above. In a misguided attempt to try to mitigate some of these feelings, I began personal training sessions at a local fitness studio. Fortunately for me, my trainers were kind, funny, and made movement feel like hanging out with a friend. They’re a big reason I became a trainer myself.

The ongoing government shutdown—now the longest in U.S. history—has disrupted critical nutrition assistance programs. 

For the first time in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s (SNAP) 60-year history, benefits were not issued as scheduled on November 1st, impacting 42 million Americans. Federal action is underway to fund payments, but the timeline for distribution varies by state, and there’s no guarantee of SNAP funding in December if the shutdown continues. Support for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) also remains uncertain.

At The Emily Program, we recognize the serious implications of this crisis for our community. Eating disorders don’t discriminate by income, and many of the people we serve rely on SNAP, WIC, and other programs to meet their basic food needs. We know that sudden changes to food access can be particularly destabilizing for those working hard in eating disorder recovery, on top of the stress and hardship these gaps in benefits bring for everyone affected.

June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community and sexual and gender diversity. Members of the community and allies unite in pride and solidarity to recognize, honor, and uplift the voices of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer and/or questioning people.

As we honor the LGBTQIA+ community this month and beyond, we must also commit to better understanding and addressing the issues it faces. One such issue is eating disorders, which affect LGBTQIA+ people at disproportionately high rates.

In this article, we explore eating disorders in the LGBTQIA+ community and offer ways to support affected community members during Pride and throughout the year.

At Accanto Health, we are committed to fostering a culture of acceptance and respect for staff and clients alike. Our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Council, led by an EDI Advisory Council, guides us in upholding these values and enacting meaningful change within our organization and beyond.

Today, we are thrilled to highlight the passion of several members of our EDI Advisory Council. These staff, representing both The Emily Program and Veritas Collaborative brands, are at the forefront of the Council’s work to advocate for change, create safe spaces, amplify marginalized voices, and celebrate diversity and community. Their voices are a testament to the spirit of our EDI Council in action.

As we celebrate the second anniversary of the Juneteenth federal holiday, we recognize how the Black community continues to fight for true racial equity in America. Solidarity and action behind the observance of Juneteenth are crucial for dismantling the systemic injustices and oppressive cultural discriminations facing Black Americans.

In this blog, QuJane` Gordon-Gulley, LPCC-S, a therapist at The Emily Program’s Cleveland Outpatient treatment center, discusses Juneteenth’s historical and personal significance and shares stories illustrating the role that food freedom has played in shaping her culinary practices and connecting her with her heritage. QuJane`leaves us with a Sweet Potato Pie recipe inspired by longtime honored family traditions and ancestral guidance.

At The Emily Program, Veritas Collaborative, and our parent company Accanto Health, our care extends beyond eating disorders. We care for people—those we serve and those we work with. We share a firm belief that each person belongs here, understanding that diversity in identity, experience, and perspective is critical to our work. In our relationships with colleagues and clients, we value trust, respect, and a commitment to inclusion.

This commitment is a shared responsibility. Helping us ensure that our values are reflected in our practices and policies is Accanto Health’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Council. With staff from both The Emily Program and Veritas Collaborative, the EDI Council plays an essential role in advancing meaningful change both internally and externally.

Each June, members of the eating disorder community unite to recognize World Eating Disorders Action Day (WEDAD). People experiencing eating disorders firsthand, along with the friends, families, providers, researchers, and policymakers who support them, rally across the globe around a common goal of understanding, connection, and healing.

We invite you to join us this year. Here are five actions you can take today to support eating disorder awareness, education, and recovery.