Felica Turner-Walton (she, her, hers)
I am a wife and a mother of five. In my professional life, I am a Certified Grief Specialist, PAILAdvocate, and Certified Grief Educator. I am also a Full Spectrum Doula, Bereavement Doula and End of Life Doula.
Get to know Felica better
What are some of the things you enjoy most in life? What keeps you inspired, re-charged, and brings you joy?
The most important and enjoyful thing in life for me is my family. That’s birth and extended. The one thing that brings me joy is community, being able to help others and getting the same help and love in return. I feel inspired by the work that is being done for the betterment of the community as a whole.
When you look back over your whole life – What experiences have shaped you as a woman? and how?
My experiences in the rural South shaped me into the woman I am today. I was raised in and at a time the South was evolving. Having to experience to many different levels of racism you learned immediately that you work for what you want and never give up.
What are some of your practices of resilience? Who did you learn this from? and How are these helpful in times of challenge?
Listen more and talk less, one of my grandmother’s favorites. Facing my fears and forgiveness. To error is human. Forgiveness is a human quality.
When you think of your life journey unfolding, Who do you see yourself becoming?
My life’s journey that is unfolding is beautiful and momentous. After such a traumatic experience with the loss of my son Zaire, I see myself becoming a wealth of information and experience for those who I purposely have been led to support.
What is your vision for Madison?
Companionship amongst a human collective so that we can have a true human experience through love, healing and hope.
How do you see you can contribute to creating the city you visualize?
By living in my truth, honoring and holding non-judgmental space for people I am connected with and to make space for those who are coming.
Please share about your Amplify Madison journey – What did your team worked on and how was your experience collaborating with each other? What did you personally learn and how is impacting who you are becoming?
I’d like to personally thank YWCA-Amplify for this opportunity. Hope and Healing was able to connect with Black and Brown families in grief and loss. One of the many things that I learned is COVID-19 caused mass grief and loss in our community both physically and mentally. We were able to connect with and provide support financially and emotionally to over 20 individuals. We also provided “Headed towards Healing” kits families in loss containing a multitude of items from small black business owners. This experience has helped shape me into becoming the CEO of a grief organization who is a part of the work and not an expert in the work.
What are you currently offering in the community and how can people connect with you and your work?
For more information and to connect with Felica´s work, follow her in Instagram: @Hoh_wi, Facebook: @OurHearts1022, Twitter: @HOHFoundationWI.
Email Felica at: info@healingourhearts.net, or visit Healing Our Hearts Foundation website.
Madison Community Foundation announces $75k grant.
Amplify Madison, will build skills, voice, and visibility for women in the nonprofit community, with an emphasis on increasing opportunities for women of color.