Dr. Rebecca Shasanmi Ellis joins Resiliency Within to explore how we can mobilize models of care that strengthen resilience, promote health equity, and advance Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision of The Beloved Community across the life span. Drawing on her expertise as a community mental health nurse and a Community Resiliency Model (CRM)® Teacher, Dr. Ellis brings a grounded, systems-level perspective on how social and structural determinants of health shape individual and community well-being.

She has taught nurses and other clinical, public health, and social service providers how to manage their own psychological stress while sharing practical resiliency skills that support more equitable, patient-centered care in both facility-based and community settings. Her wisdom is informed by nearly two decades of work in health systems readiness for maternal and child health—globally and domestically—including her current work with communities in Washington, DC.

Notably, in 2014, Dr. Ellis served as project manager for a $9 million USD World Health Organization initiative in Nigeria, addressing critical frontline reproductive health workforce shortages during the Ebola crisis. In this conversation, she reflects on lessons learned from global and local contexts, and how resilience-informed, community-centered approaches can foster healing, hope, and connection in times of both crisis and renewal.

________________

About Our Guest:

Rebecca Shasanmi Ellis, PhD, MS, MPH, BSN, RN is an Assistant Professor at Georgetown University's Berkley School of Nursing. Her long-term research agenda focuses on the intersections of health workforce and health systems development, mental health, and structural determinants of health, with the goal of reducing health disparities in underserved and resource-limited communities globally.

With more than 20 years of experience as a field-trained health professional, Dr. Ellis brings deep expertise in program management, implementation science, and interprofessional education across research, clinical practice, health system strengthening, and policy. This multidisciplinary background uniquely positions her to design, lead, and evaluate complex, collaborative programs that bridge nursing, public health, and global health practice.

Dr. Ellis currently serves as Chair of the Public Health Nursing (PHN) Section of the American Public Health Association(APHA) and is a member of the Council of Public Health Nursing Organizations. Prior to joining Georgetown, she was an instructor at Emory University beginning in 2018. She also provided direct patient care as a registered nurse in mental health and women's health settings at SisterLove, Inc.—the first Black women–led HIV organization in the U.S. South—and at Our House Health (formerly CAPN Clinics), delivering care within homeless shelters in Atlanta, Georgia.

Since 2014, Dr. Ellis has also served as a research collaborating consultant with the Center for Patient Safety at the University of Sao Paulo College of Nursing in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, contributing to international efforts to advance patient safety, workforce development, and equitable health systems.

Kelly and Miguel open their hearts as they reflect on the life and death of their daughter, Adelaide, who lived with epilepsy and a rare neurodegenerative brain condition. As Adelaide's terminal diagnosis unfolded, Kelly was a full-time caregiver and advocate for her daughter and mother to her older son, Jackson, while Miguel balanced the demands of the stage with the journey of Adelaide's illness unfolding at home. Together, they protected the bond at the center of their family.

This episode is about bearing witness, honoring love, and learning how two people can grieve differently yet still reach for one another while caring for their two children with very different needs. This episode is for anyone who has loved deeply, lost profoundly, and wondered whether connection is still possible after everything has changed. A powerful testament to resilience, devotion, and the courage it takes to keep choosing love—amidst the asteroids.

_____________________________

About Our Guests:

MIGUEL CERVANTES recently wrapped up his time playing Alexander Hamilton in the Broadway and Chicago productions after almost eight years and 2013 performances.

Other Broadway credits include IF/THEN, AMERICAN IDIOT, and 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE. A few of his TV credits include LAW & ORDER SVU, PERSON OF INTEREST, MADAME SECRETARY, and THE BLACKLIST.

Miguel grew up in Dallas, TX, and received a BFA in Musical Theater from Emerson College. His favorite roles have been "Daddy" to Jackson, Anessa, Adelaide, and husband to superhero wife Kelly.

...

KELLY CERVANTES is an award-winning writer, speaker, and advocate best known for her blog Inchstones and her USA Today bestselling book, Normal Broken: The Grief Companion for When It's Time to Heal But You're Not Sure You Want To.

She has been published in the Chicago Tribune, Cosmopolitan, and Fortune as well as featured by MSNBC, New York Times, and CNN.

She sits on the boards of CURE Epilepsy and The Undiagnosed Diseases Network Foundation and hosts CURE Epilepsy's podcast, Seizing Life.

Born and raised in the Midwest, Kelly now resides in Maplewood, New Jersey, with her family. Her latest book, The Luckiest: A Memoir of Love, Loss, Motherhood, and the Pursuit of Self, was published in November by Ben Bella Books.

After moving from a conservative Midwestern suburb to New York City to pursue an acting career, Kelly Cervantes never could have imagined what life had in store for her—or how much she would fundamentally change along the way.

Now, in her memoir The Luckiest, Kelly shares the experiences that shaped who she is today—the pain of unrealized dreams, navigating her husband Miguel's Broadway spotlight, fighting for their child's life, finding purpose after loss, and rebuilding her life and marriage.

Throughout her wildly unpredictable journey, she has reflected on the role luck has played in her life, both good and bad. "Are we lucky if we escape life with soft skin and minimal layers," she asks. "Or are we lucky to have the battle scars that show a life of survival and meaning?"

As we begin 2026, Elaine Miller-Karas, the host of Resiliency Within, airs an encore podcast with Aziza Hasan, Executive Director, and Andrea Hodos, Associate Director of New Ground, a nonprofit dedicated to bridging divides and convening constructive conversations around challenging social issues.

New Ground envisions what is possible in a world deeply divided which is as pertinent today as it was when first aired. They will share their wisdom on how New Ground envisions an America where Muslims and Jews are empowered to create lasting partnerships and engage in authentic communication and mutual cooperation.

This vibrant model of engagement – not bound by history, theology, or politics – affirms that conflict is inevitable and yet not intractable. NewGround empowers Muslims, Jews, and allies to bridge divisions and leverage shared values to strengthen our communities' well-being and our fragile democracy.

NewGround is a community-building organization that creates, connects, and empowers Jewish and Muslim Change-makers in America.

Through a professional fellowship, high school leadership council, and public programming, NewGround transforms Muslim-Jewish relations and advances a shared agenda for change. They will share what we need to do differently to bring about lasting change.

Carla Cavlcanti and Kim Aasland will share how they help their respective churches live beyond their walls. They both believe in being a compassionate presence woven into the daily life of the neighborhoods they serve. There is the belief that "A truly missional church steps outside its sanctuary and into the streets, homes, and gathering places where people live, work, and struggle." They are called not only to preach love but to embody it—through presence, partnership, and practical support.

During a disaster, this calling becomes even more urgent. Churches are often among the first to respond, offering safety, resources, and emotional and spiritual care when the ground beneath a community has literally or figuratively shifted. They both have had the opportunity to stand with survivors in their grief, their uncertainty, and their rebuilding—to be a source of stability, compassion, and hope. Loving people well in a disaster means listening deeply, showing up consistently, and offering whatever they can: food, space, comfort, care, connection, and the assurance that no one walks this road alone. We welcome them to Resiliency Within where they will share their reflections as we approach the holiday season.

Carla Cavalcanti is a Community Pastor at Vintage Church Pasadena, devoted to loving people toward Jesus and cultivating meaningful community. A Liberty University graduate with a background in Theater Production, she brings a behind-the-scenes dedication to making things happen.

Originally from the East Coast, Carla has lived in California for six years. A survivor of the Eaton Fire—after losing her Altadena home—she stepped into a central leadership role in Vintage's fire-relief efforts and brings deep empathy, strength, and firsthand understanding to those she supports.

Fierce, extroverted, and community-minded, Carla is a natural connector, a devoted dog mom to Winston, and someone who thrives in authentic conversation. She values relationships deeply and considers it an honor to walk alongside people with compassion, presence, and hope.

Kim Aasland is an Altadena resident, Eaton Fire survivor, and the Fire Response Coordinator at Epicentre Church. Her life has been defined by movement, resilience, and a deep commitment to community. Raised across the Arctic Circle, Turkey, Nigeria, and Italy, Kim developed a global perspective shaped by constant adaptation.

She holds a BA in Sociology/Anthropology from Carleton College and an MA in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota. Kim spent sixteen years in Kazakhstan teaching history and religion while raising her four children. Now rooted in California, she has served as both a history teacher and school administrator.

In her role at Epicentre Church, Kim is dedicated to supporting fire survivors and helping her community heal and rebuild with compassion and strength.

For four decades, Ellen Bassuk has navigated the worlds of psychiatry, advocacy, and motherhood—shaped by her son Daniel Schoonover's lifelong struggle with mental illness, especially schizophrenia.

Between Two Worlds is their deeply personal memoir, chronicling Daniel's journey through a broken health care system, an ill-equipped educational system, and the parenting challenges that came with it.

Ellen Bassuk and Daniel Schoonover, mother and son, will share their journey together.

From early childhood, Daniel's developmental milestones were atypical, leading to hospitalizations, rejections from institutions unable to see beyond diagnoses, and even expulsions from school. As a single mother and medical professional, Bassuk fought to protect her son from systems that prioritized efficiency over humanity, forging an alternative path that allowed Daniel to reclaim his life.

Drawn from hospital and school reports, first-hand accounts, as well as a graphic description of Daniel's inner experience, Between Two Worlds offers an unflinching look at the impact of systems that marginalize vulnerable people.

Bassuk calls for a transformation in mental health care—one that embraces recovery principles and person-centered approaches focused on relationships, empathy, and individual needs.

Now close to forty years old, Daniel has found independence, purpose, and community. Their story is a beacon of hope and a call to action—urging a shift from institutionalization to connection, from labels to lived experience, and from stigma to compassion.

Between Two Worlds is a powerful memoir for individuals, parents, families, caregivers, professionals, and advocates seeking hope, guidance, and reform in the face of mental illness and systemic injustice.

Dr. Peggy Ward and Sister Peace join Resiliency Within to share the wisdom and poems of Dr. Larry Ward.

In this conversation, Dr. Peggy Rowe-Ward reflects on the life and legacy of Dr. Larry Ward and his first poetry collection, Morning Night. She explores how Larry understood poetry—reading it, writing it, and living it—as a powerful form of spiritual practice.

As a true great sound and one of the few Black Dharma teachers in his tradition, Larry was a trailblazer who bridged Buddhist and Christian lineages and broke through cultural and spiritual barriers with depth, humor, and clarity.

This session invites listeners into the spirit of Morning Night and the way Larry's words continue to guide us home. His book, Morning Night, was his first published collection of poems, where he explored race, nature , and spirit, woven with messages of hope, justice, and belonging. Sister Peace will lend her voice to his eloquent poetry.

Dr. Larry Ward transitioned from this life in August 2025. His grounded presence and deep insight helped many people worldwide through challenging moments with compassion and clarity, planting seeds of understanding.

Dr. Peggy Rowe Ward, Larry's wife, was in partnership in love and work—two luminous teachers whose shared vision blossomed through their work at the Lotus Institute. Having also trained at the Trauma Resource Institute, Larry's understanding of both trauma healing and mindfulness made him a bridge between worlds—the spiritual and the scientific, the personal and the collective. His life was a testament to compassion in action, and his teachings continue to ripple outward, touching countless hearts with the deep sound of love and wisdom.

His poems reflect his deep connection to the wonder within all of us. You can learn more about his work under the leadership of Dr. Peggy Rowe Ward. https://www.thelotusinstitute.org.