Healing Starts Here. For Antigua and Barbuda.

The Wadadli Healing Symposium is a two-day, culturally grounded event bringing together mental health practitioners, parents, young people, and community leaders to build practical tools for healing — rooted in the realities of Antiguan and Barbudan life.

Hosted by the Jane E. Toussaint Foundation | 6–7 October 2026

Registration closes 8 October 2026, or when 350 registrations are received — whichever comes first.

The challenge our communities face

Across Antigua and Barbuda, the weight of historical trauma, fractured family structures, and limited access to culturally relevant mental health support continues to shape the lives of individuals and communities. Many are searching for answers. In the rare cases when they do find resources, such resources were likely not designed with them in mind.

Mental health practitioners lack spaces for advanced, culturally grounded professional development. Fathers and male figures feel disconnected from conversations about family wellbeing. Young people are navigating pressures without the frameworks to understand or address them. Parents are trying to support their children without the tools to do so effectively.

The gap between need and support is real. And it is time to close it.

A symposium built for this moment

The Wadadli Healing Symposium is the Jane E. Toussaint Foundation's answer to that gap. Over two transformative days, practitioners, parents, youth development professionals, and community members will come together to explore healing through the lens of Antiguan and Barbudan culture — not borrowed frameworks, but approaches that speak directly to lived experience here.

Day 1 opens with a keynote address by Dr. Joy DeGruy, internationally recognised scholar and author of Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome, whose work on historical trauma and African American well-being has reshaped how communities around the world understand their own pain — and their own resilience.

Day 2 moves into focused, concurrent sessions tailored to each audience: mental health practitioners, male engagement participants, youth development professionals, young people, and parents.

The Wadadli Healing Symposium is a seed and not the fruit. Our team of talented resource persons will sow within you seeds which — with our collective nurturing — will produce tools and techniques for individual and community healing.

What you will take away

• A deeper understanding of historical trauma and how it continues to shape mental health, family dynamics, and community wellbeing in Antigua and Barbuda
• Practical, evidence-informed tools that you can apply immediately — whether in your practice, your home, or your community work
• Culturally grounded perspectives that centre Pan African identity, not generic frameworks developed elsewhere
• Direct engagement with Dr. Joy DeGruy, one of the most important voices in the field of trauma-informed, community-based healing
• Connection with a community of peers — practitioners, parents, and leaders who share your commitment to change

Event details

Dates: 6–7 October 2026

Location: University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus

Investment: Your Time and an Open Mind

Day 1 — Opening Ceremony and Keynote Address by Dr. Joy DeGruy

Day 2 — Concurrent Morning Sessions, Lunch, and Afternoon Sessions

About the Jane E. Toussaint Foundation

The Jane E. Toussaint Foundation Inc. is a community and youth development organization dedicated to igniting potential across Antigua & Barbuda. We create pathways for young people to grow through education, wellness, sports, and the arts—strengthening the ecosystems that support them.

Inspired by the legacy of Jane E. Toussaint Inc. our work is guided by a belief in dignity, compassion, and practical support—helping talent emerge, and ensuring communities have the tools to thrive.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the Wadadli Healing Symposium for?

The Symposium welcomes mental health practitioners, parents and guardians, youth development professionals, male engagement participants, and members of the general public in Antigua and Barbuda. We are also extending a special invitation for youths aged 15 to 24 to join us to co-create their healing journeys. Concurrent sessions on Day 2 are designed to meet each audience where they are.

Do I need to attend both days?

No. You are welcome to register for Day 1, Day 2, or both. During registration, you will be asked to indicate your planned days of attendance and select the concurrent sessions most relevant to you. However, we strongly recommend that you join us on Day 1 when Dr. DeGruy will lay down the foundation upon which our healing superstructure will be built during the various sessions on Day 2. Therefore, we highly recommend that you make arrangements to attend both days.

What concurrent sessions are available on Day 2?

Morning sessions include Mental Health Practitioners and Male Engagement. Afternoon sessions include Youth Engagement, Youth Development, and Parent Engagement. You will select your preferred sessions during registration.

Is the event accessible?

We are committed to making the Symposium accessible to all attendees. During registration, you will have the opportunity to share any accessibility or dietary requirements, and our team will follow up accordingly.

How will I receive event updates after registering?

Once you register, you will receive a confirmation email followed by a series of communications covering event details, a spotlight on Dr. Joy DeGruy's keynote, session-specific preparation, and day-of logistics — so you arrive informed and ready.

When does registration close?

Registration closes on 8 October 2026, or as soon as the 350-person capacity is reached — whichever comes first. Early registration is strongly encouraged.

Take your place at the table

Healing is not passive. It requires knowledge, community, and the courage to engage honestly with our history and our future. The Wadadli Healing Symposium offers all three.

Spaces are limited. Secure yours today.

Register Now

Registration deadline: 8 October 2026. Maximum capacity: 350 people. Registration may close earlier if capacity is reached.

Please submit once. To change an existing registration, email info@janetoussaintfoundation.org rather than registering again.

Before you complete the form

Please complete all required fields marked with an asterisk. Kit records first and last names separately so that your confirmation can be addressed correctly.

Photography & Videography Notice

Photography and videography will take place during the Wadadli Healing Symposium. Images and recordings may be used in event coverage, social media, publications, and other communications produced by the Jane E. Toussaint Foundation and its partners. If you do not wish to have your image or likeness captured, indicate this in the form and notify a member of the organising team upon arrival.

Data Privacy Notice

Your information will be used only to manage your registration, communicate event updates, and—where you opt in—share relevant support resources. It will be kept confidential and will not be shared with third parties without your consent. You may request access to, correction of, or deletion of your information by contacting the organising team.

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After selecting Submit Registration, wait for the green confirmation message. If it does not appear, your registration was not completed—the form will return you to the first required field that still needs attention.