news briefs
New Addition to NWF Editorial Team
N
WF Natural Awakenings Magazine welcomes a new staff member this month, writer and editor, Kyla Stevens, of Niceville, FL. Growing up in the Panhandle, Stevens spent much of her childhood gardening with her grandmother, learning from an early age how to protect native plants and uproot invasives. In 2014, she graduated from the New College of Florida with an honors BA in American Literature after successfully publishing her senior thesis, “No Outside of Nature: An Investigation of EcopoetKyla Stevens ics.” Since then, she has written and edited hundreds of news and cover stories for print and online publications, including the Northwest Florida Daily News and The Verde Independent. Recently, Stevens completed a year-long excursion across the U.S. in a self-renovated RV, where she worked as a remote editor and copywriter. After personally observing the devastating effects of climate change in the American West, however, Stevens returned to her hometown with a newfound appreciation of its indigenous pine forests and crystal-clear aquifers, and a strong desire to help protect them. “It’s so important right now to support publications that provide honest stories about the people and places whose voices are often left out,” she says. “My commitment to my community is one founded on the belief that all of our stories matter, and that telling a good story connects us to the places we call home.” Follow Kyla Stevens on her blog TheRoadsidePoet.com or contact her by email at kyla@nwfnaturalawakenings.com.
“Where Knowledge & Skill Meet Skin” Specializing in: Anti-Aging • Hyperpigmentation • Acne Acne Scarring • Skin Irregularity Removal • Waxing Lash & Brow Tinting & Skintrenzixs Cosmetics 39 Years Esthetic Experience
Melissa Cundiff
Licensed Cosmetologist and Esthetic Instructor
Greg Cundiff
RN and Esthetician
Client Review
Melissa has been such a blessing! Thank you so much for making my skin look and feel so much better than how I come in! Everything is so perfect and pretty at Skintrenzixs! I always look forward to our appointments!
Monday-Thursday • 8am – 6:30pm By Appointment Only Text 205-718-2611 www.Skintrenzixs 10
Natural Awakenings of Northwest Florida
348 Miracle Strip Pkwy Suite 26 Fort Walton Beach www.NaturalAwakeningsNWF.com
Dr. Paige Spencer to Host Eco-Anxiety Talk
D
r. Paige Spencer, a doctor of psychology, will host “Climate Change and Mental Health: Strategies for Personal Wellbeing,” a presentation Paige Spencer on eco-anxiety at the Pensacola Public Library, on July 12, from 12 to 5:30 p.m. According to the American Psychological Association, eco-anxiety, or climate-anxiety, is defined as a “chronic fear of environmental doom.” In a recent study published by Nature Magazine, of 10,000 people aged 16 to 25, nearly 60 percent are “very worried,” or “extremely worried,” about climate change. The event is part of a regular discussion series sponsored by 350 Pensacola, the only climate-focused organization in northwest Florida, who has supported climate education along the Gulf since 2010. Spencer, a licensed clinical psychologist for eight years, will cover a variety of techniques for treating those who are anxious about environmental issues.
After graduating from FSU with a BA of Science in Psychology, Spencer went on to earn a Masters in Psychology from the Florida Institute of Technology. She currently serves as a psychological consultant for the Escambia County Medical Society. Spencer’s approach to healing the impacts of eco-anxiety is founded on the belief that all beings are interconnected on this Earth, and that the care of our local community, and planet, are an integral part of our personal journey toward well-being. This event is not sponsored or endorsed by the West Florida Public Libraries, or Escambia County. Location: Pensacola Public Library, 239 N. Spring St., Pensacola, FL. For more information, email 350pensacola@gmail.com.
