Advisory Board

Health and Wellness

J’aime Morrison

J’aime Morrison Ph.D. is a Professor of Movement and Performance at California State University, Northridge. J’aime has worked nationally and internationally with students, actors, professionals and communities as a movement coach, dance instructor and choreographer helping individuals to develop eloquent, expressive bodies through which to communicate and heal. She holds a Ph.D. in Performance Studies from New York University and she was a Dance major as an undergraduate student at UCLA. In 2010 she was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to Portugal in the area of Theatre Movement. Recently J’aime made a short film, Upwell, as a way of processing her grief over the death of her husband Jim from brain cancer in 2015.  The film has been accepted to several film festivals and won Best Cinematography from the 2020 Experimental Dance and Music Film Festival. J’aime is an Associate member of Women in Film  and hopes to make her next film soon. Before the Corona-virus pandemic J’aime was scheduled to co-host a grief/surf retreat in Costa Rica in collaboration with TwoCan Retreats. The retreat is on hold, but J’aime is excited to be offering her “movement for grief” workshops for the members of Hope for Widows. J’aime plans to lead a series of workshops for Hope for Widows Foundation that put mourning in motion through moving meditations, gentle stretching and an intuitive embodied practice. Using healing images of water – the ocean and its waves, we will engage with both the undertow – the sorrow of losing a loved one, and the upwell – the swell of emotion and promise of new energy in our lives. Grief really does come in waves and we must learn to ride them – join her as we learn to dance the waves. This embodied approach to grief work will invite you to explore your physical and emotional experience of loss and help move you towards the expression of your experience in this non-verbal, cathartic way. These workshops are appropriate for those in any phase of the grief process and for those who want to deepen their exploration of the sea as a source of healing and transformation. In 2009 J’aime’s husband Jim was diagnosed with a brain tumor. They welcomed their daughter Flora into the world amidst chemo treatments, radiation and surgery. Jim, a former athlete, gradually lost his ability to walk but he stayed alive long enough to see his daughter ride a bike and go on painting outings together. Even though they lived with the knowledge that Jim wouldn’t make it, his loss hit J’aime very hard and she has struggled deeply with his absence. In creating dance and film and sharing these passions with others, J’aime hopes she can make a positive contribution to this wonderful Hope Sister Community.

Shannon Biancamano

Shannon Biancamano is an entrepreneur, advocate, dedicated wife and mother of four children, aged 10 to 17. Since 2019, she has taken on the responsibility of homeschooling her three younger children, tailoring their education based on principles from “The Call of the Wild and Free” by Ainsley Arment, emphasizing the freedom and individualization in home education. Shannon’s approach focuses on the “why” rather than the “how,” particularly for her special needs and gifted learners.

In addition to their dedication to homeschooling, Shannon and her family actively participate in philanthropy, instilling the spirit of giving at the core of their family values. Taking the lead in the sunshine boxes program for the Hope for Widows Foundation holds a special place in Shannon’s heart, offering crucial support to those who have lost a loved one and may be grappling with feelings of isolation. Shannon sees this volunteer opportunity as a way to impart to her children the significance of supporting individuals at various stages of life, especially families dealing with loss. This endeavor is not only significant to her; it also allows Shannon to contribute her unique blend of creativity and crafting, considering these aspects as both strengths and passions. For Shannon, volunteering to craft sunshine boxes for the Hope for Widows Foundation is not merely a duty but an honor, seamlessly aligning with her family’s compassionate values and caring nature.