2026 Spring Worksite Wellness Conference: Wired for Wellness
Friday, May 8 | 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Think of your brain as a complex circuit board. Everything works smoothly when the connections are strong. But when they’re overloaded or neglected, things start to glitch.
Find out how to get “wired for wellness” during MESSA’s 2026 Spring Worksite Wellness Conference.
During this virtual event, MESSA Health Promotion Consultant Rhonda Jones and wellness experts explore how nutrition, media consumption and mindful movement shape how you think, feel and function — for work and everyday life.
This free event takes place on Zoom starting at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 8. It’s designed to help MESSA members recharge, reconnect and power up healthy habits. MEA members in good standing can earn SCECH credit for attending this conference.
Sessions include:
Cooking for a Healthier Mind: Preparing Your Own Food Supports Mental Health
Presenter: Evelyn Stokes, professional chef
Home cooking can be a practical tool to support resilience. Chef Evelyn reframes cooking as a mental wellness skill: a way to reduce decision fatigue, practice mindfulness through hands-on, sensory work and build confidence through simple routines. You’ll learn easy kitchen workflow, smart shortcuts and foundational techniques. In real time, she’ll whip up one-pan rainbow veggie and chickpea power bowls with a lemon-garlic yogurt sauce, which pairs well with chicken and salmon.
Protecting Your Mental Health While Consuming Media
Presenter: Dr. Jeff Gardere, clinical psychologist
This empowering workshop will help you understand how constant exposure to news, social media and digital content affects the brain, emotions and overall well-being. Dr. Jeff will share practical strategies to limit harmful media intake, establish healthy psychological boundaries, and use media in ways that promote resilience, productivity and emotional balance.
Motion is Medicine: Movement, Mood & Mental Health
Presenter: Kristen Brogan, yoga instructor and movement specialist
Kristen Brogan brings her Motion Is Medicine message to MESSA members, showing how intentional movement directly supports brain health, mood and mental stamina. This session blends practical science with simple, realistic movement strategies and light, interactive moments designed to restore energy, lift mood, and support mental health.
Member spotlight
Presenters:
MESSA members from the Livonia Education Association and Zeeland Public Schools who spearhead local wellness efforts will share their successes to help inspire others to create wellness programs that work.