Well aware of the challenges students face stemming from issues including stress, anxiety and depression, which can often hamper one’s academic and career success, this October the College of the Canyons Body Mind Wellness (BMW) Coalition will host its fall Community Resource Fair.

The festivities will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1 in the COC Honor Grove, located on the college’s Valencia Campus. The fair will serve as a kick-off event for a series of personal health seminars being hosted by the BMW Coalition throughout October and November.

Fair attendees will have an opportunity to enjoy free food, games, a fashion show and live music courtesy of 97.1 Amp Radio. Additionally, those present will have the chance to interact with various local businesses and campus groups devoted to positive and healthy living in the community.

“The focus of this semester’s resource fair is resiliency and how to overcome various challenges to our well being such as domestic violence, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, drug and alcohol abuse and other physical, mental and social health problems,” said Sheri Barke, sports and wellness dietitian at the COC Student Health Center and one of the event organizers.

Most importantly, the fair will help inform students and community members about the upcoming seminar series being presented this semester. An array of topics and issues related to drugs and alcohol, domestic violence, body image, stress and healthy coping, and veterans’ issues will be highlighted. A full list of upcoming seminar dates/times is listed below:

·      Sports Nutrition with COC’s Registered Dietitian

Sheri Barke

12:30-1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18

Mentry Hall, Room 343

·      Clothesline Project ­– Create a T-shirt for COC Display

(Held at the Domestic Violence Center of Santa Clarita, located at 23780 Newhall Ave.)

11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20

·      Mental Health First Aid

Janis Pastor, Child & Family Center

8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27

University Center, Room 207

·      Drugs & Alcohol

Hosted by Recovery Specialists from Action Family Counseling

6-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2

University Center, Room 258

·      Domestic Violence

Speaker from Domestic Violence Center of SCV

12:30-1:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6

Mentry Hall, Room 343

·      Domestic Violence Center of SCV Purple Walk of Strength

Expo at 8 a.m., walk at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11

COC track and trails

·      Body Image Film/Discussion

Registered dieticians Sheri Barke and Nina Gasow

2-4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16

Mentry Hall, Room 343

·      Operation Healthy Vet Seminar

Renard Thomas, COC Director of Veteran Affairs

12:30-1:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10

Mentry Hall, Room 343

·      Mindfulness & Well-Being

Farnaz Kadi, Marriage and Family Therapist

12:30-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19

Mentry Hall, Room 343

The Community Resource Fair and all scheduled seminars are free and open to the public.

For more information about the upcoming Community Resource Fair or seminar series please visit www.canyons.edu/bmw or contact Sheri Barke at (661) 362-3244.