The Hamilton Edition

Author: Pamela Meredith Hamilton (Coach Pam)

"We all know the side effects of secondhand smoke. We've all seen the surgeon general’s warning. Oddly enough, we sometimes suffer not because of anything we have done on our own; it’s the stuff handed down by default that threatens to destroy us."
~ Secondhand Smoke, page 6

About the Book:
Secondhand Smoke is a call to action for its readers. This memoir was written with the hope of inspiring others to live and walk in their truths. Through my journey, I learned that brokenness—the very thing that threatened to destroy me—is what made me the most beautiful. My refusal to stay in a state of brokenness taught me the most valuable lesson: Hurting is optional, but healing is mandatory.

This story is not for pity or sympathy but as a reminder that not everything we endure is just for us. Sometimes, our brokenness becomes a beautiful light in someone else’s dark place. Read more

Pamela Meredith Hamilton knows the power that stories have to bring people together, so she didn’t need convincing to participate in the Dear World storytelling initiative at PCMA’s Education Conference, held in June in Los Angeles. Dear World is a social enterprise that helps communities, companies, and teams understand each other and work better together by encouraging them to share their personal stories. Read more

Excellence in Faculty/Staff Well-being: The University of Virginia’s Kultivate Konnection program, created by Pamela Meredith Hamilton, CEAP, and Arminda Perch, LCSW, provides a safe space that facilitates racial healing for persons of color through connection and shared experiences. This initiative fosters authenticity and kinship, uplifting participants in a welcoming and soulful environment. 

Your mental health, anxiety, and self-trust are often deeply intertwined. Anxiety can manifest as a persistent voice of doubt, questioning our decisions, abilities, and even our worth. It can create a barrier between who we are and who we aspire to be, challenging our confidence in navigating life. This article invites you to consider how we can best strike a balance between anxiety and self-trust. You'll find insights into their intersections and strategies for building a more trusting relationship with yourself. Read more

In the face of adversity, the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities have demonstrated remarkable resilience, drawing strength from cultural heritage and collective wisdom. The Poet Maya Angelou's immortal words, "But still, like air, I'll rise," echo the enduring spirit of these communities. However, beneath the surface of resilience, which BIPOC individuals have been forced to cultivate, lies a complex journey of a relationship with health and well-being. During BIPOC Health Month, I find it essential to explore a framework for nurturing healthy resilience so we can honor the wisdom of Maya Angelou—and rise, but this time, together.  Read more

One thing that makes UVA remarkable is our community's willingness to build bridges across Grounds. This happens in many ways every year, so much so that there is an annual award ceremony called Hoos Building Bridges that celebrates initiatives that bring together different parts of Grounds for a common goal. Read more