How and Why Self-Care and Being a Caregiver is Changing in Black Communities with Debra Fields

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Saturday, November 22, 2025

Debra Fields joins guest co-host Tina Smith and host Ron Aaron to talk about how and why self-care and being a caregiver is changing in black communities on this edition of Caregiver SOS.

About Debra

Debra Fields was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is a graduate of Alverno College, where she earned a degree in Business Management and Professional Communication.

Before retiring, Debra dedicated nineteen years to Sojourner Family Peace Center, serving as a Community Education Coordinator and Domestic Violence Abuse Facilitator. During this time, she also contributed to the National Black Marriage Initiative and facilitated sessions for Compel, an organization focused on promoting healthy relationships.

Currently, she continues to lead Community Building Workshops for both the Community Building Institute of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Community Building Institute International. Her work includes collaborative facilitation efforts with European colleagues, with a primary focus on Community Building Skills Training.

After relocating to Arizona with her husband in 2020, Debra founded Black Women 65+ in 2023. The organization was born out of her commitment to amplifying the voices and relevance of older Black women. The group provides information, education, and opportunities for social engagement, with a strong emphasis on health as both self-care and caregiving.

Through this initiative, Debra partnered with Melanin Minded LLC (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) and Banner Sun Health Research Institute (Arizona) to host an in-home Community Outreach

Discussion. This event featured medical professionals and aimed to deepen understanding of dementia and its impact on caregiving.

Her work is driven by a commitment to intentional information sharing, educational programming, and fostering meaningful social connections—all in support of self-care and effective caregiving.

Hosts Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial, and their guests talk about Caregiving and how to best cope with the stresses associated with it. Learn about "Caregiver SOS" and the "Teleconnection Hotline" programs.