Dissonance is excited and grateful to welcome Hyedi Nelson as our newest board member. Hyedi is an account director specializing in health strategy at Bellmont Partners, a full-service communications and PR agency in Edina, Minnesota. Not only is she a communications and networking pro with experience in fundraising and events, but she also brings prior experience serving on the boards of Faith’s Lodge, the Minnesota Health Strategy and Communications Network, and Girls on the Run - Twin Cities. We are thrilled Hyedi has joined the team as a leader and ambassador for our mission to promote health and wellness in and through the arts, and we’re happy to introduce you to her in this Q&A …
How did you hear about Dissonance and what attracted you to the mission?
I first heard about Dissonance when Justin Courtney Pierre was donating proceeds from his My Girl Margot 7” to the organization. From there, I eventually connected with Dissonance Co-founder and Board Chair Sarah Souder Johnson on something related to one of the clients I was working with for my day job. I was immediately drawn to Dissonance because the organization is addressing, head on, such important needs within the creative arts community. I’m excited to join the Dissonance board because of my passion for health — and a special interest in mental health — as well as for the music and creative arts space.
You experienced the unimaginable grief of losing your firstborn child several years ago. What would you like to share about Charlie and how his loss has shaped you in the years since?
Losing Charlie completely fucked with my understanding of what the world was up until that point. After he died, absolutely nothing seemed to make sense anymore. I already had anxiety issues, but suddenly I was constantly on edge – because, like…my baby died. Any other “worst-case scenario” seemed not only possible now, but constantly imminent. And then, unfortunately, this experience was followed by another major trauma in my life with the death of my father a couple of years later. It’s an ongoing process of healing and grieving, but these experiences have definitely led to a shift in my mindset of what’s truly important and what’s not really that big of a deal.
EDITOR’S NOTE: In 2020, Hyedi channeled her grief into advocacy by organizing the Concert for Charlie, which raised funds and awareness to help others who experience child loss.
What role has music and/or other art played in your life?
Music was almost a profession for me – not as a performer, but I went to college wanting to work in the music industry. I ultimately decided to go in a different direction, but music has still continued to be a mainstay in my life. Going to see live music is probably my favorite thing in the entire world. I like bringing live music home, too, and hosted three concerts in my backyard last summer (Jeremy Messersmith, Chris Koza and Stephen Kellogg). Music has been one of the ways I’ve made a lot of meaningful connections with some pretty incredible people.
If therapy or peer support (aka mutual aid) have been a part of your life experience, in what ways have either or both been helpful?
I don’t know where I’d be without therapy. Therapy has been a part of my life since early adulthood and I sing its praises to anyone who’ll listen. I recently embarked on a new chapter in my therapy journey, making a shift from mostly psychotherapy to adding in some “somatic” work, which has been an extremely helpful experience so far. My mental health struggles tend to manifest in an extremely physical way, so the mind-body connection that is the focus of this kind of therapy makes a lot of sense to me.
What positive experiences have you had with sobriety?
My personal experience with sobriety has been pretty limited so far, and it’s a journey that I’m still exploring as I figure out the right path for me. Even so, the benefits I’ve experienced so far have been honestly remarkable. It’s a long list, but the two benefits that have had the biggest impact on my life are a significant decrease in anxiety and an ability to be more present. I’m not sure what my long-term journey will look like, but it’s clear my relationship with alcohol will be different than what it’s been for the past two decades of my life.
How have you experienced or witnessed stigma associated with mental health and/or substance use issues?
I was adopted when I was six months old and grew up in rural Wisconsin. I didn’t realize it then, but mental health and substance use issues were something I grew up around. Both issues simply weren’t talked about – and definitely not addressed until they became so acute, or severe, they were unavoidable, such as when they contributed to the death of one of the most important people in my life.
We understand you play a variety of instruments. Which ones, and which is your favorite?
I play the flute, guitar and piano. Of those, I’m most proficient at the flute, but I’ve really been enjoying the piano as of late!
How do you stay well?
Movement, sleep and meds. I’m not the runner that I used to be, but I’ve been finding a ton of joy recently in incorporating movement into my day vs. always needing to exercise vigorously. I vary it up more now. Things like yoga, walking, lifting weights, cross-country skiing, kayaking, stand-up paddle-boarding – they all keep me feeling good. And I love sleep. I firmly believe I’m one of those people who require more sleep than most, so as I’ve gotten older, I’ve been working hard to really try and honor that and get as much of it as possible. Finally — for me, personally, medication is also a necessary component of my wellness!
