Navigating Financial, Legal, and Emotional Challenges

Experience the Event

Presented by

Thursday, June 19, 2025 12:00 pm

As our society faces the emotional, financial, professional, and spiritual pressures of caring for aging or sick parents, spouses, young children or other loved ones, many in our Notre Dame community may need support and a practical roadmap forward. Caregivers are often tasked with making significant financial, legal, and medical decisions when caring for an aging loved one. Listen in to a conversation with Edward Augustine ’87, Zesha Holyfield ’01, James Riley ’94, and Rochelle Valsaint ’95 about essential topics like protecting your loved ones’ assets, navigating long-term care options, and understanding the general legal tools that are at your disposal in consultation with your own private licensed counsel in your local jurisdiction, such as trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives, as well as balancing the emotional journey of caregiving with the practicalities of managing finances and general estate planning.

Join the Black Alumni of Notre Dame for Caregiving with Dignity to:

• hear Domer caregiver stories,
• gain insight on caregiver mental health and wellness issues,
• get tips on financial and legal issues to consider when creating a caregiving plan for your loved one or yourself,
• navigate cultural concerns around making challenging care decisions,
• explore  how to preserve generational family history and wisdom, and
• learn how to develop an all-hands-on-deck/nobody-left-out family caregiver approach.

Caregiving with Dignity is co-sponsored on ThinkND by the Notre Dame Initiative on Race and Resilience.

Meet the Moderator: James Riley '94

Dedicated to the principle that serving others is a cornerstone of impact, James Riley ’94 is the Senior Director of Internal Engagement, Diversity & Inclusion within the Development Department at the University of Notre Dame. In this role, he leverages extensive experience gained from his previous tenure as a Regional Director of Development at the University, where he fostered meaningful relationships with the Notre Dame community. James’s diverse professional background also includes significant contributions in university admissions (ND) and a decade in the pharmaceutical and medical device sales sectors. A 1994 Notre Dame alumnus, he is furthering his commitment to leadership and service as an Executive Master of Nonprofit Administration (EMNA) candidate (2027) at the Mendoza College of Business. Beyond his professional pursuits, James is a local musician and shares his life with his wife, Mirella Riley ’94, an integral part of Notre Dame’s Enrollment Division, and their three daughters, Jasmine, Naya, and Talina.

Meet the Host: Kendra Washington-Bass '94

Dr. Kendra Washington-Bass ’94 is a distinguished educator with over 25 years of dedicated experience in the field. Her journey in education has seen her excel as a teacher, principal, and professional developer, where she has passionately championed equitable opportunities for children. With a resolute commitment to fostering excellence in teachers and leaders, Dr. Washington-Bass has become a trailblazer in the realm of education.

Currently serving as the National Designer and Facilitator at The Leadership Academy, Dr. Washington-Bass continues to be a driving force in advancing culturally responsive pedagogy. Her innovative approach amplifies student engagement through collaborative partnerships with schools, fostering critical consciousness skills, and promoting the development of equitable curricula. Notably, her tenure as the Executive Director in Gwinnett County Public Schools was marked by transformative leadership, as she empowered educators and spearheaded instructional capacity growth.

A dynamic thought leader, Dr. Washington-Bass has also made her mark as a best-selling author, with her book “Unwrapped: The Pursuit of Justice for Women Educators.” Moreover, she is a co-founder of The Lucy Leadership Project, an initiative that empowers and uplifts women in leadership roles, enabling them to thrive and excel in their professional endeavors.

Dr. Washington-Bass is an alumna of the University of Notre Dame, where she earned her degree in Communications and Film, and for whom she currently serves as the Chair of the Black Alumni of Notre Dame Board. She further honed her expertise with a Master’s degree in Urban and Multicultural Education from the College of Mount St. Vincent. Her academic journey culminated in Specialist and Doctorate degrees from Mercer University, solidifying her commitment to lifelong learning and advancement in the field of education.

Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Washington-Bass’s personal identity is woven with pride as a native New Yorker. She currently calls Georgia home, alongside her husband Jason. As a devoted mother to Julian and Justice, Dr. Washington-Bass finds joy in family life. Her interests extend to the realms of pop culture, where she’s an avid fan of all things Star Wars and football. With an unwavering dedication to education and a multifaceted persona, Dr. Washington-Bass is an inspiring force that continues to shape and elevate the field of education.

Meet the Speaker: Edward Augustine '87

Edward E. Augustine, Esq. ’87, is a solo practitioner in transactional residential real estate and estate planning law in Manhattan. Previously, Edward held the position of residential real estate associate and bank attorney at a law firm in Manhattan. He served on the Board of the New York City LGBT Bar Association (“LeGaL”) and was appointed to the Board of the New York City LGBT Bar Association Foundation as an officer. Edward also served on the New York City Bar Association’s LGBT Committee and the Committee on Legal Issues Pertaining to Animals. Currently, he is a member of the Board of the Community Scholarship Fund of Teaneck, New Jersey (where he was raised). Prior to the establishment of ARC, Edward served as a Co-Coordinator of Gay & Lesbian Alumni of Notre Dame: “GALA” NYC. As a strong supporter of the Notre Dame Alumni Club of New York (“NDNY”), Edward held various leadership positions, including Intercultural Diversity Co-Commissioner, Vice President, Executive Vice President, and is currently the ARC liaison for NDNY and a member of the Host Committee for the 2025 ARC ND Reunion. In 2024, Edward participated as a panelist at the Notre Dame Alumni Leadership Conference ARC panel on: “Over the rainbow: Reaching “victory” by engaging LGBTQ+ alumni and allies in local club programming.” Edward holds a Juris Doctor from Rutgers University School of Law – Newark, an M.A. from The Graduate School of Arts & Science at New York University, and a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, where he studied in the Program of Liberal Studies/Great Books Program and lived in Sorin College.  As a law student Edward secured fellowships at the American Civil Liberties Union – New Jersey and the Lambda Legal Defense & Education Foundation, Inc., in New York City.  Prior to going to law School, Edward was an Assistant Dean at The Graduate School of The University of Notre Dame and an Assistant Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at The Graduate School of Arts & Science at New York University.

Meet the Speaker: Zesha Holyfield '01

Zesha Holyfield ’01 is a concierge medical provider at Essen Health Care, serving underserved communities in New York City. With 22 years in healthcare, she specializes in Primary Care, focusing on home-based patient management to prevent hospitalizations and educating patients on when to seek urgent care. She holds a Pre-Med and Sociology degree from the University of Notre Dame (’01), a nursing degree from the University of Detroit Mercy, and a Master’s degree from New York University, where she became a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner. Active in the ND Alumni community, Zesha serves as Intercultural Diversity Co-Commissioner for NDNY. She mentors Nurse Practitioner students, volunteers with charitable organizations, and is a member of Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. Outside of work, she enjoys running 5ks, traveling, and hosting family and friends in New York City.

Meet the Speaker: Rochelle Valsaint '95

Rochelle Valsaint ’95’s corporate title is Marketing Project Manager for the City of Sandy Springs, Georgia. But, she would describe herself as a storyteller and writer at heart. Her love of people stories fuels her work in both her day job and side hustles. Her entrepreneurial passion is twofold – helping college-bound students and their families navigate the complicated process of college admissions and paying for college and, working with Black women entrepreneurs to create relevant and authentic brand stories, connections and experiences. 

Rochelle spent 15 years in service to the Notre Dame Alumni Association. Just two years after her 1995 graduation she became a part of the Black Alumni of Notre Dame Board of Directors. Over her tenure, she served as Regional Director, Communications Director, Vice-Chairperson and Chairperson of the Black Alumni of Notre Dame affinity group. During her time in BA (Black Alumni) leadership, she led the team in executing the first national fundraiser for the Frazier Thompson scholarship fund and established the affinity group’s initial online presence with a digital newsletter, Facebook group, blog and Twitter account back in 2009. 

Rochelle is a proud native New Orleanian living in Atlanta. She’s the mother of two young adults and pet mom of their dog, Gumbeaux (Beaux). She’s a writer constantly at work and looks forward to finishing the novel she’s started in the future.