Have you ever chatted with an Unapologetically Black Unicorn? Someone who symbolizes freedom, power, strength and is a true force of nature and thought, ‘WOW people need to hear this’? Now you can and learn how to be a U.B.U. too! Join the weekly conversation with host Keris Jän Myrick, an unapologetically black unicorn in their own right, and nationally recognized mental health advocate chatting with amazing U.B.U. folk who are advancing all things mental health, racial justice, and anything cool to enhance human existence.
Episodes
Tuesday Jan 11, 2022
Tuesday Jan 11, 2022
Lori Kerr (she/her) is a Peer Support Specialist located in Los Angeles County and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Lori is using the arts as a medium to connect to people and have people connect to their own strengths and abilities. They talk about how Lori’s experiences with trying to hold a job while being homeless has helped her become an effective Job Developer, how playing games can bring people together and her passion for making dolls with peers.
If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
Tuesday Jan 04, 2022
Tuesday Jan 04, 2022
Cornelle Jenkins, J.D., MBA (he/him) is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at California Alliance of Child & Family Services and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Cornelle shares what he does at CACFS and for the Catalyst Center and how it’s been a fulfilling line of work. They talk about trauma informed care, flourishing because of the work they are doing, the things they do for their own self-care and giving our kids of color more love and let them be who they are.
If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
To learn more about the Catalyst Center visit: www.catalyst-center.org
To learn more about The California Alliance of Child and Family Services visit: www.cacfs.org
Tuesday Dec 28, 2021
Tuesday Dec 28, 2021
Dr. Jonathan Edwards and Rayshell Chambers share the importance of talking about Black Mental Health. They talk about implementing a plan for your emotional health including a Wellness Recovery Action Plan and vision boards. They discuss the importance of language, finding and reaching out to the people in your support network and how they address the issues of racial inequities.
This episode is sponsored by Janssen Neuroscience and Supported by The Painted Brain, a California based Peer Run Organization.
Tuesday Dec 21, 2021
Tuesday Dec 21, 2021
This is a special episode for the holiday season, Keris goes to their family home to sit down and have a brief conversation with her dad Howard A Myrick, PhD. They talk about where her father is living now and the politics of his current home state of Florida. Keris and her father have a conversation about critical race theory, they share stories about her mother and her dad shares his memories of the day Keris was born in a German hospital.
If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
Tuesday Dec 14, 2021
Tuesday Dec 14, 2021
The CA Alliance of Child and Family Services (CA Alliance) hosted a special broadcast on October 19, 2021 to put a spotlight on School Mental Health programming. This was a vital conversation with CA Alliance Members, special appearances by State Senator Connie Leyva, State Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, and a student from Southwest High School Laura Avila. There is also a panel, facilitated by UBU Keris Myrick, with CA Alliance member agencies Jonathan Goldfinger (Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services), Josh Leonard (East Bay Agency for Children), Allison Becwar (Lincoln), and Jenna Nunes (Sierra Vista Child and Family Services).
Please also review the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory: Protecting Youth Mental Health: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-youth-mental-health-advisory.pdf
Tuesday Dec 07, 2021
Tuesday Dec 07, 2021
Haner Hernández (he/him) Ph.D., CPS, CADCII, LADCI has worked for 34 years in the health and human service field developing, implementing, and evaluating culturally and linguistically intelligent youth and adult health prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery support programs and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Haner shares when came over to the United States with his mother when he was 4 years old from Puerto Rico and what it means to him to be a person in long term recovery. They talk about the immigration experience coming into the U.S., the issue with the prison system, the progression of pharmaceutical advertising, racism and the multiple pathways to recovery.
If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
Tuesday Nov 30, 2021
Tuesday Nov 30, 2021
This is an introduction to a new series for Unapologetically Black Unicorns focusing on Black Mental Health. We’ll talk about lived experience as Black people with mental health conditions and family members supporting someone with a mental health condition. Keris will speak with psychiatrists and pharmacists among others all discussing Black Mental Health. #BlackMentalHealth will also provide resources and information about actions you can create for your Black mental health.
This episode is sponsored by Janssen Neuroscience and supported by The Painted Brain, a California based Peer Run Organization.
Tuesday Nov 23, 2021
Tuesday Nov 23, 2021
This is a special episode about giving thanks. Keris shares why she’s struggling this holiday season and where it all stems from. She explains how it is hard to be positive with everything we are going through in this country but how it is important to fight together. She finishes it up with what she is thankful for including all the guests she’s had on the podcast and what she’s wishing for us all.
If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
Tuesday Nov 16, 2021
Tuesday Nov 16, 2021
Kat McIntosh (They/Them) is the Manager of Global Peer Support at Mental Health America and they are an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Kat shares their personal journey with their mental health while living in the Caribbean Island of Tobago and why they wanted to become an advocate for themselves. They talk about the Global Mental Health Peer Network, some of the issues with universal health care, how to support people within organizations, being a voice for our own experience, and how their psychosis saved them.
If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
Tuesday Nov 09, 2021
Tuesday Nov 09, 2021
Dr. John Torous (He/his), MD is a Psychiatrist, Director: digitalpsych.org at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, an expert in “mobile mental health technologies” and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Torous shares the concept behind MindApps.org and the connection between technology and mental health. They talk his tech background, how to navigate the privacy settings through your apps, the oversight of the digital mental health space and he the need for digital literacy.
If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.