Unapologetically Black Unicorns

“If it Doesn’t Serve Us, We’ll Build our Own” with Brandon J. Johnson

Brandon J. Johnson (he/him) is a Suicide Prevention Specialist, the host of The Black Mental Wellness Lounge and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Brandon shares the inspiration for creating the YouTube page "The Black Mental Wellness Lounge" and how he’s trying to use it as a healing space. They talk about taking care of your metal wellness while trying to dismantle systemic issues, understanding the importance of resting for the cause and how the metrics for suicide in the Black community have been overlooked.

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.

“The Greatest Form of Support is Being Heard” with Dr. Jonathan P. Edwards

Dr. Jonathan P. Edwards (he/him) has worked as a public health professional for more than 25 years, serves as adjunct faculty at Columbia School of Social Work, is an emerging researcher, plays a major role nationally in peer support workforce development and as a Board Member of National Association of Peer Supporters and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Edwards shares his personal story including his upbringing and his recovery journey. They talk about Dr. Edwards working in both social work and peer support, advancing leadership for people of color, and the impact of the self-help tools and resources on his personal growth.

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.

“Recovery is Possible” with Philip Rutherford

Philip Rutherford (he/him) is the Chief Operating Officer at Faces and Voices of Recovery and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Phil shares what his organization is doing for Recovery Month and his story of navigating his pathway to recovery. They talk about how the “War on Drugs” was racially motivated, the experience of Black folks in the recovery community through a new initiative Black Faces and Black Voices and why it is hard for the Black communities to publicly grieve.

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 contact Faces & Voices of Recovery go to: https://facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/about/who-we-are/staff/

“Recovery from a Brazilian perspective” with Ana Florence

Ana Florence, PhD (she/her) is a Clinical Psychologist, a postdoctoral associate at the Yale Program for Recovery and Community and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. It’s the second week of recovery month and we hear Ana’s perspective on how psychology differs in Brazil compared to the United States and how the Psychiatric Reform Movement brought everyone together. They talk about the “Wisdom Project” and how Keris also got involved, how Brazilians have been hesitant with the term “recovery” because it’s coming from U.S., the disparities and inequities that occurred during the pandemic and the impact of Dainius Pūras, former UN Special Rapporteur on Rights to Health.

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.

The “Mad In America” article Ana Florence did with Dainius Pūras: https://www.madinamerica.com/2020/05/bringing-human-rights-mental-health-care-interview-dainius-puras/

The UN Handover Dialogues 2021: https://www.handover-dialogues.org/

“The Black Box” with Dr. Arthur C. Evans

We kickoff off Recovery Month with Dr. Arthur C. Evans who is the CEO of the American Psychological Association and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Keris asks Dr. Evans how he first got involved in psychology and how he eventually became a leader in the field. They talk about his mural projects on behavior health, the “Black Box” metaphor and the importance of taking risks.

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.

“Afrofuturism is Sankofa” with Dr. LaWana Richmond

Dr. LaWana Richmond (Her/hers) is the Cofounder and Organizer of the Afrofuturism Lounge, the Creator of Afrofuturism Dream Tank, the Coauthor of the “Delayed But Not Denied” series and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Keris and Dr. Richmond reminisce about the first time they met at WonderCon and the events they’ve attended together since then. They talk about Afrofuturism, the film Sankofa, why we should get rid of the word “normal” and the details behind the upcoming AfroCon event.

For tickets and for more information about AfroCon; go to: https://www.afrofuturismlounge.com/

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.

“Speak Up and Say Something” with Chloe Aquart

Chloe Aquart (her/hers/queen) is a former prosecutor who now works in criminal justice reform and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Chloe talks about going from working as a prosecutor to working in community based anti-violence work and how that experience has helped her. They talk about what anti-violence work looks like on the ground, how we can support our credible messengers and having a conversation about trauma reactions.

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.

“Be Visible as your Fully Authentic Self” with Dr. Jei Africa

Dr. Jei Africa (he/his/him) is the first openly transgender county behavioral health director in California and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn.  Dr. Africa shares his experience being raised in the Philippines and the disparities he saw when he came to the United States. They talk about bringing people together to create change, cultural humility and the importance of being visible.

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.

“Journey of a Mental Health Beat Journalist” with Benedict Carey

Benedict Carey (he/him) is an award-winning reporter who recently retired from The New York Times and he’s an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Benedict talks about a series he wrote called “Lives Restored” about mental health and mental health care and how he included Keris in one of his profiles. They talk about the importance of highlighting the experience of those impacted by the mental health system, how as a science writer he got involved writing about mental health and getting peers involved from the very beginning.

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.

“Value The Connection to Community” with Dr. Jorge Partida del Toro

Dr. Jorge Partida del Toro (he/him) is a Curandero, a Psychologist with international experience working with child soldiers and building intentional communities and he’s an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Partida Del Toro gives the backstory for how he got into psychology and how his grandmother played a significant role. They talk about institutional and structural racism, mixing Curanderismo Healing and Western Psychology and valuing the connection to our communities.

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.