Unapologetically Black Unicorns

Keris goes solo to reflect on some personal meaning behind another Tarot card. She shares why the Lovers card resonates with her and she draws the parallels between the card and her personal experiences. She talks about why she first struggled with the Lovers card even though it is her birth card, she shares an event from her childhood that’s made it hard for her to love herself and honoring you for you – U.B.U.

 

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Preston Mitchum (he/him) is the Director of Advocacy and Government Affairs with The Trevor Project and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Preston shares what The Trevor Project does as an organization and how they try to reach and support LGBTQ young people. They talk about how Preston always wanted to support people and fight for their access, how The Trevor Project crisis counselors are trained to meet the needs of LGBTQ young people and how everyone has a voice.

For more information on The Trevor Project visit: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Dr. Kristee Haggins (she/her) is a community healer, African-centered psychologist and the Executive Director of Safe Black Space. Dr. Haggins shares how Safe Black Space is creating opportunities for Black people to heal and thrive. They talk about the community healing circles, how Dr. Haggins got into the field of psychology and why we need more Black psychologists plus the power in embracing who you are.

For more information on Safe Back Space visit: https://www.safeblackspace.org/

 

This episode is sponsored by Janssen Neuroscience and Supported by The Painted Brain, a California based Peer Run Organization.

https://paintedbrain.org/unapologetically-black-unicorns-podcast

Nandini Nema (she/her) is a gap year student who is making an impact in mental health and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Nandini shares the work she’s done as a youth representative with UNICEF by helping build child friendly cities. They talk about how mindfulness is a process, working in tech as a Google summer scholar, what they would do to encourage people to get into the field of mental health and they share some of their healthy coping mechanisms.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

For more information visit:

Child friendly city initiative: https://childfriendlycities.org/

Boulder, Colorado’s child friendly initiative: https://www.growingupboulder.org/

Alvin Lee (he/him) is the Executive Director of GENup and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Alvin shares the backstory of how he got into student activism and what it is like being a young person in a space with older adults. They talk about why education is a fundamental issue for everyone, how his work in education impacts BIPOC communities and why representation matters in school curriculum.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

For more information visit: https://www.generationup.net/

Fajr DeLane (she/her) is the CEO of F^3: Fun. Fit. Fabulous! Health & Wellness Mentoring Program and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Fajr shares her inspiration for starting the “Fun. Fit. Fabulous!” program and how her camp was about inspiring the girls/women in her community. They talk about making time for self-care, how her work intersects with mental health and taking the time to start the conversation about mental health so you can help support others.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

For more information on “F^3: Fun. Fit. Fabulous!” visit: www.funfitfabulous.org/

Lynn Borton (she/her) is the Producer and Host of the radio show "Choose to be Curious" and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Lynn considers herself a student of curiosity and how with that she tries to make space for intellectual humility. They both add another “p” word to “people, place and purpose”, how the intractable problems can only be solved together and some analogies to curiosity illustrating making a connection to two random things if we only try.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Links:

Website: https://choosetobecurious.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChoosetobeCurious/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Choose2BCurious

IG: https://www.instagram.com/choosetobecurious/

Keris sips her tea and shares a dream that resonates with the podcast’s past year and its future for the next year. Also, she connects the dots between how her dream was tied to finding spaces where we can be our authentic selves and have full autonomy. Keris talks about the goal of last year’s podcast, a tease for the podcasts starting next year and some meaningful quotes from bell hooks and Maya Angelou.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Jose Caballero (he/him) is a mental health advocate, blogger and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Jose talks about his “why” and his experiences growing up in Nicaragua and immigrating to the United States. They talk about having conversations about mental health with their families and in their communities, the impacts of emotional intelligence, trying to incorporate mental health education into school’s curriculum and beauty standards in social media.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

For more information visit https://www.intouchblog.com/

We're taking the week off so enjoy this re-airing of our episode with the Grainger sisters. Katherine Grainger (she/her) is a Managing Partner at Civitas Public Affairs Group and Rebecca Grainger (she/her) is a Distinguished Educator and they are both Unapologetically Black Unicorns. Katherine and Rebecca both discuss understanding and moving policy to fix and change systems. They talk the history of Critical Race Theory and the language behind it, the work they’re doing with The Black Policy Institute as well as Black Futures Lab and the freedom of cognitive liberation.

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.