Unapologetically Black Unicorns

“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.

“Recovery is a Journey, Not a Destination” with Dr. Curley Bonds

Dr. Curley Bonds (He/Him) is the Chief Medical Officer for the Los Angeles Country Department of Mental Health and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Bonds shares his trajectory to becoming a psychiatrist and the stigma within the psychiatry profession. They talk about recovery, the impact of BeBe Moore Campbell and how we can help get more Black and Brown people in the health professions.

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.

“Radical Reimagination” with Kelechi Ubozoh

Kelechi Ubozoh (she/her) is a mental health consultant, advocate, author and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Kelechi shares how she is often called just to be a person of color for speaking engagements and why at times it feels like tokenism. They talk about meeting people where they are, the book Kelechi co-edited “We've Been Too Patient: Voices from Radical Mental Health” and where we are with Black and Brown voices leading the peer and lived experience movement.  

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.

“What’s More Important than Human Beings?” with Caren Howard

Caren Howard (she/her) spent years working on Capitol Hill and is now currently the Director of Policy and Advocacy for Mental Health America as well as an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Caren shares how she got into policy work and her transition into mental health. They talk about homelessness issues, peer respite and what it takes to contribute to outside advocacy, inside advocacy, doing policy work and activism.

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 Whole is Greater than the Sum of its Parts” with Dr. Annelle Primm

Dr. Annelle Primm (she/her) holds a medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine, she is a community psychiatrist, an author and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Primm shares what influenced her to become a community psychiatrist and how she and Keris connected at NAMI Urban Los Angeles. They talk about the legacy of Bebe Moore Campbell, ways to increase our emotional fortitude during these troubling times for black and brown folks and some thoughts on how we can empower people in 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

“Don’t Agonize, Organize” with Khatera Aslami Tamplen

Khatera Aslami Tamplen (she/her) is a California Mental Health and Peer Leader and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Khatera shares her lived experience of fleeing the Afghan-Soviet War and her experience with the mental health system. They discuss how Khatera’s community shaped her, she explains her transition from a participant in WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) to an advanced facilitator plus she talks about the mentors who have influenced her throughout her life and career.

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.

“Get Radical With Yourself” with Rayshell Chambers

Rayshell Chambers (she/her) is a mental health advocate, the Co-founder & Co-Director of Painted Brain and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Rayshell talks about the impact of doing the “grunt work” in group homes and how she’s used her lived experience to make things better. They discuss Rayshell’s work on Psychiatric Advanced Directives, her self-care routines, the work she’s been doing implementing anti-racist and liberation practices in mental health services and the workplace, and her efforts with the Black Mental Health Task Force.

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