CONNECTED

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Hello to all of our phenomenal viewers, listeners, and supporters. Welcome to another episode of “CONNECTED,” where we discuss all things mental health, recovery, employment, and stories.

During this segment CONNECTED will be focused on relationships and how to navigate them while dealing with serious mental illness. We will be sharing personal anecdotes, facts, and awareness from specialists around the Bay Area. Today’s guest is a staple here at the clubhouse. From member to employee, he has overcome many obstacles to reach an everlasting journey of peace. After joining the Peace Corps and spending time at a monastery, John started to experience some mental health issues induced by isolation. This ultimately brought him back home, searching for answers. Having been a member for a decade, John has now made a world of difference within himself and the clubhouse. 

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Hello to all of our phenomenal viewers, listeners, and supporters. If you are a new audience member, we are so grateful to have you. Welcome to another episode of “CONNECTED,” where we discuss all things mental health, recovery, employment, and stories.

In this episode, we’ll explore the young adult program offered here at Connections House. Our guest today is a Sacramento State graduate and holds a BA in Sociology. He is the Young Adults Coordinator for the Clubhouse and will give us some expertise on what it entails, how he’s navigating, and things he’s doing to further develop the program. Let’s give a warm welcome to Manuel Lopez!

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Hello to all of our phenomenal viewers, listeners, and supporters. I am your host PodcastBri and I am so excited to be here. If you are a new audience member, we are so grateful to have you. Welcome to another episode of “CONNECTED,” where we discuss all things mental health, recovery, employment, and stories. Before we dive in, this episode is sponsored by Contra Costa Behavioral Health Services & John Muir.

On our final episode of this segment, CONNECTED will be focused on the BIPOC Community sharing personal anecdotes, facts, and awareness from specialists around the Bay Area. Our next guest is no stranger to success. A man of many skills and qualifications, DeShannon has supported hundreds of individuals and families over the last 30 years to accomplish their dream of homeownership. This Philanthropist, Social Justice Worker, and licensed therapist operates with numerous organizations around the Bay to combat the ever-growing homeless crisis. He is also a member of the 100 Black Men of the Bay Area, a Real Estate Broker, father, husband, and mentor to many. Please give a warm welcome to DeShannon Williamson!

DeShannon Williamson | https://comfortwellnesstherapy.com/

https://100blackmenba.org/mental-health-support/

Connections House | https://connectionshouseca.org/

Host Brianna Harris |  https://linktr.ee/podcastbri?utm_sour... 

Edited by Billy Gutierrez

Send us Fan Mail

Hello to all of our phenomenal viewers, listeners, and supporters. I am your host PodcastBri and I am so excited to be here. If you are a new audience member, we are so grateful to have you. Welcome to another episode of “CONNECTED,” where we discuss all things mental health, recovery, employment, and stories. Before we dive in, this episode is sponsored by Contra Costa Behavioral Health Services & John Muir.

On our next two episodes, CONNECTED will be focused on the BIPOC Community sharing personal anecdotes, facts, and awareness from specialists around the Bay Area. Today’s guest is a community leader. After discovering her cousin Carl who’d been adopted by another family, she made it her mission to assist him in helping him explore deeper into his Samoan heritage. Thus blossomed Pasifika by Design, a podcast and Youtube show that highlights the extraordinary work of individuals and organizations within the Pacific Islander community in which they both co-founded. The show was a huge hit on the radio until Covid forced them into cultivating something more of their own. Now operating out of their own studio, Carl and Nackie are still making significant waves in the community through life’s challenges. Please welcome Nackie!

Nackie | 

https://www.pasifikabydesign.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@pasifikabydesign7350

Connections House | https://connectionshouseca.org/ 

Host Brianna Harris |  https://linktr.ee/podcastbri?utm_sour... 

Edited by Billy Gutierrez

Send us Fan Mail

Hello to all of our phenomenal viewers, listeners, and supporters. I am your host PodcastBri and I am so excited to be here. If you are a new audience member, we are so grateful to have you. Welcome to another episode of “CONNECTED,” where we discuss all things mental health, recovery, employment, and stories. Before we dive in, this episode is sponsored by Contra Costa Behavioral Health Services & John Muir.
On our next three episodes, CONNECTED will be focused on the BIPOC Community sharing personal anecdotes, facts, and awareness from specialists around the Bay Area. Today’s very VERY special guest is an artist with a heart of gold. Cancer warrior, matriarch, mental health advocate and co-founder of BeingWellCA.org, Gail Miller embodies her lived experience. Gail and the family dynamic was significantly impacted after one of her daughters was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Gail then made it her mission to not only educate herself, but thousands of others alongside her partner. While struggling with depression herself, Gail uses her extraordinary artwork as an outlet for self expression. It is truly an honor to welcome my auntie Gail Miller.

Gail Miller: https://beingwellca.org/

Connections House | https://connectionshouseca.org/ 

Host Brianna Harris |  https://linktr.ee/podcastbri?utm_sour... 

Edited by Billy Gutierrez

Send us Fan Mail

Hello to all of our phenomenal viewers, listeners, and supporters. I am your host PodcastBri and I am so excited to be here. If you are a new audience member, we are so grateful to have you. Welcome to another episode of “CONNECTED,” where we discuss all things mental health, recovery, employment, and stories. Before we dive in, this episode is sponsored by Contra Costa Behavioral Health Services & John Muir. 
On our next four episodes, CONNECTED will be focused on the BIPOC Community sharing personal anecdotes, facts, and awareness from specialists around the Bay Area. Today’s special guest Anh Thang holds many roles. Her background is in academia, American studies, public health, ethnicity, data analysis and much, much more. She’s used her skills in data analysis to implicate a plan on how to measure cultural equity, making a significant difference with the Government Alliance of Racial Equity. John Muir is now where she does most of her work with Jamie from our last episode continuing to make a difference with under-representing communities. Welcome Anh! 

Anh Thang | https://www.racialequityalliance.org/2019/03/11/people-behind-the-movement-anh-thang-dao-shah/

Connections House | https://connectionshouseca.org/ 

Host Brianna Harris |  https://linktr.ee/podcastbri?utm_sour... 

Edited by Billy Gutierrez

Send us Fan Mail

Hello to all of our phenomenal viewers, listeners, and supporters. I am your host PodcastBri and I am so excited to be here. If you are a new audience member, we are so grateful to have you. Welcome to another episode of “CONNECTED,” where we discuss all things mental health, recovery, employment, and stories. Before we dive in, this episode is sponsored by Contra Costa Behavioral Health Services & John Muir. 
On our next five episodes, CONNECTED will be focused on the BIPOC Community sharing personal anecdotes, facts, and awareness from specialists around the Bay Area. 
Today’s guest Jamie, designs health equity strategies that focus on improving programming for underserved communities. Her 17 years’ of experience stem from working with a variety of community-based nonprofit organizations, hospitals, clinics and education systems. Jamie currently works with John Muir Health as the Director of Community Health Improvement, where she oversees community benefit programming, evaluation and system-wide reporting. Jamie holds an MPH from the University of California, Berkeley with a focus on Health and Social Behavior and a Bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Neuroscience also from the University of California, Berkeley.

For resources on Palestine, please see below:

Donate: Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (www.pcrf.net), Middle East Children’s Alliance (www.mecaforpeace.org)

Watch (films): 5 Broken Cameras; Paradise Now; Omar

Read: The Question of Palestine, by Edward Said; www.thepalestineacademy.com

IG: @eyeonpalestine, @ajplus, @denatakruri, @theimeu

Jamie Elmasu | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-elmasu-mph-6a1b9234

Connections House | https://connectionshouseca.org/ 

Host Brianna Harris |  https://linktr.ee/podcastbri?utm_sour... 

Edited by Billy Gutierrez

Send us Fan Mail

Hello to all of our phenomenal viewers, listeners, and supporters. I am your host PodcastBri and I am so excited to be here. If you are a new audience member, we are so grateful to have you. Welcome to another episode of “CONNECTED,” where we discuss all things mental health, recovery, employment, and stories. Before we dive in, this episode is sponsored by Contra Costa Behavioral Health Services & John Muir. 
On our next six episodes, CONNECTED will be focused on the BIPOC Community sharing personal anecdotes, facts, and awareness from specialists around the Bay Area. 

Today’s guest is Vickie Chang, a Chinese-American psychologist who offers a different outlook on Mental Health. With teachings from Western and Native practices, Vickie encompasses all things health stemming from the earth itself. 
As climate change becomes more inevitable, Vickie believes we truly cannot heal ourselves unless we heal and tend to mother nature herself. Her expertise is in spirituality, climate anxiety, racial identities, and so much more. Today Vickie will give us a better insight on what it truly means to tap into ourselves and make change. Welcome Vickie

Vickie Chang:

https://www.vickiechangphd.com/about

Connections House

https://connectionshouseca.org/

Host Brianna Harris: 

https://linktr.ee/podcastbri?utm_sour...

Edited by Billy Gutierrez

Send us Fan Mail

Hello to all of our phenomenal viewers, listeners, and supporters. I am your host PodcastBri and I am so excited to be here. If you are a new audience member, we are so grateful to have you. Welcome to another episode of “CONNECTED,” where we discuss all things mental health, recovery, employment, and stories. Before we dive in, this episode is sponsored by Contra Costa Behavioral Health Services & John Muir.
On our next seven episodes, CONNECTED will be focused on the BIPOC Community sharing personal anecdotes, facts, and awareness from specialists around the Bay Area.

Today’s guest is from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (or NAMI) here in Contra Costa County. Leo Li specializes in the Transitional Age Youth program advocating for individuals between the ages of 16 and 29 experiencing specific socio-cultural challenges. Leo arrived in America in 2018 seeking education, personal growth, and exploring a new culture and since has made a world of difference. Here in the Bay Area, 27% of residents identify as Asian American or Pacific Islander. Of those 27% many struggle with social pressures, isolation, and language barriers. Leo is here to share his experience with us. Welcome Leo.

NAMI Contra Costa

https://www.namicontracosta.org/

Connections House

https://connectionshouseca.org/

Host Brianna Harris:

https://linktr.ee/podcastbri?utm_sour...

Edited by Billy Gutierrez

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Today’s special guest is Taun Hall, a mother whose son’s life was taken entirely too early by the Walnut Creek Police Department. The incident took place in their neighborhood in 2019 when WCPD was called to mediate Miles having a schizophrenic episode and the circumstance took a tragic turn. Soon after, the family started The Miles Hall Foundation that promotes initiatives that protects and saves lives of those most impacted by mental illness. Given the alarming number of people of color who are criminalized, harmed, and killed by law enforcement during mental health emergencies, they believe in taking urgent public action to raise awareness about mental illness and racial bias in ways that bring about systemic and community-lead change.

The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 988 is available 24hrs if you or anyone you know is having an emergency.

Thank you John Muir and Contra Costa Behavioral Health Services for sponsoring this episode. Huge, thanks for Charlie Health and Savannah Crippen for such an awesome episode.

Miles Hall Foundation:

https://www.themileshallfoundation.org/

Connections House

https://connectionshouseca.org/

Host Brianna Harris:

https://linktr.ee/podcastbri?utm_sour...

Edited by Billy Gutierrez