Hey fam! So y’all know about my technical issues this past month, but its OK because this episode is still right on time! Coming off of Juneteenth and July 4th, many of us have freedom, or at least the concept of it, fresh on our minds. That is why I believe this episode is so important to dive into. I met with Kenny Robinson, who is the CEO & Founder of Freedom Fighting Missionaries. Freedom Fighting Missionaries is one of the largest non-profits in North Carolina focused on assisting formerly incarcerated and criminal justice involved persons with reentry by achieving self-sufficiency through sustainable services and resources. In our time together, Kenny shares his incredible personal journey with the criminal justice system, and how his journey toward upward mobility led him to build one of the largest non-profits to reach back and help individuals achieve self-sufficiency and truly thrive. Find out more about Kenny and FFM by visiting www.freedomfightingmissionaries.org

#justice #equity #freedom #community #charlottenc #healthequity

Hey fam! We are back! This month we collaborated with with Welltheology Counseling Center for National Mental Health Month! In this month's episode we dive into the practical side of "walking out" mental wellbeing. We are joined by Cassiel Smith (my hubs!) who is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist, and Lead Counselor of Welltheology Counseling Center. Cassiel gives us the basics, and we also share some nuggets that have helped us both on our own therapy journeys. This one is a good one y'all! Please share it with someone who you think may benefit as well! Grab your coffee and join us!

For more information on mental wellbeing help and support, please visit www.welltheology.com

Find our other episodes at www.ourjourneytoequity.com

Its National Minority Health Month and this week is Black Maternal Health Week! To celebrate, we are kicking off Season 2 of Our Journey to Equity raising awareness about Black maternal health! Did you know that Black women in the United States are 3X more likely to die from pregnancy than their white counterparts? Did you know that Black infants are almost 4X as likely to die from complications related to low birthweight as compared to non-Hispanic white infants?? I believe this is one of the greatest social justice issues in healthcare and a clear demonstration of the impact of racism on health. So to raise awareness and help us take action, join me on the journey with my colleague Lecresha Sewell who is the CEO and Founder of Melanated Healthcare-- an organization that matches people of color with racially concordant care. Research has shown that black women who receive care from black providers are more likely to have better birth outcomes, so this is an incredible solution for us to dig into!

Please share this episode with other Black women because in order for things to change, we must bring attention and awareness to the health inequities that plague our community so that we can take ACTION!

Find out more about Lecresha at melanatedhealthcare.app To follow more journeys, visit www.ourjourneytoequity.com

Fam! I can't think of a better way to end my first season of Our Journey to Equity, than to share the journey of an amazing man, husband, father and best friend... my husband, Cassiel Smith! Cassiel is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, a Licensed Clinical Addition Specialist, the Founder and Lead Counselor of Welltheology Counseling Center and honestly, he is an all-around wonderful human being. Yes he is my husband so I may have a slight bias, but anyone who knows Cassiel on a professional or personal level knows he is a rare gem (and I still say this even though he gets on the last of all my nerves, LOL)! In this episode, Cassiel shares his very real, personal journey with mental health, and how that journey led him to his calling as a Counselor to support others with their own mental health journey. We explore mental health issues in the black community, family/cultural impacts, issues unique to black men/fathers, stigma, and living a mentally well life. There's so much packed inside this journey, and I believe its especially timely now as we enter a season where grief and family issues can be overwhelming. So after you listen, please share! To learn more about Cassiel, follow him @welltheology or visit www.welltheology.com.

My friend and colleague, Tchernavia Montgomery, is the CEO of CareRing, a safety-net healthcare organization based in Charlotte, NC that provides critical healthcare services to over 7,600 people annually. If you looked at Tchernavia’s life from the outside in, you would have no idea all that she has endured to be the woman that she is today. She has truly had a journey! And she has harnessed power from her own trials to developing an authentic leadership style and is now leading one of the primary healthcare non-profits in the Charlotte region. Her vulnerability and authenticity is truly what sets her apart and I am so excited to be able to share her journey with you all. To learn more about Tchernavia, visit her profile on our IG page @ourjourneytoequity or on our website at www.ourjourneytoequity.com For more information on Care Ring, visit careringnc.org.

September is National Sickle Cell Awareness month and I cannot think of a better way to use this platform than to shed light on an issue impacting so many people of color. I am joined by the amazing Eboné Lockett, who courageously shares the journey that she and her family have endured battling Sickle Cell Disease.  Did you know...

There is simply not enough awareness about this issue that impacts so many people of color. This touching episode is dedicated to every sickle cell warrior who has fought, and to those who continue in the fight. 

Learn more at www.sicklecelldisease.org

Can you believe we are officially half way through the first season of Our Journey to Equity? And what a journey it has been! This month's episode takes us on a deeper exploration of the impact of social needs - specifically financial needs - on one's health and wellbeing. Our distinguished guest, Dr. Raquishela (Keisha) Stewart, shares her journey towards financial literacy, and how that has impacted her career in helping others from minoritized communities find resources to improve their quality of life. This one is a great one to share so make sure you hit the like button or subscribe! To learn more about Dr. Stewart and this month's episode, follow our IG page  @OurJourneytoEquity  or check out the website www.ourjourneytoequity.com

What a journey with my friend, Jamil Welch! Jamil has held leadership roles in the pharmaceutical industry for almost two decades and holds a specific passion for ensuring ALL patients have access to the therapies they need. While his passion has driven his career, nothing could have prepared him for the life altering (almost life-ending!) event that occurred as he was ascending the corporate ladder, and inspired the launch of his brand, AfterThis. Grab a notepad because he drops some great nuggets on building mental fortitude when you find yourself in a tough season. As you watch, I hope you will walk away as strengthened and inspired as I was! Share your thoughts by leaving a comment or send us a message at [email protected]

A Special Thank you to Mario Clark with Mario.M Clark Media our film and video producer and Adrian Stubbs with Soluciones Multimedios, for our custom media content!

Terri McGuire, MPH, MHS, PA-C is here to share her journey! Terri shares how her experiences with the healthcare system at a young age influenced her to pursue medicine -- with a focus on public health (which is something many providers are not equipped to do!). In this journey, Terri takes us through the public health perspective of health, having the courage to question the system when things just don't seem right, and how her organization, eVolve Health and Wellness Community, is helping close gaps in health literacy and advocate for people of marginalized identities within healthcare settings in an effort to advance health equity! Check her out at www.evolvehealthandwellnesscommunity.com, on IG @evolvehealth_wellnesscommunity

Can we talk about the power of mentorship?? My goodness! Dr. Quiana Robinson is joining us on our next episode and is dropping ALLLLLL of the nuggets about how mentors helped her along her very non-traditional path, that was full of ups, downs, and upsets for her as a first generation college grad being raised by a single mother. If you know someone who is trying to figure things out right now, share this episode with them right now! And of course she is providing some key health tips on a topic that many black and brown individuals don't talk about enough: Dental Health! But don't hit the back arrow yet. Dr. Robinson is the most inviting, non-intimidating Dentist I probably have ever met in my life and she will leave you inspired. Check it out, and share with me the nuggets you are taking away from this month's episode at [email protected] or on IG @OurJourney2Equity.