Unapologetically Black Unicorns

UBU was recorded live on September 21, 2021, during the Annual Conference for the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS). In this workshop leading mental health leaders from diverse backgrounds featured on the Unapologetically Black Unicorns podcast join in a lively discussion about lived experiences, leadership, showing up as our authentic selves and addressing equity in behavioral health plus much more. The panelists include:

Khatera Aslami Tamplen (she/her), BS, Certified Advanced WRAP Facilitator

Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services

Office of Peer Support Services Manager

Jei Africa, (he/him) PsyD, MA

Director, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services

County of Marin

Chyrell Bellamy, (She/her/they) PhD, MSW

Associate Professor, Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry

Joint Director, Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health (PRCH)

Rayshell Chambers, (she/her) MPA

Chief Operating Officer/Co- Founder

Painted Brain

To access the NYAPRS conference click here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4hkeDHDyYXdlZBhXu3zIMJ1kKAGCmZ3h

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

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Sylvie Trevena (she/her) is a writer and Program Associate and Executive Assistant at Well Being Trust and she is also an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Sylvie shares why being a parent is so important to her and her experiences raising her transgender son Jake. They talk about checking in with your friends and also taking your own temperature, trying to speak with kids about school safety and having hope for the next generation surrounding mental health.

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

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Dr. Jonathan Edwards (he/him) and Rita Cronise (She/Her) are editors for the book “What it Takes: Wisdom from Peer Support Specialists and Supervisors” and they are Unapologetically Black Unicorns. Jonathan and Rita explain how the book came about and the history of Peer Support. They talk about who the target audience is for the book, why this book is needed and remembering their colleague Steve Harrington.

For more information about the book “What it Takes: Wisdom from Peer Support Specialists and Supervisors” visit: https://www.peersupportworks.org/naps-members-author-guide-to-peer-support/

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

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.

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

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Keris is joined by her dad, Howard Myrick who just recently turned 90 years old and cast his early vote in Florida. Keris and her dad discuss an article he wrote about the importance of voting and how as a Black person it is crucial to vote considering its history. Keris then reads the article her dad wrote entitled “Say What, You Did Not Vote?”

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

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Keris tells a story about a typewriter that’s been passed down through the family and the memories it holds. She talks about the significance of the typewriter to her family, how it brings her joy whenever she looks at it and she discusses the positive impact memories can have on your mental health.

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

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Lauren Clark (She/Her), PhD, RN, FAAN, is a Professor of Nursing at UCLA, a teacher in the Disability Studies Department, and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. In this episode, Lauren shares insights from her work and reflects on the groundbreaking legacy of Judy Heumann, a trailblazer in disability advocacy. She discusses how they aim to continue Judy’s work through their community partnership project at the Judy Heumann Lab, focusing on the intersectionality of disability, mental health, and immigration/citizenship, and its impact on the campus community. They also explore the concept of “chasms in care,” the importance of language, and the power of community in this work.

Our Judy Heumann Lab:

https://dslabs.ucla.edu/chasms-in-the-continuum-of-care-for-people-with-psychiatric-disabilities/

https://dslabs.ucla.edu/labs/heumann-community-partnerships-lab/2023-2/

The overall Judy Heumann Lab initiative:

https://dslabs.ucla.edu/labs/heumann-community-partnerships-lab/

UCLA Disability Studies

https://www.uei.ucla.edu/academic-programs/disability-studies/

UCLA Disability Studies Inclusion Labs

https://dslabs.ucla.edu/disability-studies/

UCLA Disability Studies creates first disability studies major at a California public university

https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/ucla-creates-first-disability-studies-major-california-public-university

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

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Dr. Ben Miller, PsyD (he/him) returns, he is a fighter of fragmentation, mental health marginalization, a champion of community-based change and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. They discuss Dr. Miller’s blog entitled “Getting mental health right for all” and they break down the issues about involuntary commitment. They talk about moving beyond belief-based policy, asking why we have separate mental health systems and finding the overlap of mental health in everything.

“Getting mental health right for all” by Ben Miller:

https://mentalhealth411.substack.com/p/e84a1ee7-65e2-4b1a-9d0e-dee17a8602bc

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

Pat Deegan is an American disability-rights advocate, psychologist, researcher, the founder of Pat Deegan and Associates and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Pat shares the guided process of identifying and working through personal challenges with using medication. They talk about their personal experiences of being given medication after being hospitalized, the importance of developing a power statement and how we all deserve a voice in our own medication choice.

For more information about Medication Empowerment visit: https://www.patdeegan.com/medication-empowerment

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

Contact the show: [email protected]

Damon Watson (He/Him/His) is the Program Director of the Fellowship Initiative, Vibrant Emotional Health and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Damon emphasizes seeing Black and Brown boys for who they and the importance of just existing. They talk about listening to the voices of our younger people, the power of mentorship and some success stories from The Fellowship Initiative program.

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