Mental Health and Healing

Creating Cultures of Care within Black and Brown Communities

Creating cultures of care include an examination of the determinants of health and wellness. To the extent that this analysis demonstrates gaps, the care requires initiatives that are inclusive of all people impacted; the culture must transform.

Too often the physical, mental and emotional needs of Black men and boys are over-looked, ignored. They want to heal and change how they/we are perceived, however, find it difficult to do so unless things within our physical environment change as well. The lack of access to affordably decent housing, nutritious food and underperforming public schools have become standards in our black and brown neighborhoods.

This episode of Profound Conversations is a healing call for our Black community, with a focus on men and boys, to talk about what keeps us sane, where to find love and joy and how we must come together to elevate our spirits and rest our souls, which is OUR RIGHT AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY. Together we need to redefine what it means to be WELL.

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Conversationalists:

Troy Smith

Professor of Sociology, North Shore Community College

Richard A. Rowe

Resident consultant for the Black Mental Heath Alliance

Sadiq Ali

Author, Advocate Founding Executive Director Mentor Maryland

Hazel Taylor

Clinical Nurse Specialist Psychiatric-Mental Health

Dayvon Love

Director of Public Policy at Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle

Dr. Aneesah Nadir

President, CoFounder Islamic Social Services Association-USA

Show Topics and Highlights

Importance of mental health and healing in black and brown communities as a critical component of black liberation

Emphasis on the importance of clarity and collective action for black liberation, citing the need to determine the goal and address critical components such as social, economic, and spiritual well-being

Rowe highlights the challenges of programming that hinders black people from depending on themselves and instead relies on the oppressor for liberation, emphasizing the need to connect the dots and come together as a collective to elevate themselves and move their agenda forward

Dayvon Love highlights the significance of historiography in shaping our personal relationship to history and how it impacts our solutions to problems

Healers and mental health professionals can enhance cultural competence to better serve black communities

Importance of intergenerational connection and valuing one another's perspectives to address mental health issues

Challenges of finding a sense of belonging for young people of color in a system not designed for them, and the importance of grounding them in history and the movement

Hazel Taylor Smith discusses challenges in providing mental health care in the community, including insurance issues and limited resources

Value of listening and being present for his children, rather than trying to mold them, and recognizes the importance of working in partnership with his wife in the parenting journey

Value of fatherhood and partnership in African-centered perspective, with a focus on building healthy marriages and communities

Dr. Aneesah Nadir emphasizes the importance of premarital education and counseling to prepare couples for marriage and prevent potential issues

Providing education and support from elders and spiritual leaders can help couples navigate challenges and strengthen their relationship

Importance of building a culture of care that is strength-based, life-affirming, healing-centered, and transformationally focused on every black and brown person

Importance of intergenerational understanding and appreciation of cultural artifacts in creating a culture of care

Profound Conversations Executive Producers are the Muslim Life Planning Institute, a national community building organization whose mission is to establish pathways to lifelong learning and healthy communities at the local, national and global level.   MLPN.life

The Profound Conversations podcast is produced by Erika Christie www.ErikaChristie.com