How long have you been a member of the Black Health Network, and what drew you to CBHN?

I have been a member since April 2023. What drew me to CBHN is its powerful mission to advance Black health equity in California through policy change, community organizing, and promoting health literacy. As a proud Black Californian, CBHN aligns perfectly with my goals throughout my career: amplifying Black voices, enhancing our community’s mental wellness, and supporting the legacy of Black life.

What is your current profession?

I am the founder and CEO of Shame Proof Parenting, where I provide culturally affirming mental health services for families and training for mental health professionals. Additionally, I serve as an adjunct professor teaching Multicultural Counseling at Pepperdine University. My research explores Black family mental wellness and the intersections of pop culture, geekdom, and the Black experience, emphasizing culturally responsive approaches to healing.

From your perspective, what barriers exist in achieving health equity for Black Californians?

From my experience as a scholar and advocate, primary barriers to achieving health equity for Black Californians include deeply embedded systemic racism, pervasive implicit bias in mental health and healthcare settings, and a significant lack of culturally affirming care that genuinely reflects Black lived experiences. Through my work and research, I've observed firsthand how systemic oppression, intergenerational trauma, socioeconomic stressors, and limited access to culturally responsive mental health resources perpetuate health disparities. My work consistently emphasizes dismantling these systemic obstacles, training professionals in cultural expansion (a fusion of humility, awareness, and competency), and empowering Black communities through advocacy, culturally relevant education, and inclusive policymaking.

Both in your work and with CBHN, how have you been able to prioritize the health of Black Californians?

In both my professional journey and my partnership with CBHN, prioritizing the health of Black Californians has meant actively engaging in advocacy and creating intentional community spaces. Participating in CBHN's Health Equity Awareness Training (HEAT) enhanced my capacity to address systemic inequities in mental health through informed policy advocacy. Additionally, advocating directly with policymakers during CBHN's lobby days at the California Capitol allowed me to spotlight critical health equity issues impacting Black families, amplifying voices often overlooked in policy discussions. Most recently, hosting a networking event in Orange County provided a platform for local stakeholders to present research on health disparities among Black residents, fostering vital community dialogue and collaboration. I am committed to integrating culturally responsive mental wellness into every facet of my advocacy, research, and community engagement.

What inspires you to keep doing the work you do?

Growing up in a kinship-care family in South Central LA during the 90s and 2000s, health equity has always been personal. Witnessing Black people in my community face health inequities, social barriers, and marginalization in policy and legislation ignited my passion for social justice and advocacy. These formative experiences guided me toward a career in social work focused on family services. Today, my drive comes from a deep commitment to dismantling oppressive systems and fostering holistic well-being for my Black community.

What's the bravest thing you've ever done?

As difficult as this is to share, the bravest thing I ever did was commit to healing from years of familial abuse and trauma. While my upbringing laid the foundation for who I am today, healing required courage, vulnerability, and an intentional journey inward. Facing this personal history has profoundly strengthened my capacity to help others and continues to anchor my work in authenticity and empathy.

What's the best advice you've ever received?

The best advice I've ever received was to learn how to "just be." As a Black woman in a society that demands constant productivity and perfection, I internalized a mindset that often led to burnout, even within the spaces I love deeply. A mentor who trained me in the trauma-informed modality of Brainspotting gently taught me that a critical part of the journey was learning to simply exist without pressure to constantly prove myself. This lesson transformed how I approach my path, helping me understand my life as flowing according to a divine rhythm, allowing me the grace and peace to move authentically through each moment.