Where Are We?

As I journey through building my first nonprofit organization I look at successful entrepreneurs who have done it before me and I’m in awe of the number of books, classes, shows and personal quotes I find written and taught by men. Where are the women? I know we’re out there. I’ve met some of you. But where’s the acclaim for women who launch new ventures and where are the women mentors? I want us to have our 40 acres and a mule too!
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The War On Our Children

Photo by Beverly & Pack

Blackboard Wars, a new show on the OWN network has recently caught my attention. It’s a show about one of the lowest rating, failing schools in America, specifically in New Orleans--John McDonough High School. The show focuses on the principal, Dr. Marvin Thompson, his staff and students and it’s quite an exciting show. I’m thrilled to see another male of color (with a PhD, I might add & add to the ranks of Dr. Steve Perry) taking an active role in the lives of kids of color & in a positive way. Dr. T, as the kids affectionately call him, gives hugs with discipline. He provides a space for the students to contemplate their actions and he encourages them to use their minds to counter emotional reactivity. He talks to them as independent young adults and treats them as real people. He actually cares about them and what happens in their lives.
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Friday #MentalHealth #MythBuster: Mothers Cause Mental Illness

#It is a myth that mothers cause mental illness in their children

#At one time in history, mothers were blamed for causing mental illness in their children

#There are various reasons why children develop mental illness

#Mental illness runs in families, but people without mental illness in their family can develop mental illness
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What Is Social Advocacy?

Founder Asha Tarry w/ TCA volunteers at the SMS Walk (2012)

Since TCA’s inception we have been getting asked, what is social advocacy? Now that we are a nonprofit social advocacy organization not much has changed. Social advocacy is acting on behalf of issues that relate to people and how people relate within society.
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WHY?

Why are we afraid to tell each other the truth? When people misrepresent themselves, lie or make us uncomfortable we mumble and groan and talk about them behind their backs but why aren’t we telling them to their face?
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Friday #MentalHealth #MythBuster: Your Boss Discovering You Have A Mental Illness Can Cost You Your Job

#Every employee has a right to privacy, with certain stipulations, for mental health treatment

#Your boss is not entitled to know your mental health diagnosis, though your employer may, for payee/payor purposes

#Your employer is legally not allowed to discriminate against you for having a mental health diagnosis

#HIPAA is the legislation passed in 1996 to protect & secure patient health information
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Categories, Check Here

Photo by: League of Women Voters of California

I was reading one of my psychology books when the word “category” suddenly popped into my head. I considered how many categories we are put in everyday, starting at birth. Before you ever leave the hospital you’re assigned at least 2 or 3 categories: gender, race/ethnicity. You don’t have any say so in it. Boom! it’s just attached to you by someone with the authority to do so and follows you throughout life.
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New Jack Nino Browns

I was watching one of my favorite urban films the other night, New Jack City, and I still remember the sensational energy surrounding the film 20 years ago as if it were just released. There’s the element of power that a lot of us feel when watching these type of gangster/action films that for fleeting moments we almost think we know these characters or could live like these characters live, in our minds. Or do we actually know some young people already living out these characters in real life?
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Friday #MentalHealth #MythBuster: People Who Talk About Suicide Aren't Serious About Dying

#When someone says they are going to kill themselves you should always take them seriously

#Suicidal thoughts are a serious symptom of depression

#Many people everyday have thoughts of death and suicide

#Not everyone who thinks about dying commits suicide

#About 1 million Americans a year receive help for suicidal thoughts, attempts and plans*
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Blog Talk Radio

Guest: Dr. Sidney Hankerson

Segment: "Inter-generational Depression Among African Americans"
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What The History?

It's a few days into Black History Month or as the Obamas call it, African American History Month, and I'm wondering what history we're really telling this month and the months thereafter. Not long ago, Black History Month was a week-long celebration of black history and culture, students may have crammed book reports and class presentations into that one week as if the three most popular African Americans all kids learn about in school--Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth and Martin Luther King--came to life all over again. But then what happened following that week?
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Community Service Becomes Nonprofit Business

A year ago I started a blog, thecollectiveA.blogspot.com, with a couple of friends. It was a platform to create dialogue about complex social issues in our society. My vision was to get people talking online, outside and in the office about the insane things happening all around us that frankly we weren’t taking seriously--- everything from assaultive conflicts with city bus drivers to seniors who talked about and celebrities who actually did, commit suicide. But beyond that, I wanted to create a community; a nationwide community of thinkers and believers who feel strongly about changing the dialogue among ordinary people and create empowering strategies to bring everyone into conversation about things that impact society. 

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