Unapologetically Black Unicorns Keris Jän Myrick

Michelle Kotval (she/her) is the Senior Attorney at Disability Rights California (DRC) and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Michele gives some background on DRC, their “Stuck“ report and the work being done to shine the light on investing in the community. They talk the neglect of people who are forced into locked mental health facilities, the racial disparities of this population of folks and she explains some key difference between acute hospitals, subacute facilities, board and care and community-based services They also discuss concerns around new changes for people who can be conserved.
Disability Rights California - “STUCK: Los Angeles County’s Abuse and Neglect of People on Mental Health Conservatorships in Jail and Locked Psychiatric Facilities.”:  https://www.disabilityrightsca.org/report/stuck-los-angeles-countys-abuse-and-neglect-of-people-on-mental-health-conservatorships
 
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
 
A transcript for this episode is available: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XQ9RgRdcT9r_JOwiBqStn6mDJF-HyTWA/view
 

Keris spent the last couple of weeks with her father. During their visit, Keris had to help navigate her father’s health benefits as a veteran so for Memorial Day there was some reflection on her father’s service. Keris reads an emotional story she wrote about that time when her father went off to Vietnam and the effects it had on her as a little girl.

Haner Hernández (he/him) Ph.D., CPS, CADCII, LADCI has worked for 34 years in the health and human service field developing, implementing, and evaluating culturally and linguistically intelligent youth and adult health prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery support programs and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Haner shares when came over to the United States with his mother when he was 4 years old from Puerto Rico and what it means to him to be a person in long term recovery. They talk about the immigration experience coming into the U.S., the issue with the prison system, the progression of pharmaceutical advertising, racism and the multiple pathways to recovery.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Candis Welch (she/hers) is a DEI (A) Practitioner, Disability Advocate, Ms. Wheelchair of California and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Candis speaks on why she got into the advocacy and activism space and how she uses her title of Ms. Wheelchair of California to help inspire others in diverse communities. They talk about accessibility and inclusion with disability, helping businesses be more inclusive and thriving with intention.
To learn more about Candis Welch visit: https://www.candiswelch.com/
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Jeff Olivet (he/him) is the executive director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Jeff shares how housing is healthcare, and that homelessness is solvable and it’s preventable. They talk about how homelessness is a cross-systems failure and how it requires cross-systems solutions, the importance of having the safety of a place to stay with a door that locks behind you and the cross section of homelessness and mental health.
For more information about USICH visit: https://www.usich.gov/about/usich
 
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Mihae Jung Lozano (she/her) is a social worker, advocate and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Mihae talks about being curious, creative and a creator. They talk about the benefits of growing up as global citizens, identifying your personal value and being authentically you.
Anchor Journals: https://www.anchorjournals.com/
 
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline