WHAT WILL THE AUDIENCE LEARN?
The audience will gain perspective on how to make a personal impact on dismantling racism.
EPISODE SUMMARY:
Take a walk through your neighborhood. Explore your community. Look closely at what's happening in the world. What do you see? What do you notice about racial inequities? What is lacking within your racial group? What needs to change? Answering these questions is one way to begin the process of dismantling racism. We can not address a problem that we do not see. Making a personal impact in dismantling racism happens when we notice and act.
Join Rev. Dr. TLC. and her guest, Lakisha Coppedge, as they discuss the latter's work in her community. Lakisha, who is a professional diversity, equity, and inclusion expert, noticed the need for mental health support in the black and brown communities. She is now hosting the third annual mental health forum. Listen in and be inspired to make a difference.
coppedgeconsulting.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lakisha-coppedge-90222982/
KEY WORDS:
#revdrtlc
#dismantleracismwithrevdrtlc
#dismantleracismshow
#healingseparationfromtheinsideout
#mentalhealthcarnival
#findyourcourch
Tune in for this important conversation at TalkRadio.nyc
Rev. Dr. TLC informs her listeners why she hosts this show every week and how she wants to inspire others to dismantle racism with her shared stories. She encourages her audience to find their breath and to join her in a guided meditation. Rev. Dr. TLC starts the show by reminding everyone that July is mental health awareness month for people of color. She points out the stigmas in the community and how it affects generations. Before the break, there is an introduction to Rev. Dr. TLC’s guest, Lakisha Coppedge. She is a professional diversity, equity, and inclusion expert who noticed the need for mental health support in the black and brown communities. She is now hosting the third annual mental health forum. Rev. Dr. TLC asks Lakisha what tools she uses to keep herself grounded.
Lakisha tells Rev. Dr. TLC her mission at Coppedge Consulting and her role in diversity, equity, and inclusion. She discusses their program and talks about the tools they offer. There is no set program, and each program will accommodate the client. Rev. Dr. TLC and Lakisha talk about the importance of self-reflection. Rev. Dr. TLC asked Laskisha what made her focus on mental health in the black community. Lakisha explains she had to stay true to herself and knew she had to start from within. Lakisha is holding her third annal mental health carnaival. She explains that her team is extremely intentional and wanted to make sure she could bring fun to the mental health struggle.
Rev. Dr. TLC and Lakisha talk about the stigma we have about mental health in the black community. Lakisha explains that she had to change the narrative for herself in order to help people see mental health through a different lens. She talks about how she had to accept that vulnerability is necessary because its what will keep you going during tough times. Rev. Dr. TLC talks about how trauma isn’t always an outcome of something being directly done to you. Lakisha talks about her “couch” sessions and how she needed a professional who looked like her so she can relate and understand her. Rev. Dr. TLC says that is not to say a someone who isn’t black can’t provide a service to the community because its depends solely only what is the issue at hand.
Rev. Dr. TLC asks Lakisha to share some of her challenges she faced putting the mental health carnaival together. Lakisha talks about what you can find at the carnival and how they offer therapists on site if you need someone to talk to. Rev. Dr. TLC and Lakisha talk about the attendance and how the carnival attendance is at an all time high. Lakisha shares that the support of her family is what pushes her to keep going. If you would like to learn more about Lakisha Coppedge you can find her at CoppedgeConsulting.com
00:01:24.490 --> 00:01:32.509 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: We're back with the dismantled racism show my guest today is like he should cop edge, and before our break
00:01:32.530 --> 00:01:41.709 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I was inviting you, when we returned, to talk to us a little bit about what is the work that you do in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
00:01:42.340 --> 00:02:07.899 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: our mission at coverage consulting. And I can't do this work along with my cultural consultants. We hope to foster awareness, share representation and impact the collective goal while uplifting through a humble approach and providing strategic planning to support an organization or institutions commitment to equity.
00:02:07.910 --> 00:02:37.839 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: inclusion and belonging. And we do this in multiple ways. We provide specialized training to the organizations. For example, if we are working with the financial institution, our curriculum will be shaped with examples to reflect the community that we're working with, and if it's a a different institution, then, of course, it would be relatable in how we approach the curriculum. There isn't a cookie cutter program that we offer. We
00:02:37.840 --> 00:03:04.899 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: pride ourselves and specializing to industry and organization as well as going into those organizations and providing an equity audit strategy with that includes some of those specialized trainings particular to their their issues and barriers that they see, and that that has been uncovered through our process
00:03:04.930 --> 00:03:05.930 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: workshop
00:03:06.090 --> 00:03:30.279 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: in diversity or 2 workshops and diversity. And then they say we've talked about this enough. Right? They say I'm competent. I know it all. I'm good. I can connect this work. I'm I don't need any more. Well, what I tell them is that our philosophy of cultural humility is grounded in the reason why the consumed learning is needed, and it isn't a one off. We are very transparent, and saying that not
00:03:30.470 --> 00:03:46.439 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: all, not even our training. Our one off or that box checked is is going to change minds. I I'll start with the first tenant of the culture, humility, philosophy, and it's self reflection, critical self reflection, and lifelong learning.
00:03:46.440 --> 00:04:10.299 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: And once we put in our mind that we are never all knowing right, we're we're not I. I already, said I. I'm a spiritual person, so, my lord above is the only entity that I know. That is all knowing, and we are not all knowing, and we must continue to seek out professional development understanding, because different situations will spark different things that are embedded in us, that we may not have touched on at this time.
00:04:10.360 --> 00:04:18.399 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: I would say, first of all, let's have a a a mind shift and understand the importance of lifelong learning and critical self-reflection.
00:04:18.519 --> 00:04:21.219 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I I love that because
00:04:21.610 --> 00:04:43.450 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: The other thing that happens with self reflection is is that we understand that that our perspective is just, that it is only our perspective. It does not mean that is true, and if we were to, as one of my colleagues and Marie shrouded, says that if we were to just think about that is the perspective for me.
00:04:43.550 --> 00:05:00.880 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: for me, not not for all of us, because, even though, let's say, the 2 of us for 2 women. We're 2 women of color. we're 2 women who teach about diversity, equity, and inclusion. But our perspectives are very, very different in terms of
00:05:00.920 --> 00:05:11.290 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: how we think about race. I'm sure I how we approach even teaching it. So that's the other thing that people have to understand? You can ask people who are very similar
00:05:11.370 --> 00:05:16.240 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: the same question. and get 2 different responses. And
00:05:16.680 --> 00:05:40.130 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: like we had a conversation about African American versus black. What do you like to be called? So? It's not okay. If I say to a person, call me African American to go ask somebody else, what do you like to be calls so that you can try to dispute right? And so I really appreciate you talking about being expansive and letting people know that
00:05:40.460 --> 00:05:48.580 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: it's not. Just take it, of course, from you. It's taking course from multiple people. Or it's immersing yourself in multiple ways. So
00:05:48.810 --> 00:05:51.139 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: what sparked you to
00:05:51.520 --> 00:05:55.689 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: become interested in doing work, in diversity.
00:05:55.760 --> 00:05:57.260 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: In the first place.
00:05:58.030 --> 00:06:01.949 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: I'm a black woman. I do with my
00:06:01.960 --> 00:06:05.670 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: series of diverse racism
00:06:05.790 --> 00:06:16.100 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: and the intersectionalities that I carry, and I believe if you ask the family member, they will say I've been doing this work for my entire life.
00:06:16.190 --> 00:06:37.150 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: I've always been the person, the child who would advocate for the disenfranchise, or I tried to. I was the one who tried to keep peace in the family, and as an early educator, which I pride myself as a a an early educator forever. This was a part of my curriculum as well as
00:06:37.370 --> 00:07:04.519 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: the staff that worked with us. We prided ourselves and creating a culturally sensitive environment. I didn't have the language at that time about cultural melody, cultural sensitivity. I just knew that how I felt from the things that I incurred, the things that I saw around me, becoming more and more educated and aware of what was actually happening, and realized that it was my responsibility
00:07:04.520 --> 00:07:14.170 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: to space. Right? We all have a a responsibility. It great space to utilize our privilege platforms effectively.
00:07:14.230 --> 00:07:39.449 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: And I I want it to be the underdog, the underdog, the under privilege, disenfranchised advocate and champion ambassador, and therefore I put myself in the space of learning, of teaching and trying to be the best example I can for not just my family, but also for my community. And that's constant battle every day
00:07:39.450 --> 00:07:48.159 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: to show up and show out to continue to do that. But you know I have to tell you what I just love
00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:51.570 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: this phrase, cultural humility, because
00:07:51.920 --> 00:08:07.210 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: that already sets the stage when someone is going to work with you. It's in the name it didn't that we have to humble ourselves in order to do this work absolutely. So if you're not ready to do that.
00:08:08.460 --> 00:08:16.699 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: yeah, maybe maybe you don't need to show up to this particular training, because when I hear that work that means that you're going to push
00:08:16.850 --> 00:08:24.120 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: bush people to do that. And I think that what you just described in your journey shows that humility.
00:08:24.390 --> 00:08:31.369 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: It shows where you had to do that, that self reflection. And and even though it may be your
00:08:31.840 --> 00:08:38.209 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: natural gift, you're born to do it, it's what your call to do. That gift has to be nurtured.
00:08:38.230 --> 00:08:44.620 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and I know from doing this work that you have to humble yourself
00:08:44.950 --> 00:09:04.619 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: a whole bunch when people say crazy things during during your training, you have to to not be reactive to that. So so what you should. Let's let's just shift a little bit if we could, because it's really imported. the work that you're doing on versus equity and inclusion.
00:09:06.360 --> 00:09:11.859 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: You do this work on a daily basis. But you don't stop there.
00:09:12.580 --> 00:09:22.150 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: It's personal for you, I mean, we live it obviously as black women. We live live this every day. It could be daunting to do it
00:09:23.110 --> 00:09:34.850 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: as a profession and as a calling. But now you've chosen to carry it in your community in a different way by looking at mental health. It's so.
00:09:35.040 --> 00:09:38.509 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Talk to me a little bit about
00:09:38.690 --> 00:09:43.490 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: why mental health? What prompted you to take a look
00:09:43.930 --> 00:09:46.330 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: at mental health? And the black community
00:09:46.880 --> 00:09:59.489 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: being true to myself in the couch that I needed during a national pandemic national pandemics. We, as a as a community of black and bypass individuals.
00:09:59.490 --> 00:10:23.790 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: find ourselves in this space of police brutality rate, a heightened racism, maybe every 5 to 10 years, and we look at it as though it's brand new. But to have to deal with this while we're isolated through the pandemic COVID-19 really brought a lot to the forefront as well as social media had brought a lot to the forefront about what disparities and and traumatic
00:10:23.990 --> 00:10:27.519 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: things that were happening in our community, and
00:10:27.550 --> 00:10:31.649 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: and really sitting with it and needing my couch.
00:10:31.680 --> 00:10:35.980 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: I said you, how else can you? Can I use my platform?
00:10:36.030 --> 00:10:50.589 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I have a section of my of my company that is about community engagement I give in private. I give openly, and and that's not just for finances that's of resources as of time, that's of attention that's serving on boards in the community.
00:10:50.960 --> 00:11:07.960 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: However, I needed this for me, and I don't sound selfish often, but that was a selfish move for me to say I need this for me. And who else needs this? Well, so. So from my perspective.
00:11:08.310 --> 00:11:27.240 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: everything I look at in life is based on sacred, selfish, and shared. It's just turning inward to do the self examination. So thank you for being selfish, because, as a result of that, tell me what you have started. Then tell me about the Carnival that's coming up.
00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:35.780 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: Yes, we are in its Trinity year, which is the third annual year for this mental health carnival.
00:11:35.780 --> 00:11:59.850 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: and we're intentional with it, being a carnival, because we want to also bring forward the fun, the the happiness, the things, the the circus of the mind, if you will, that happens throughout the mental health struggle, and I'm intentional with calling it mental health people. It had suggested health and wellness, and I want it to be intentional, because mental health we want to destigmatize
00:11:59.850 --> 00:12:03.740 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: those birds, and this year it's affectionately titled.
00:12:03.770 --> 00:12:33.110 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: Let us help you find your couch, and it's a holistic approach in doing so. And it is. There's a lot of restrictions around grants, and I want it to be the walking example of in terms of copyright consulting, of saying, I am not going to put you in a box. I'm going to create a create in space of equity of couch needs, and or the funding will go to those who apply who attend and who
00:12:33.270 --> 00:12:38.240 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: are brave enough to say I I would like this help without any intrusion.
00:12:38.330 --> 00:12:59.770 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: Just show up. And so what's the funding? What are you? What are you getting? So we provide $500 grants we've been able to provide. Oh, $5,000 total in the last 2 years, and we are hoping to do more than that this year. We have a a solid funder who provides a great portion. And then we fundraise
00:12:59.770 --> 00:13:13.069 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: through various sponsorship levels. and it's just so exciting to see the community come together whether they show can show up physically, but to support financially for our community.
00:13:13.110 --> 00:13:20.130 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Yes. So what happens at the Carnival. I know we have to take a oh, okay, but it actually will show up.
00:13:20.130 --> 00:13:43.359 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: We have a license therapist that meets the demographic that we're supporting this particular year which we've expanded to the Latinx community. So we have local therapist and counselors. We have local resource and awareness organizations that support those who are need of mental health support and care. We have food. Of course, we have activities. We have sound healing workshop this year. We're so blessed.
00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:58.120 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: We have a massage therapist and someone who can read your blood pressure make sure it's okay for you to get in there and get a massage and tons of fun for children and families as well as vendors, who will want to share their resources and connect you with the organizations that can help.
00:13:58.210 --> 00:14:26.140 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: So people can just show up in it at this point on Saturday. So you can go to my website and see if there's still space and registered there. I don't know if I should share that now, but it's a Www. Dot coppage consulting.com click on community engagement, and or you can email me through the contact. If the fee is a hardship, feel free to respond. I have a very limited amount of seats, because
00:14:26.140 --> 00:14:30.549 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: people have been engaging, and they are interested in coming. So we are more than halfway.
00:14:30.550 --> 00:14:50.370 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: more than about 75 to 80% at capacity. So if you're interested, go sign up today. Oh, that's awesome. That's awesome. Look you should. We gotta take a quick break, and then we're gonna come back and continue to talk a little bit more about mental health as well, particularly in our community. This is the dismantle racism show. We'll be right back
00:16:52.100 --> 00:17:06.720 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: We're back with my guest, Laquesia Coppage today, and Lakisha, you know we were talking about at at the beginning of the show I talked about sometimes in our community. There's the stigma
00:17:06.790 --> 00:17:09.840 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: with going to get mental health treatment.
00:17:09.990 --> 00:17:25.209 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Tell me a little bit about the narrative that you had to change in your head to say, it's okay for me to go and find my couch, and I love that reference. Finding my couch and sitting on the couch talking to your therapist, so talk a little bit about that.
00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:32.600 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: I think the biggest narrative that I had to break down in myself, and what I felt as
00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:36.370 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: a strong black woman is that vulnerability is okay.
00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:42.799 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: Vulnerability is necessary. Vulnerability is what will keep you going.
00:17:42.900 --> 00:18:00.840 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: and it as it's sustainable. And so in thinking about the narrative of a of a strong black woman. It's a black woman doing everything. being everything, knowing everything, supporting everything. And therefore I realized I am a superwoman. But I'm not.
00:18:01.170 --> 00:18:09.690 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: I'm not against being vulnerable, but I am trying to change the strong black woman narrative, and also as a Christian
00:18:09.870 --> 00:18:26.979 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: growing up as a Christian. I I I was told to just pray about it, and I believe there's a power in prayer. But faith without works is dead. So therefore I must put action behind the prayer in action behind.
00:18:27.010 --> 00:18:30.389 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: just even meditation, it takes action.
00:18:30.410 --> 00:18:33.240 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So so let's talk about that for a minute, because, you know.
00:18:33.380 --> 00:18:46.549 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I I think there are a lot of ways that religion will wounds people, and I know I can only speak from being in a black church, because well, I used to pass, or predominantly white church, but just in terms of the things that we say.
00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:54.539 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I think it's very harmful to say, just pray about it or You're not praying hard enough.
00:18:54.840 --> 00:18:57.750 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: not praying hard enough, because otherwise.
00:18:57.800 --> 00:19:06.369 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: you know, you wouldn't have depression. You wouldn't have anxiety, or you did something to cause this. And so I think that
00:19:06.390 --> 00:19:17.319 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: it's very important, particularly when we're talking about dismantling racism is to dismantle those views that we have in our community
00:19:17.820 --> 00:19:36.990 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: about getting help and church, since for many of us George has been always a significant part, even historically, with us, and so we have to dismantle the narratives that we've had heard. Maybe our parents or aunties or grandparents say to us.
00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:50.540 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: we have to dismantle those, and I think the other thing that we have to do is we have to really realize that there is intergenerational trauma.
00:19:50.750 --> 00:20:06.859 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So back from the days in which we were enslaved and had our children taken away from us, and had to learn how to emotionally deal with our babies being ripped from us, or being treated like animals, and just had to stiff it up
00:20:06.910 --> 00:20:08.580 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: because crying
00:20:08.860 --> 00:20:13.700 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: didn't serve a purpose. In fact, it might hurt us. Those things have been carried along.
00:20:13.830 --> 00:20:24.800 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: The generational trauma of being enslaved has been carried along. And so it's important for us to get mental health. mental health help
00:20:24.860 --> 00:20:43.950 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: absolutely. I started out when you asked me about my comfortable space. Or what do I go through? I said. I'm a spiritual person. It's because I'm challenging the man-made portions of religion. And so when I speak to my spirituality. It's about my connection with with my God.
00:20:43.950 --> 00:20:59.380 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and that means I have to connect right. I have to continue to learn. I have to continue to seek, and I have to continue to pray and put the work behind it. Well, and I think what's beautiful about what you're saying. If we when we're talking about your connection with God, you're not your mamas.
00:20:59.380 --> 00:21:09.299 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: not anybody else is your. And then, if we get to this place where we can connect with our sacred source. That source is going to
00:21:09.730 --> 00:21:20.910 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: tell you what's the best for you, and that's why, like in my book on on Sacred racism, the sacred intelligence during the bait where? Where I'm looking at?
00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:23.589 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: you know that faith journey
00:21:23.910 --> 00:21:32.499 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: right? What are you connected with? What's your motive for even doing this work. And so when we think about mental health.
00:21:32.510 --> 00:21:37.830 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: what is the motive for? Why you're going to get mental health treatment?
00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:49.659 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: And that's because something is not right and that we can't continue to carry these burden. So you had to change that narrative in order to say.
00:21:49.950 --> 00:21:50.840 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: You know.
00:21:51.120 --> 00:22:18.880 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I'm gonna go find my couch. So was that hard for you? Was it difficult when you told people? Hey, look, I'm changing. I'm changing my my story here absolutely, because what it does it is create space for us to look internally where, where most people around us are expecting us to be external beings and caring for their mental health through our actions, really internalizing what we need to, not only for us, but also to be a better friend, sister, daughter, wife.
00:22:18.880 --> 00:22:30.049 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: dot dot. And so when I announced the need for this, we were going as a family, as a nation, as a community, through some of the most troubling and
00:22:31.190 --> 00:22:32.889 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: just awful
00:22:33.280 --> 00:22:51.399 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: situations in our lives. I, personally was dealing with loss, and I was with with lost by my brother. I've lost his battle with mental health, and it was devastating, and although I felt a kind of a push to make it about, make the focus about black men.
00:22:51.400 --> 00:23:20.579 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: I had to put myself first, and therefore our first year's focus was focused on black women. Although we were open for any member of the bypass community to apply. We brought in representation from the Black Woman therapy community specialist community resources. We're very intention of intentional about representation. Our second year was about men. My husband is my Co. My my deputy principal and co-founder of of an initiative called Voices. Excuse me of the barbershop.
00:23:20.580 --> 00:23:32.080 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: and he was intentional, bringing black men, leaders and and community members. Because again, that couch is different. It's not the traditional therapist. It's maybe I need a mentoring group.
00:23:32.080 --> 00:23:56.380 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: Maybe I need to, you know. Get up at one of these these spaces and play some basketball, because I'm I'm inundated with others all day, and I want to think about. And I want to think about my mental health. And this year we opened it up to the Latinx community, and our therapist represents that community. Our our vendors are are even those who are bringing. As I mentioned, our vendors, we have new community leaders
00:23:56.380 --> 00:24:25.080 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: who are coming in new businesses that I'm supporting to bring them in intentionally to support this event. So we know about that. You are absolutely opening the minds up of so many different people, because you just think about how much we're starting to talk about mental health more. Just you deciding you're going to be an example of that now, doing this carnival. You're bringing out so many people who are really starting to say, Hey, wait a minute.
00:24:25.080 --> 00:24:50.930 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: It's just sadness I'm feeling. Maybe it's not so normal. Maybe this anxiety I'm feeling is not so normal, and we know, see, this is well, maybe some people don't. But yeah, I think you and I do. We know that sometimes when people present in very irritable ways, very angry ways, ready to chop your head off for no reason is because inside they're not feeling good, they're not feeling well.
00:24:50.930 --> 00:24:57.539 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and that's the best way that they know how to express it. Sometimes those people have been traumatized
00:24:57.540 --> 00:25:06.840 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: which I can to think about trauma in the mental health community isn't always because something has been done directly to you.
00:25:07.150 --> 00:25:10.410 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: When we watch black men
00:25:10.670 --> 00:25:17.549 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: being beaten and killed and and and maligned by the police.
00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:37.670 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: That's traumatic to us when we are hyper vigilant when we go in a store, which we often are. wondering if somebody is going to accuse us of something, or or tell us we can't afford something in the store. We go into an expensive store like. Oh, no, I don't think you want to look at that bad because it's probably too much.
00:25:38.340 --> 00:25:41.570 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: How do you know how much Monday may like? It's the daily
00:25:41.670 --> 00:26:01.869 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: that's really micro questions that occur, that stuff weighs on us. And so the the issue for our listeners here is to really understand the multiple ways. Mental health impacts us as people of color, and why it's important for us to get help. So
00:26:02.150 --> 00:26:05.349 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: when you needed to find your couch
00:26:05.940 --> 00:26:13.810 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and to start looking for a therapist, what is one of the first things you did to say. I'm going to go find the help.
00:26:14.900 --> 00:26:33.830 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: I was true to the fact that I needed it, and I couldn't fix it. My husband couldn't fix it. My mother, the the pastor, couldn't fix it. My spirituality, God was saying, I approve. Once I I prayed through and heard God saying, I approve you using my man or woman, or they are them right
00:26:33.830 --> 00:26:47.200 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: to help you. That's when I said, Okay, and it wasn't easy. I had an intense research process, because finding therapists that look like me that can relate to
00:26:47.580 --> 00:27:05.590 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: what I've gone through as a black woman, as a black business owner, as a mother, as a, as a daughter, as a, as a wife it was difficult, and I needed a a different cultural perspective to be able to say, I'm comfortable with you. As as the the the therapist was going to guide my my healing.
00:27:05.600 --> 00:27:19.240 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: so part of the daily team well, you're you're bringing up something really important here and there might be a white therapist out there who's listening, or or therapist of another race who same? But I could help you, because I understand
00:27:19.520 --> 00:27:22.290 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: that you've experienced racism.
00:27:23.070 --> 00:27:27.499 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Why is it still important for you to have someone who looks like you?
00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:36.079 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: Because the reality and what we know, and if they're really true to themselves, they could never experience what I've gone through
00:27:36.190 --> 00:27:39.230 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: as a lakisha or as a black woman
00:27:39.530 --> 00:27:52.300 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: if they don't, if they don't look like me, if they don't share the same pigment in terms of representation, you cannot, and and 100% honest. I tried all
00:27:52.470 --> 00:28:11.960 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: hmm, and therefore I I needed to settle for someone who was relatable to my needs. And that meant going multiple times, not just looking at the person because of what, how they identify, but also hearing them and understanding that they now hear me. And
00:28:11.960 --> 00:28:27.250 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and then something connected. So so I'm gonna push back just a little bit on this. Now, my, do, I get people all the time who want to come to me for that very same reason, and I get it. You know I get it. I want to have somebody that looks like me as well.
00:28:27.650 --> 00:28:43.790 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: But that's not to say. And I think this is really important for our listeners to know. That's not to say that a person who doesn't look like us can't help us, because it first of all, it depends on what your issue is that you're going to treatment for. So I want to say that
00:28:43.810 --> 00:28:52.529 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: first and foremost, secondly, I want to say for anyone out here, though. who wants to provide therapy
00:28:52.610 --> 00:29:12.820 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: for people who don't look like them and who are not a part of your same group, whatever that is. It is important for you to to get to know that group. And it takes more than going to a workshop so that you can understand that person when they come in, and that you're not giving them advice that doesn't work
00:29:13.030 --> 00:29:21.090 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: within the realm of their community. because I think that what happens is is that when we don't understand people racially.
00:29:21.250 --> 00:29:30.259 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: sometimes we're given advice based on our experience. And it's not relevant. It's not going to work.
00:29:30.550 --> 00:29:37.589 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: And so the other thing is, it's also frustrating for us when we want to talk about race.
00:29:38.620 --> 00:29:58.370 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: And people want to say, Well, it's not really about race. It's about blah blah blah. Can I add to to my comment? I I'm using, I statements I'm using. Why, I believe that my couch that I have currently is most effective for me, but for you works for you.
00:29:58.430 --> 00:30:22.909 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: and you're not. No one's discounted just by how they show up. I value the input and the partnership and collaboration from all ethnic groups. All those who bring a passion to do this work. I diversify my cultural consulting team by not just race, but by industry, knowledge about generational comp complement. Right? I'm not a millennial.
00:30:22.910 --> 00:30:29.340 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: I remember, which, Jen, I am sometimes, but the understanding, the need to be.
00:30:29.430 --> 00:30:37.440 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: That's right, right. I only use I statements on what? Where I am now, and the journey to get here.
00:30:37.740 --> 00:30:51.309 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and why, you know. And Lakisha. I really appreciate that we do have to take a break. I just wanted to make sure that we are sending the mess. I appreciate that you're saying, I, and not a lot of people are going to hear
00:30:51.310 --> 00:31:10.850 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: that that you're making an I paper. And so that's why I want to be clear with our list of audience. You have to find the therapist. That is right for you. I do agree with you going to someone who understands your culture and your race a little bit more. It takes down some of the the initial stuff that you have to explain
00:31:10.990 --> 00:31:26.940 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: right? And you can speak in a language that you're familiar with speaking with it. You don't have to always explain what something, what something means, because they get it, and they know. But look, we have to take a quick break, and we're going to be right back with our final segment of the dismantled racism show
00:33:31.370 --> 00:33:33.170 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Oh, Lakisha.
00:33:33.190 --> 00:33:42.560 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: we are back, and we're in our final segment there. There are so many things I would love to continue to talk about, particularly around mental health.
00:33:44.010 --> 00:34:07.559 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: But our time is limited, of course. And I want to just encourage people, though, to really go out. You're in the Springfield area to really go out on Saturday to the Carnival. If you've not already registered. And so a little bit I I want to invite you to leave your website again. But, like you should, you know, I know that putting a carnival together was not easy.
00:34:08.100 --> 00:34:16.929 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and talk to me just a little bit. Just what were some of the challenges that you would say that you had with putting this together. So to make folks aware
00:34:17.070 --> 00:34:19.930 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: of the importance of this, the buy in
00:34:20.050 --> 00:34:32.529 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: the stigmatizing that it's even necessary. The the community coming out, as is this real? And what do I have to tell you about my business
00:34:32.530 --> 00:34:51.700 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: to get it money or to participate? And our our our plan. Our strategy is so opposite to what is the norm? We don't want to know your your issue, you we're open to share it. We have people on site who could talk to to individuals at every carnival if
00:34:52.075 --> 00:35:02.580 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: they want to. It's holistic in a way in which it's it sounds suspicious or sauce, as my, my, my, my daughter's will say, and it's not.
00:35:02.580 --> 00:35:18.340 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: It's as genuine and as authentic as it looks. We want to give you funding. We want not only funding. We want you to get resources, we want you to have access. So we are like a a trifle, if you will, of of providing
00:35:18.410 --> 00:35:43.259 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: have a feel that day have activities play Bingo, my mother in law says she only comes because I do Bingle. So if I don't have Bingo, she's not coming, and she's a jokes. So she loves me best mother-in-law ever, and she'll be there. My mom's there. She she's amazing. So when you say a person could talk to a therapist. They literally can walk up and talk with a therapist for a few minutes if they wanted to. Yes, because we have a sponsoring, presenting agency.
00:35:43.260 --> 00:36:00.470 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: That's the founder, the the lead therapist, and some supporters of the team are there. We want to make sure that that one stop that day you're going to be able to maximize your access to mental health resources at the highest.
00:36:00.650 --> 00:36:11.589 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: That is beautiful, that's beautiful. So so you have the challenges of the buy in. Have you seen the numbers increase over the years? Yes, and this year we're at our highest number yet.
00:36:11.590 --> 00:36:30.880 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: and we're so excited because we have additional funding, we have special, great a one person. Grant funding, once the traditional funding is exhausted, we have someone who comes in and does that. And so to be able to say, we are at about 90% at our Max enrollment at our registrants.
00:36:30.910 --> 00:36:47.590 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: We're excited. Well, and someone is already commented on Youtube that they can't wait to come. So yeah. So I know that, you know, you had some challenges and and not just with the buy-in. I'm imagine putting this together.
00:36:47.610 --> 00:36:53.730 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: What encouraged you to keep going and working through. They they
00:36:53.870 --> 00:37:01.810 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: just the task of putting this thing together, not the support of my family, my family. They're amazing.
00:37:01.860 --> 00:37:28.609 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: My husband is my soul, mate, and he is there for whatever, and he is there to coordinate, to barbecue, my children, my parents, my my spiritual family my natural in law. Everyone comes together. I have sister friends who say, Hey, what do you need? Every year I'm ready to drop it because I'm like Laura. Do you want me to do something else? Because this is exhausting?
00:37:28.610 --> 00:37:43.250 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: and no, I'm tasked yet again another year to to go harder and to do more, and this year we have been provided a a partnership in the location of educators. Springfield at 100 Hickory Street.
00:37:43.280 --> 00:38:11.270 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: and we're excited because we can utilize workshops indoors, and we're utilizing the outdoor space and to see community coming together, saying, Hey, I want to support in this way again, not only monetary. We want to be able to create space for what ever you need, and if we don't have it that day which is really doubtful. Please be free to ask, and we are willing to continue to use our privilege platform.
00:38:11.410 --> 00:38:24.490 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I love that you keep saying our privileged platform, because we all have a privilege right? But like he should. I want to ask you one other question before our time runs out. So there are people who are out there going. Well, that's great that she did that.
00:38:24.880 --> 00:38:38.800 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: you know. I can't do that. And so my motto again is just like, Do what you can. That's what this show is really about in in in terms of just think, highlighting that you've done what you can in your community. What words would you give to people to just
00:38:39.000 --> 00:38:45.040 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: find what they can do in the arena of dismantling racism? Do you have any
00:38:45.520 --> 00:38:49.550 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: words of advice for folks. Yes, believe in yourself
00:38:49.560 --> 00:38:52.359 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: and believe that you have something to offer.
00:38:52.530 --> 00:38:59.260 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: So just get started, whether it's in a one on one conversation, whether it's in sharing
00:38:59.620 --> 00:39:19.680 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: again your privilege platform in your space, whether it's small, large, and what have you but just get started and believe that your voice matters and your transparency helps and seeds. I love that. I love that because what you've done in that you you've encouraged people
00:39:19.780 --> 00:39:22.950 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: to believe in themselves. But but
00:39:23.430 --> 00:39:28.210 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I think the other thing that for me, when I keep hearing you say that word privilege
00:39:28.280 --> 00:39:44.120 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: is to help people understand that you have something to offer, no matter where you are in life, so you may be published in a different way than the next person. But so tell us again. Then how we can register for this event.
00:39:44.140 --> 00:40:04.669 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: Okay, you can visit my website@www.coppage consulting.com click on the community engagements tab, and it'll bring you right to the third annual event. You can submit a contact and it will be sent to my email and explain any hardships you might have again.
00:40:04.910 --> 00:40:08.360 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: there is limited seats. So please reach out
00:40:08.390 --> 00:40:22.190 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: today. If you're interested in joining us on Saturday, the event starts promptly at at 1130 for check in or for registration, and the program starts promptly at 12,
00:40:22.200 --> 00:40:44.220 Lakisha COPPEDGE, Founder & Principal, Coppedge Consulting, LLC: and it ends promptly at 2. And I'm over using that word because I am very timely, and if you show up at 2, 30, or 3 the event will be over, so don't miss the opportunity to spend the day with us and learn more about mental health, awareness, resources, and funding on behalf of coppage consulting Llc. And the families. Privileged platforms.
00:40:44.440 --> 00:41:09.379 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: That is wonderful, and coppage is C. O, P, E, d, G, E. And you'll find that also on top radio.com as well. Well, it has been wonderful, wonderful, wonderful having you on the show today, I want to thank you for being my guest. I want to thank you for the work that you are doing in our community spreading the word about mental health treatment.
00:41:09.490 --> 00:41:36.980 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: And I want to thank you, my listeners, for tuning in every single week to hear what we have to say, please, if you would like to support us, go to sacred intelligence.com. Send us an email to learn the ways in which you can support the work that we do as well, and then I want to invite you to stay, too, for the conscious consultant hour with Sam Leibowitz, where he helps you to walk through life with the greatest of ease and joy.
00:41:37.020 --> 00:41:43.029 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: may today you tap into that sacred part of you that allows you to make choices that manifest
00:41:43.350 --> 00:41:54.939 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: the good in you and those around. You know that we are all one and exist because of one another, make it a priority to share hope, love, compassion, and peace. Today
00:41:55.050 --> 00:42:00.399 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: be well, be safe. Be encouraged until next time bye, for now
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