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Jessica A. Smith Solo Episode

Jessica Smith is a mental health advocate and community builder based in Baltimore, MD. She is the Founder of The Mental Health Emergency Fund, Inc., which helps provide financial assistance to marginalized community members experiencing a mental health crisis. She is an MSW student at Howard University and her therapeutic areas of focus are anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationships and faith topics. No matter what she's doing, she will always have a network around her because she believes that healing happens in community. In this special solo episode, Jessica shares her journey of picking a graduate school to attend and her experience as a student at Howard University's School of Social Work so far. To learn more about her nonprofit work, visit: www.mentalhealthemergencyfund.org [https://www.mentalhealthemergencyfund.org] Or follow her on instagram at www.instagram.com/mentalhealthemergencyfund [https://www.instagram.com/mentalhealthemergencyfund]

Dance My Pain Away

Marquis Carrington is a multi-disciplinary artist and mindfulness practitioner. He is based in Baltimore, Maryland and uses music, creative writing, photography, yoga, and podcasting to bring a variety of offerings to professional and communal spaces. He is the author of three poetry books and the host of the podcast "A Guy From A Place." In this episode, Marquis discusses issues around Black men's mental health, how he moves through the world as a Black male poet and how growing up in Baltimore has shaped the man he is today. His fourth book, "Sometimes We Only Get a Piece of Something Beautiful and It's Not for Us to Keep" is coming out soon. Follow him on YouTube and Instagram at CharmCityBipper [https://www.instagram.com/charmcitybipper/?hl=en]

The Power of Community as an Artist

Ivory Haze is a singer-songwriter and mental health advocate from Washington, DC, whose music blends emotional honesty with powerful storytelling. Through raw lyrics and soulful melodies, she's been building to create songs that speak to healing, resilience, and self-discovery. Offstage, Ivory has become a huge advocate for mental health issues and overall well being and in return hopes to use any platform given, either through singing or mentorship, to bring light and raise awareness about mental health and inspire open conversations. With a voice that uplifts and song messages that empower, Ivory is building a community where music and mental wellness go hand in hand. In this episode, she shares where her mental health journey began, how she navigates anxiety as a musical artist, and how she uses her platform to heal others. Follow her on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok at IvoryHazeMusic

Grace in Your Mental Health Journey

Dr. Kimberly R. Mayes, LCSW is the Founder & Clinical Director at Essence Therapy & Wellness Center, where she supports clients with individual therapy, corporate training, and culturally responsive interventions. With over 20 years of professional experience, Dr. Mayes has held leadership roles and worked in hospital, educational, and non-profit settings. Her most rewarding accomplishment is founding a successful group private practice for BIPOC clients, where the mission is to, "Recreate the definition of therapy & self-care for the BIPOC community through effective, relatable & holistic therapeutic services." In this episode, she shares what it means to provide holistic services, what pre-work to do before finding a therapist and some of the things she's working on improving in her life. Reach her at: https://www.essencetwc.com/ [https://www.essencetwc.com/] LinkedIn: www.instagram.com/kimberlyrenay [https://www.instagram.com/kimberlyrenay]

Finding Her Voice through Music

Maya Elizabeth, the co-creator of From M.E. to You: A Mental Health Concert, is a singer-songwriter, artist, mentor + a member at the Recording Academy (DC Chapter). Maya studied marketing at Howard University and graduated in 2016 as the School of Business Valedictorian. Then, she launched Maya Elizabeth Music LLC and has been spreading healing, truth, +love as an independent artist ever since. She shares openly about her journey with self-image, anxiety + owning her unique sound. In this episode, she shares about her upcoming mental health concert, some of the ways she's navigated anxiety as an independent artist and the connection between mental health and music. Follow her at these links: www.instagram.com/mayaelizabethmusic [https://www.instagram.com/mayaelizabethmusic] www.mayaelizabethmusic.com [https://www.mayaelizabethmusic.com]