התמלול המלא של Greater Changes: Building a Bright Path to Community Wellness - Episode 78 with Tarik McMillen

we have Tyrone Saki he 00:02:36.663 --> 00:02:40.863 is a master's level clinician also a college roommate of mine so it's great 00:02:40.863 --> 00:02:42.663 to like have this full circle moment. 00:02:43.063 --> 00:02:49.163 Andra Williams she's a clinician out of Georgia Danielle Carellos we also have. 00:02:50.143 --> 00:02:54.823 I'm sorry, Deja Underwood yeah, and then we have Terry Lynch, 00:02:54.963 --> 00:02:58.283 she's our wellness coordinator under for the Bright Path project. 00:02:58.623 --> 00:03:02.383 So the Wellness Center is like its own separate project, Undergraded Changes, 00:03:02.583 --> 00:03:08.403 that's morphed into this awesome community development, community empowerment 00:03:08.403 --> 00:03:10.863 project. And then we have Gabby Paulson. 00:03:11.163 --> 00:03:16.463 She is, and so we technically, it's executive assistant, admin assistant, 00:03:16.723 --> 00:03:22.683 but I always found that that title doesn't really encompass all the work that she does. 00:03:22.883 --> 00:03:30.063 She is, I guess if I had to give it a term, She is like the coordinator of client experience. 00:03:30.563 --> 00:03:32.963 Like that's the person who you speak to when you first call. 00:03:33.303 --> 00:03:37.463 She gets appointments set up. She communicates regularly with the community partners. 00:03:37.763 --> 00:03:39.603 So she is awesome. 00:03:39.923 --> 00:03:43.983 Awesome. The whole team, like it's great to have a team of like-minded people 00:03:43.983 --> 00:03:47.503 all wanting to do the work and make the budget lines a better place. 00:03:48.003 --> 00:03:49.763 Yes, I love it. I love it. 00:03:50.812 --> 00:03:56.252 So you mentioned the Bright Line project. I really want to hear more about it 00:03:56.252 --> 00:04:00.132 because this is the first time I'm hearing about it. If you don't mind sharing a little bit. 00:04:00.512 --> 00:04:04.772 Yeah. So the wellness center, the Bright Path Wellness Center is a project in 00:04:04.772 --> 00:04:06.852 conjunction with VA Housing Authority. 00:04:07.312 --> 00:04:12.892 So the idea behind it is bringing community wellness directly to the community. 00:04:13.052 --> 00:04:16.372 So rather than having a community member having to go elsewhere, 00:04:16.772 --> 00:04:20.112 whether it be just down the street or on the other side of the island, 00:04:20.112 --> 00:04:25.332 And being able to have services and people to help connect you to those services 00:04:25.332 --> 00:04:27.752 in the community is incredibly impactful. 00:04:27.992 --> 00:04:33.512 So we focus on physical health screenings, mental health screenings, 00:04:33.932 --> 00:04:36.312 group activities, family events. 00:04:36.492 --> 00:04:41.072 We actually just had our first public face and event. 00:04:41.252 --> 00:04:47.832 We partnered with Rotary Club of St. Croix to do a poetry and open mic day on 00:04:47.832 --> 00:04:52.812 Sunday. We had students from junior high and high school. 00:04:53.092

--> 00:04:55.272 It was an awesome, awesome event. 00:04:56.032 --> 00:05:01.592 The Friday we had our family community movie night. We screened Zootopia. 00:05:01.772 --> 00:05:06.192 This is the fourth one that we've had so far. It's just going to get better and better. 00:05:06.932 --> 00:05:11.652 We have kids yoga. We have a gentle yoga for adults. 00:05:11.832 --> 00:05:15.292 That's Thursdays at 5.30. We have Sokka aerobics classes. 00:05:15.292 --> 00:05:22.992 Is fitness, movement, mental health, is wellness all compacted into this center 00:05:22.992 --> 00:05:28.292 and with intentions of reaching the community as well as like the outside and 00:05:28.292 --> 00:05:30.172 surrounding Fredericksburg community as well? 00:05:30.836 --> 00:05:37.316 Where is the center located? So center is in Marley, the Marley Housing and Editions Community. 00:05:37.836 --> 00:05:42.156 A beautiful place. I mean, like being able to, right now I'm looking, 00:05:42.316 --> 00:05:45.236 I'm in the center, I'm looking out the window and there's the ocean. 00:05:45.376 --> 00:05:46.776 Like it's a beautiful place to be. 00:05:47.216 --> 00:05:50.216 Wow. I didn't even know you guys had all of that stuff. 00:05:51.116 --> 00:05:56.156 I am listening and I'm just smiling because it's what our community actually 00:05:56.156 --> 00:05:58.816 needs. We need all of this stuff. Wow. 00:05:59.576 --> 00:06:01.536 100%. I'm glad to be a part of the work. 00:06:02.376 --> 00:06:05.036 So what are your hours of operation? 00:06:06.216 --> 00:06:12.536 So Mondays and Fridays, we are open 10 to 4. And then Wednesdays, 12 to 6. 00:06:12.776 --> 00:06:16.156 On Thursdays, we have the kids, the yoga classes. 00:06:16.356 --> 00:06:24.436 So we're open at like 4.30 to 6.30 on Thursday nights for the classes. 00:06:24.436 --> 00:06:26.516 And then Saturday mornings, 10 00:06:26.516 --> 00:06:31.056 to 11. And then we have a next class that happens at 2 to 3, 2.30 to 3.30. 00:06:31.979 --> 00:06:35.759 So Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Thursday evenings, and Saturday mornings. 00:06:36.739 --> 00:06:44.299 Awesome. Awesome. So, you know, we know of the good things you guys been doing in the community. 00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:46.779 However, just I'm hearing more. 00:06:47.479 --> 00:06:51.839 So we decided to collaborate with you guys on the reading initiative. 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:57.559 You sparked our interest when you said you guys have a bookshelf with books. 00:06:57.559 --> 00:07:05.539 And we decided that we needed to bring a reading initiative where Dari Book Club. 00:07:06.279 --> 00:07:10.039 Dari is a disability advocacy and rights 00:07:10.039 --> 00:07:14.119 reading initiative and it's under the Disability Rights Center of the Virgin 00:07:14.119 --> 00:07:19.819 Islands and this book club was created after we had a conversation with youth 00:07:19.819 --> 00:07:26.319 and the youth said they needed more help learning to read or reading phonetically. 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:29.119 So that's how the book club was created. 00:07:29.539 --> 00:07:37.599 So just to talk about that initiative, we want to bring that initiative into 00:07:37.599 --> 00:07:42.659 greater changes because we think it'll be an asset to the community. 00:07:42.659 --> 00:07:48.959 Our goal is just to meet the people where they are and provide resources. 00:07:49.459 --> 00:07:53.539 That's our goal. And when we had that conversation with your team, 00:07:53.799 --> 00:08:01.179 it's like they wholeheartedly just embraced us and we loved it and we still love it. 00:08:01.339 --> 00:08:05.799 So we're hoping to start this initiative the second week of March. 00:08:05.799 --> 00:08:07.419 We have the funding ready. 00:08:07.639 --> 00:08:17.099 We just need to find the people to be the readers and the tutors for our students. 00:08:17.659 --> 00:08:23.099 It's going to be open from ages zero to 99 if you need help reading. 00:08:23.359 --> 00:08:26.099 That's our goal. What do you think, Tariq? 00:08:26.839 --> 00:08:30.659 Yeah, so I think whenever we talk about literacy and. 00:08:31.943 --> 00:08:36.603 Reading is so revolutionary. Not just reading, but access to literature, 00:08:36.883 --> 00:08:38.723 access to reading resources. 00:08:39.543 --> 00:08:44.643 Whenever we look at communities that have a lower literacy rate, 00:08:44.843 --> 00:08:49.723 you can almost guarantee that the area that that happens in, 00:08:49.883 --> 00:08:51.463 you could find deep disadvantage. message. 00:08:53.843 --> 00:08:58.123 Low literacy is tied to so much of the negative health outcomes. 00:08:58.303 --> 00:09:02.263 But it's such a tricky conversation too, because it's not to say that you teach 00:09:02.263 --> 00:09:04.943 somebody to read and all of a sudden these health outcomes change. 00:09:05.263 --> 00:09:07.843 But if you have somebody who... 00:09:08.907 --> 00:09:12.287 Has to navigate the systems that we generally have to navigate. 00:09:12.527 --> 00:09:18.427 So think government services, think job applications, most things in our community. 00:09:18.687 --> 00:09:21.367 You have to be able to read some form of text. 00:09:21.707 --> 00:09:25.647 So being able to give someone this skill and help facilitate, 00:09:25.747 --> 00:09:28.027 because you're not giving them the skill, you help them facilitate the skill. 00:09:29.187 --> 00:09:34.127 We have the potential to really change the trajectory of someone's life and 00:09:34.127 --> 00:09:36.827 subsequently a community's trajectory as well. 00:09:37.367 --> 00:09:41.147 Yes, definitely. Definitely. And reading is important. 00:09:41.547 --> 00:09:49.167 Reading is important. I've seen in IEP meetings and just where the parents and 00:09:49.167 --> 00:09:53.707 the students, if they're unable to read, it becomes a big barrier. 00:09:54.367 --> 00:10:01.327 So just providing that resource to your community, we think we can be helpful 00:10:01.327 --> 00:10:04.267 as

the Disability Right Center, the Virgin Islands. 00:10:04.787 --> 00:10:07.307 What's next for greater changes, Tariq? 00:10:08.007 --> 00:10:15.327 A lot, a lot. The wellness center really is the beginning of a model that we 00:10:15.327 --> 00:10:18.747 hope to integrate throughout the territory and eventually the Caribbean. 00:10:19.127 --> 00:10:25.067 We want to be able to have centers of wellness where people could just be and 00:10:25.067 --> 00:10:29.887 connect, learn a skill, pick up on a resource that, you know, 00:10:30.007 --> 00:10:33.127 learn about a resource that maybe they weren't aware of before. 00:10:33.567 --> 00:10:37.067 I think that that's where we're headed. We... 00:10:38.182 --> 00:10:42.042 I don't know, like, it's so interesting. A lot of the things that we're doing 00:10:42.042 --> 00:10:45.382 right now, like we've been dreaming of for a long time. 00:10:45.642 --> 00:10:50.382 I think just because of the nature of the work and how difficult it's been at times, we kind of like, 00:10:50.762 --> 00:10:54.722 you know, we pursue an opportunity and then we say, okay, well, 00:10:54.802 --> 00:10:58.202 this might happen, but we can't focus on this right now because we have all 00:10:58.202 --> 00:11:01.342 these, you know, X amount of things in front of us right now to focus on. 00:11:01.462 --> 00:11:05.922 So hopefully the opportunity comes up and then we'll get to that. 00:11:05.922 --> 00:11:08.622 And it just so happens that a lot of the opportunities that we 00:11:08.622 --> 00:11:11.282 have pursued like have come through you know 00:11:11.282 --> 00:11:14.502 so so so now it's like there's a 00:11:14.502 --> 00:11:17.362 lot of there's a necessity a requirement that 00:11:17.362 --> 00:11:22.922 we have to like focus and like get the systems in place and and run them so 00:11:22.922 --> 00:11:26.022 we could take a step back and do all the other things that we want to achieve 00:11:26.022 --> 00:11:31.362 at the end of at the end of my life i i hope that i could look back and say 00:11:31.362 --> 00:11:36.822 like wow like greater changes really made a difference in the Washington Islands. Wow. That's deep. 00:11:38.002 --> 00:11:40.922 That's deep, Tariq. That's deep. And... 00:11:42.008 --> 00:11:47.988 When the exercise classes, are they only open to the residents or is it just the entire community? 00:11:48.608 --> 00:11:53.048 Yeah, so we're open now to the community. We started off with just focusing 00:11:53.048 --> 00:11:57.748 on people who live in Mali, but now it's open to the surrounding community as well. 00:11:58.448 --> 00:12:05.088 Nice. Okay. Okay, cool. So if anyone follows us on Bright Path Wellness Center 00:12:05.088 --> 00:12:09.628 on Facebook, you will see all the programming that we have. You'll also see 00:12:09.628 --> 00:12:11.068 links to register for classes. 00:12:11.408 --> 00:12:16.508 And then there's also areas where if there's a program or a class that somebody's 00:12:16.508 --> 00:12:19.408 interested in maybe running or facilitating, reach out. 00:12:19.708 --> 00:12:25.208 We want to serve as a hub for people who have ideas, who have programs that 00:12:25.208 --> 00:12:29.668 have a positive benefit, a significant positive impact on the community. 00:12:29.788 --> 00:12:30.808 And let's bring them here. 00:12:31.468 --> 00:12:36.408 Definitely, definitely. And let's talk more about community collaborations, 00:12:36.408 --> 00:12:42.048 because since we have met you through one of our advocates, Don O'Brien, 00:12:42.448 --> 00:12:48.908 we've been very, we enjoy just watching the work that you guys have been doing 00:12:48.908 --> 00:12:50.328 and we want to partner more. 00:12:50.468 --> 00:12:55.508 So let's talk about community collaboration. How important is it in our community 00:12:55.508 --> 00:13:04.428 to collaborate on different projects? is critical that there's a lot more collaboration. I think... 00:13:05.162 --> 00:13:10.582 A lot of the issues that we have in our community come from a lack of collaboration. 00:13:11.022 --> 00:13:17.322 I think we often have to navigate environments where we're all kind of looking 00:13:17.322 --> 00:13:22.562 towards the same limited resources to be able to fund the things that we want to do. 00:13:22.762 --> 00:13:28.502 So there's more of like a siloed way of doing the work that happens in a community 00:13:28.502 --> 00:13:30.282 that's really to the detriment of the community. 00:13:30.582 --> 00:13:36.122 So collaboration is incredibly important. If we're not working together, we won't get a lot. 00:13:36.742 --> 00:13:40.382 That's awesome. You're right. You're right. We cannot operate in silos. 00:13:40.662 --> 00:13:43.342 Do you have any plans to expand to St. Thomas? 00:13:44.202 --> 00:13:48.102 Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Right now, we do offer services in St. 00:13:48.122 --> 00:13:50.782 Thomas. Okay. I know there are other projects. 00:13:51.082 --> 00:13:52.522 We want to get involved in communities 00:13:52.522 --> 00:13:55.962 more. We want to do more wellness centers in St. Thomas as well. 00:13:56.442 --> 00:14:00.722 I know that it's going to take a larger effort. I am more familiar with St. 00:14:00.822 --> 00:14:02.542 Croix. I have a larger network here. 00:14:02.862 --> 00:14:05.882 I have more partners I can like actively reach out to in St. 00:14:06.062 --> 00:14:10.182 Thomas. So I know it's going to take a lot of like being on the ground and meeting 00:14:10.182 --> 00:14:16.062 people who have like minded ideas, who have similar values and want to get good work done. 00:14:16.342 --> 00:14:20.422 So, yeah, we're, we're, there's a definite plan to get into St. 00:14:20.682 --> 00:14:24.222 Thomas, to be in St. John, Water Island, and just go through the Caribbean. 00:14:24.382 --> 00:14:27.482 Like we all have similar issues in all the Caribbean islands. 00:14:27.482 --> 00:14:31.322 And so, you know, if it works

here, maybe let's try it someplace else and tweak 00:14:31.322 --> 00:14:36.602 it to that environment and let's see how well it works. I'm going to speak it into existence for you. 00:14:36.962 --> 00:14:40.502 2027, you'll be in St. Thomas. Okay. Okay, I love it. 00:14:42.222 --> 00:14:45.062 So you said you lived in the States and you moved back. 00:14:45.943 --> 00:14:50.543 I just want to talk to you about that very quickly because I'm one of those 00:14:50.543 --> 00:14:51.983 people who've lived in the States. 00:14:52.243 --> 00:14:59.803 I lived in the States for 20, almost 30 years, and then I moved back and I saw 00:14:59.803 --> 00:15:07.203 that there were a lack of resources or lack of information to the resources. 00:15:08.083 --> 00:15:11.003 How did you feel? so when 00:15:11.003 --> 00:15:16.103 i when i moved home it was january 2017 and 00:15:16.103 --> 00:15:19.383 i had like it was always a plan to move back home like from 00:15:19.383 --> 00:15:24.263 the day i left it was like yeah i'll be back and moving 00:15:24.263 --> 00:15:27.263 home like it's one thing to learn these things in 00:15:27.263 --> 00:15:30.123 a grad program and then like you get on 00:15:30.123 --> 00:15:33.483 the ground and it's a very different experience 00:15:33.483 --> 00:15:37.003 like a lot of the theory and the ideas 00:15:37.003 --> 00:15:41.083 that you know it sounds good in a textbook sometimes 00:15:41.083 --> 00:15:43.783 it's not effective in in a different community a 00:15:43.783 --> 00:15:46.743 different population like there's different barriers when you 00:15:46.743 --> 00:15:49.543 think about stigma there's barriers when it comes to 00:15:49.543 --> 00:15:52.323 like socioeconomic status you have the 00:15:52.323 --> 00:15:55.003 the siloed the siloed working that i mentioned earlier so there was 00:15:55.003 --> 00:15:58.523 a lot of barriers and there still continue to be barriers but it's been 00:15:58.523 --> 00:16:01.463 quite the journey like learning how 00:16:01.463 --> 00:16:04.503 to navigate these systems effectively i think 00:16:04.503 --> 00:16:07.563 when i was when i first moved back home i was in 00:16:07.563 --> 00:16:13.363 such a rush to just make change happen that i felt it not felt i started to 00:16:13.363 --> 00:16:19.863 become like burnt out like it there's a there's a demand that you just keep 00:16:19.863 --> 00:16:23.943 on going and you fix this thing and once you find the solution you just keep 00:16:23.943 --> 00:16:25.963 fixing and you keep fixing and And, like, 00:16:26.363 --> 00:16:30.083 that's a surefire way to get burnt out. Yes. 00:16:31.083 --> 00:16:35.603 And then the hurricanes later in that year, like, it really... 00:16:36.193 --> 00:16:41.253 I think during that time, I worked as, I forget the name of the position, 00:16:41.453 --> 00:16:47.053 but it was connected with FEMA and it was at the centers where people were lining 00:16:47.053 --> 00:16:50.653 up to sign up or sign up for different services. 00:16:51.193 --> 00:16:53.713 Record whatever damages had happened to their homes. 00:16:54.073 --> 00:16:58.093 And I was a crisis counselor. Also, the position was a crisis counselor. 00:16:58.093 --> 00:17:01.193 And I spoke with so many 00:17:01.193 --> 00:17:04.213 people who just didn't have 00:17:04.213 --> 00:17:07.233 a lot of the insight or the language to describe 00:17:07.233 --> 00:17:10.533 what they were feeling after the hurricane like the 00:17:10.533 --> 00:17:13.173 fear of you know I just lost my 00:17:13.173 --> 00:17:15.833 roof and I don't know you know where food is 00:17:15.833 --> 00:17:18.933 going to come from because I had made a plan to 00:17:18.933 --> 00:17:22.053 to store supplies but when the roof went like most 00:17:22.053 --> 00:17:24.873 of those things got destroyed you know so like I dealt with so 00:17:24.873 --> 00:17:28.013 many of those of those situations it was like 00:17:28.013 --> 00:17:31.073 oh like I know I want to be a therapist but 00:17:31.073 --> 00:17:34.813 I feel I felt like it had to happen now like I have to go and start 00:17:34.813 --> 00:17:37.893 this now and that was I won't 00:17:37.893 --> 00:17:40.893 say the impetus but it was definitely like a launching 00:17:40.893 --> 00:17:44.573 point and a milestone moment for for 00:17:44.573 --> 00:17:48.033 like where for where we are today wow wow 00:17:48.033 --> 00:17:51.373 yeah my story is a little different I just 00:17:51.373 --> 00:17:54.933 went to disability rights center to get 00:17:54.933 --> 00:17:58.153 assistance with creating a non-profit and Archie's 00:17:58.153 --> 00:18:03.253 like oh you have a background in teaching special education oh you're an attorney 00:18:03.253 --> 00:18:11.853 I might need you to work on this project and here I am since 2021 so he roped 00:18:11.853 --> 00:18:16.793 me in and here I am so Tariq greater changes. 00:18:17.901 --> 00:18:25.141 What do you want to see happen in the next three months with the organization? 00:18:25.441 --> 00:18:27.221 We're just doing it three months. 00:18:27.981 --> 00:18:32.641 Yeah. If I have a best case scenario for the next three months, 00:18:32.901 --> 00:18:38.641 the projects that we're working on and the projects that we have coming up in 00:18:38.641 --> 00:18:44.841 the next few weeks will all have systems in place that run effectively. 00:18:44.841 --> 00:18:48.921 I think that's been our approach to most things. 00:18:49.961 --> 00:18:54.321 We implement and test systems. We work out the kinks. 00:18:54.461 --> 00:19:00.161 We get everything working as smoothly as possible. So it builds more bandwidth 00:19:00.161 --> 00:19:01.801 for us to do other things. 00:19:02.421 --> 00:19:06.021 So yeah, so that's the best case scenario. Three months we have systems in place 00:19:06.021 --> 00:19:07.541 that are running effectively. 00:19:08.141 --> 00:19:13.261 Maybe we would have added on maybe two more clinicians, two more

specializations. 00:19:14.525 --> 00:19:20.725 Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Wow. You know, that's a tough question because people normally 00:19:20.725 --> 00:19:22.325 think of 30 days at a time. 00:19:22.445 --> 00:19:26.365 And I said three months and I'm like, I'm Tariq going to answer it. He will answer it. 00:19:26.885 --> 00:19:33.085 So I just want to, before we wrap up, I want to talk about our reading initiative. 00:19:33.685 --> 00:19:40.425 So by the time this is heard on the radio, we, you would have seen the flyers 00:19:40.425 --> 00:19:42.845 to go ahead and register for this initiative. 00:19:43.345 --> 00:19:46.645 And this initiative will also provide your resources. 00:19:47.005 --> 00:19:51.085 And the initiative I'm talking about is the Dari Book Club. 00:19:51.365 --> 00:19:55.605 And this book club is going to be in greater changes. 00:19:55.605 --> 00:20:00.785 And we're just going to be providing the manpower, the readers, 00:20:01.165 --> 00:20:09.085 the tutors to assist the community and just assist our community with learning 00:20:09.085 --> 00:20:16.345 how to read and just building that confidence when it comes to mastering literary. 00:20:17.385 --> 00:20:20.525 Is that a good way to say it, Tariq? Yeah. 00:20:20.745 --> 00:20:25.745 Yeah. I think especially in the context of the work that you guys do, 00:20:26.025 --> 00:20:29.325 being able to increase general literacy is. 00:20:30.027 --> 00:20:34.427 Improve the likelihood that people have improved health literacy. 00:20:34.787 --> 00:20:39.887 So being able to navigate healthcare systems, being able to understand more 00:20:39.887 --> 00:20:45.727 deeply some of the side effects and make better decisions that lead to more 00:20:45.727 --> 00:20:46.667 improved health outcomes. 00:20:46.947 --> 00:20:52.467 So while it's not like a causal relationship, definitely being able to improve 00:20:52.467 --> 00:20:56.787 overall literacy can have a very powerful impact in the community. 00:20:56.927 --> 00:20:58.067 So I'm excited for this project. 00:20:58.327 --> 00:21:04.027 Yes, me too. So, Tariq, before we start to wrap up, go ahead and just give them 00:21:04.027 --> 00:21:08.127 the information about Greater Changes, how to connect with you guys and all 00:21:08.127 --> 00:21:11.987 of that stuff so the listening audience can have it again. 00:21:12.507 --> 00:21:17.907 Yeah, sure. So you can reach us, greaterchangeslc.com. 00:21:18.127 --> 00:21:23.707 You can book appointments. You can speak to us directly through the site. 00:21:23.707 --> 00:21:28.627 The sign-up process for either consultations or that first session is really, 00:21:28.727 --> 00:21:31.687 really, really simple. You don't have to print anything. 00:21:31.967 --> 00:21:35.647 Everything can be done with the touch of a button on your phone. 00:21:35.827 --> 00:21:39.947 So it was intentionally made simple, at least in a digital format that way. 00:21:40.127 --> 00:21:46.187 The phone number is 833-409-3474. 00:21:46.727 --> 00:21:51.227 You can also find us on Facebook at Greater Changes, Instagram, TikTok. 00:21:51.947 --> 00:21:57.407 I think instagram is underscore greater changes uh yeah so so definitely reach 00:21:57.407 --> 00:22:01.187 out if you're when you do hear this follow us share the information. 00:22:02.111 --> 00:22:09.851 Even if the first time that we engage, it's a consultation, what to expect in therapy, 00:22:10.211 --> 00:22:13.991 how to go about finding a therapist, even if it's not necessarily working with 00:22:13.991 --> 00:22:17.591 our clinicians, like we just really want people to access the care that they need. 00:22:17.771 --> 00:22:22.011 So if you want insight or help in, you know, how do I find a therapist? 00:22:22.191 --> 00:22:23.511 Where else can I find a therapist? 00:22:23.831 --> 00:22:27.671 Like definitely reach out for those things too. How long is a consultation? 00:22:28.731 --> 00:22:32.471 Between 15 to 20 minutes. Okay. And it's completely free. 00:22:32.711 --> 00:22:37.611 Oh, yes. I think that's the other part. So we also accept insurance. 00:22:37.931 --> 00:22:43.571 If you are listening to this and you are a government employee or you are a 00:22:43.571 --> 00:22:48.331 person who is a dependent of a government employee, mental health services are 00:22:48.331 --> 00:22:50.971 completely free for you if you have government insurance. 00:22:51.251 --> 00:22:53.851 You don't have to pay for government insurance. 00:22:54.351 --> 00:22:58.651 I think cost is often one of the barriers to accessing care. 00:22:58.651 --> 00:23:04.571 If you are a government employee, take advantage of that benefit, like use the insurance. 00:23:05.331 --> 00:23:09.711 Wow. Wow. Yeah, I'm glad you said that. I'm really glad you said that. 00:23:09.871 --> 00:23:17.631 Before you go, can you talk about the stigma attached to just seeking mental health, wellness? 00:23:17.631 --> 00:23:20.351 Yeah yeah so one of 00:23:20.351 --> 00:23:24.611 the this is actually how i begin some of my some of my workshops and presentations 00:23:24.611 --> 00:23:30.471 like letting people know that the stigma that we feel though very real these 00:23:30.471 --> 00:23:35.311 beliefs about mental health aren't necessarily ours like they're they're very 00:23:35.311 --> 00:23:37.751 much part of like this this, 00:23:38.811 --> 00:23:48.571 exposure to like western and eurocentric cultures where like those systems of care weren't as, hmm. 00:23:49.911 --> 00:23:52.351 Those systems of care weren't as, 00:23:53.253 --> 00:23:59.633 It's intentional and accepting and collective in nature in the way that more 00:23:59.633 --> 00:24:03.933 indigenous and different Caribbean cultures have had mental health care. 00:24:05.053 --> 00:24:12.193 When we think about stigma, we think about what people are going to think about us if we ask for help. 00:24:12.273 --> 00:24:14.953 What does it mean for me if I ask for help? 00:24:14.973 --> 00:24:19.033 Does it mean that I'm a weak person who just can't manage the stresses of life? 00:24:19.033 --> 00:24:24.193 We have such a, we call it like this Caribbean super person. Yes. 00:24:24.513 --> 00:24:29.473 Like we should be able to persevere and be resilient and VI strong. 00:24:30.933 --> 00:24:34.353 Which I mean, you know, VI strong is a beautiful sentiment. 00:24:34.573 --> 00:24:40.073 But when it's, you know, I can only be rough and rigid and tough in these situations. 00:24:40.313 --> 00:24:42.733 And I can't be vulnerable. I can't be open. 00:24:43.233 --> 00:24:46.873 That's when we find ourselves like in the predicament that we're in right now. 00:24:47.193 --> 00:24:51.993 So the stigma is real. Yes. But even in our consultations, in our first sessions, 00:24:52.133 --> 00:24:53.633 that's a conversation that we have. 00:24:53.773 --> 00:24:58.873 Like, what did it take for you to even get to the office or to the screen when we do telehealth? 00:24:59.813 --> 00:25:04.073 And talking openly about that is the only way that we really address stigma. 00:25:04.653 --> 00:25:09.033 Wow. Thank you, Tariq. Thank you so much. So the Disability Rights Center, 00:25:09.133 --> 00:25:11.413 the Virgin Islands, we're located in St. 00:25:11.553 --> 00:25:17.473 Croix next to the former Kmart in the West. and we're located in St. 00:25:17.973 --> 00:25:25.673 Thomas above Deli Deck. We have resources online www.drcvi.org. 00:25:25.733 --> 00:25:32.713 If you want to call us, our phone number is 340-776-4303. 00:25:33.393 --> 00:25:37.353 Tariq, any last word that you would like to give us? 00:25:38.418 --> 00:25:42.158 We appreciate the collaboration. We are looking forward to collaborating with 00:25:42.158 --> 00:25:43.238 other community partners. 00:25:43.518 --> 00:25:46.518 And we're just looking forward to doing good work in our community. 00:25:46.998 --> 00:25:52.658 Yes, we cannot operate as an asylum anymore. We need to collaborate. 00:25:53.758 --> 00:25:57.498 Ability Radio has been brought to you by the Disability Rights Center of the 00:25:57.498 --> 00:26:00.498 Virgin Islands. Thank you once again, Tariq, for joining. 00:26:01.078 --> 00:26:02.858 And do have a nice day.