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

Or follow her on instagram at www.instagram.com/mentalhealthemergencyfund

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

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

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/

LinkedIn:
www.instagram.com/kimberlyrenay

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

www.mayaelizabethmusic.com

Brittany J. Crawford, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist and the founder of Mind Bend Foundation. With years of experience in mental health, she witnessed firsthand how financial barriers prevent individuals from accessing the care they need. Recognizing the gap between affordability and quality therapy, she created Mind Bend Foundation to provide direct funding for those without adequate coverage. Her mission is simple—ensure that cost is never a barrier to healing.

In this episode, Dr. Crawford shares about her day to day as a Clinical Psychologist in the hospital system, how she works with kids to explore curiosity and imaginative play in her sessions and what inspired her to create the Mind Bend Foundation in the Bay Area.

Stay connected with her by visiting www.themindbendfoundation.com

Dr. Richardson is a mama, healer, and licensed psychologist with over 12 years of experience providing therapy in clinical, academic, and community-based settings. She brings a relational and culturally grounded lens to her work, centering the lived experiences of Black and Brown women and mothers.

Taking a holistic approach, Dr. Richardson believes healing happens not just in the mind, but in the body, spirit, and community. She views motherhood as a communal practice—one that deserves care, compassion, and space to be both messy and beautiful. Her work is dedicated to breaking down stigmas surrounding women's emotional lives, especially those tied to mothering and the generational pressures so many women carry.

In this episode, Dr. Richardson brings awareness to maternal mental health with her practice Melanated Women's Therapy, LLC, talks about motherhood as a communal practice and shares about the anthology she's published.

https://melanatedwomenllc.com/
www.instagram.com/melanatedwomenllc
https://www.lyneiarichardson.com/

Brandon Logan is a Licensed Behavior Analyst, transformation coach, and founder of 4 The Collective and The Thrive Nation Podcast. He serves on the board of AMINGA, a nonprofit dedicated to providing youth in the Global South with access to holistic education and sports training, fostering athleticism, interpersonal skills, and self-awareness. Through his work—ranging from wellness events to one-on-one coaching—Brandon blends science and spirit to help individuals build lives aligned with their purpose. Drawing from his background in Applied Behavior Analysis, he employs practical, evidence-based strategies to support personal growth, productivity, and lasting change for both individuals and communities.

In this episode, Brandon talks about how he helps his entrepreneur clients through the science of behavioral analysis, why Black men aren't exposed as much to mental health and wellness, and ways he's created a platform at the intersection of the wellness and personal development spaces. Learn more about his work at the following links:

www.aminga.org
www.instagram.com/4thecollective
www.4thecollective.com
join@4thecollective.com