Candid Conversation with Alvarado Therapy – Big lessons from my traumatic entrepreneurial journey that brought me to now, which is right on time.

It took me a few days to muster the courage to listen to myself. It then took me another few days to watch myself. I dread both. It requires a certain kind of confidence or not giving a f*#%! to not cringe while critiquing every aspect of yourself. I have plenty of confidence, but there’s something about seeing a reflection of yourself that is just so darn hard. Holding a mirror to yourself is scary and arguably the hardest task for most of us. It’s just easier to deflect, ignore, be in denial about aspects of yourself that you’re not too keen on or too traumatic to face. What-ever the many reasons, it will always surface one way or another regardless of your every effort to suppress it.

I’m only now facing my traumas head on, and it’s with the help of a therapist. To have a therapist is to be in a privileged position. I acknowledge my privilege. I acknowledge the countless people that cannot afford nor have access to mental health services. This inequity and continual decrease in funding for mental health is why I am an advocate for mental health services and resources for those most marginalized and under-represented, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities; whether it was through my advocacy work in Washington D.C. or as an educator at a middle school and high school or volunteering and serving on the board of an incredible holistic health nonprofit, Sol Sisters. My current goal is to help build mental health services and programs for BIPOC youth and families through the good work at Safer Together. I was their programs and operations consultant to now Director of Programs.

So when my dear friend Patty Alvarado (founder of Alvarado Therapy) asked me to be on her podcast, I was beholden to share my mental health journey to help de-stigmatize mental health needs. I hope my story can inspire you to begin talking about your mental health, to seek help, to share your vital journey with others too.

You can also listen to our conversation while preparing your favorite meal, driving, running your usual route, in the shower, or when ever you need a laugh at Alvarado Therapy’s podcast (I think we’re funny, no, I know we’re funny lol). While you’re there, subscribe to their enlightening podcast. Trust me, it’s worth it.

In community,

Jenny

#TrustInYourselfandYourJourneyTuesday

March 26, 2021March 27, 2021

#STOPASIANHATE VIRTUAL NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION & HEALING – 3.26.21 – HOW YOU CAN HELP?

Huge thanks to National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, a project of the Tides Foundation for creating Asian American Day of Action.

The worldwide vigil for the Atlanta shooting victims is broadcasting live tonight 3.26.21 at 7:30 p.m. EST right below.

SOME RESOURCES & LINKS FROM THE 1ST VIDEO – WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP TODAY & MOVING FORWARD:

#2 – Uplift and Educate – Your friends, families, followers by sharing articles about anti-Asian racism. Below are great ones to start off with.

Share my 2 posts and their videos that are right after this post: 1) Anti-Asian Racism & Bias – Past to Present and 2) The Model Minority Myth – What, Why, How?

Asian American Federation (@AAFederation): In light of continuing attacks and violence against Asian Americans, download @AAFederation’s Stay Safe from Hate booklet in 5 Asian languages with strategies to stay safe. Share with your families and friends. Download FREE here.

Helen Zia’s Washington Post Op-ed (@HelenZiaReal): “Targeting Asians and Asian Americans will make it harder to stop covid-19”: Read @HelenZiaReal op-ed to understand how the recent attacks against Asians and Asian Americans is a recurring theme in America, but that we can do better than this, and we have.

Annie Anlin Cheng’s New York Times Op-Ed: “What This Wave of Anti-Asian Violence Reveals About America”: Read Anne A. Cheng’s @nytimes Op-Ed to learn about the uncomfortable truth about how attention to nonwhite groups is only as pressing as the injuries that they suffered.

NPR interview with Dale Minami: Educate yourself! @DaleMinami gives a lesson about the long history of anti-Asian discrimination and racism in the U.S. on @npratc @NPR. From Chinese Exclusion to Muslim and Sikh discrimination after 9/11.

Li Zhou’s Vox article on The long history of anti-Asian hate in America, explained: “Forever Foreigners” read @liszhou explanation of how this stereotype has been used for over a century to exclude, discriminate, and enact violence against Asian Americans.