In this episode, a continuation of Mind Ya Mentals: Part 1 , I sit down one-on-one with Dr. Enyo Dzata to dig deeper into the mental and emotional toll of survival strategies that no longer serve us. Together, we unpack how silence, self-monitoring, and respectability perpetuate harm. This episode invites listeners to reflect on the role of solidarity in caring for our mental health, and what it means to foster cross-cultural collaboration. Together, we consider how to move beyond survival toward spaces rooted in rest, honesty, and wholeness.

Dr. Enyo Dzata is a pediatric nurse practitioner with a special interest in mental health. This interest first started in her undergraduate studies where social sciences were used to examine human behavior through psychological concepts. After transitioning from pediatric endocrinology to primary care Dr. Dzata developed an interest early on in understanding how best to care for patients with behavioral, developmental, and mental health concerns and pursued a fellowship in pediatric Childhood and Adolescent Mental Health. This training was helpful in gaining knowledge and tools to provide evidence-based care, but it was clear that the educational system, like other constructed systems, was not supporting black and brown students, despite families of color seeking help to address their child’s needs from school personnel. Inequitable outcomes in healthcare and education led Dr. Dzata to pursue a doctoral degree looking at how to implement screenings for students in public school settings, particularly elementary school, to identify supports needed in the areas of student/life functioning. Additionally, her work looked at methods used to engage families in this process and which areas teachers believe would help in teaching their students with identified needs.

Connect with Dr. Enyo Dzata

LinkedIn

Resource

Dr. Raquel Martin’s Reel on Respectability Politics

To contact and/or book an event with Dionna Latimer-Hearn: dlhearn.net | dlhearn@yahoo.com | 682.777.2749

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Chad Lennon and Dr. Enyo Dzata to explore the complexities of supporting Black mental health in professional contexts. We discuss curiosity, care, and cultural awareness as they relate to mental health and its intersections with spirituality in the Black community. We also explore strategies for advocating for youth across settings. Finally, the guests provide insights on navigating systemic expectations, the importance of representation, and how lived experiences inform nuanced understanding and practice.

Dr. Chad Lennon, is a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Sheppard Pratt’s Baltimore/Washington Campus. He is board certified in neurology and child and adolescent psychiatry. Dr. Lennon received his bachelor’s degree from Franklin & Marshall College, attended a post-baccalaureate program at CUNY City College, and earned his medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine. He completed the University of Maryland/Sheppard Pratt Residency Program, followed by a child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship program at Mt. Sinai Elmhurst Hospital. Dr. Lennon was psychiatry chief resident at Adventist Behavioral Healthcare-Shady Grove Medical Center and then worked as lead psychiatrist on the adolescent unit. Dr. Lennon has won a number of academic excellence awards including the Adventist Healthcare Shady Grove Medical Center Physician RISES Individual Award and the Franklin & Marshall College Sydney N. Bridgett ’51 Award. He is a member of a number of professional societies including Black Psychiatrists of America, American Psychiatric Association, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Society for Adolescent Psychiatry, and Maryland Psychiatric Society. He is also widely published, has authored numerous blogs, and participated in many speaking engagements. Dr. Lennon’s presentations have included topics such as suicide, anxiety, and lectures series for both medical students and residents, respectively. His blogs have included topics such as the stigma of mental illness in the African American community, and managing stress, trauma, and anxiety in children and adolescents. Dr. Lennon has also participated in medical mission work.

Dr. Enyo Dzata is a pediatric nurse practitioner with a special interest in mental health. This interest first started in her undergraduate studies where social sciences were used to examine human behavior through psychological concepts. After transitioning from pediatric endocrinology to primary care Dr. Dzata developed an interest early on in understanding how best to care for patients with behavioral, developmental, and mental health concerns and pursued a fellowship in pediatric Childhood and Adolescent Mental Health. This training was helpful in gaining knowledge and tools to provide evidence-based care, but it was clear that the educational system, like other constructed systems, was not supporting black and brown students, despite families of color seeking help to address their child’s needs from school personnel. Inequitable outcomes in healthcare and education led Dr. Dzata to pursue a doctoral degree looking at how to implement screenings for students in public school settings, particularly elementary school, to identify supports needed in the areas of student/life functioning. Additionally, her work looked at methods used to engage families in this process and which areas teachers believe would help in teaching their students with identified needs.

Connect with Dr. Chad Lennon

Website

Phone: 410-938-3000

Connect with Dr. Enyo Dzata

LinkedIn

To contact and/or book an event with Dionna Latimer-Hearn: dlhearn.net | dlhearn@yahoo.com | 682.777.2749

In this episode of The Culture We Speak, I sit down with Ms. Maria Chisolm for an engaging conversation about the power of sharing our stories and its role in shaping how we understand and serve culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) populations. Together, we explore what it truly means to serve through intentional listening, authentic engagement, and equity-centered practice.

Ms. Chisolm shares powerful insights on how stories connect us, challenge bias, and affirm identity. We also discuss the recent shift away from DEI language within our professional spaces and what that means for those committed to justice, access, and representation. This conversation reminds us that every story matters—and that the way we tell and receive those stories can transform the future of our field.

Maria Chisolm, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a bilingual speech-language pathologist who operates a private practice serving culturally and linguistically diverse children and their families across Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico. With a specialization in early intervention and school-based settings, Maria is dedicated to providing comprehensive, culturally responsive, and linguistically appropriate assessments that honor the unique cultural and linguistic backgrounds of each child and family.

Beyond her clinical practice, Maria is passionate about mentoring private practitioners and supporting professionals and organizations working with multilingual families and learners. Through individual consultations, organizational training, and her online community, she offers tailored strategies for both optimizing business systems and enhancing service delivery to better meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse populations.

Maria regularly presents workshops and seminars on best practices for screening and assessing culturally and linguistically diverse populations, as well as effective strategies for starting, scaling, and managing private practices. Connect with Ms. Chisolm:

https://linktr.ee/layersconsulting

https://www.layers.consulting/

https://www.instagram.com/layersconsulting/

https://www.facebook.com/layersmentor

https://www.linkedin.com/company/layersconsulting/

Private Practice Online Community

CLD Online Community