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

In this episode of The Culture We Speak, I sit down with Ms. Regina Cline for a profound conversation about the experiences & challenges faced by refugee & immigrant populations, emphasizing cultural humility, active listening, & the value of embracing diversity. Cultural humility is defined as a lifelong commitment to self-evaluation, acknowledging power imbalances, & fostering respectful partnerships. Ms. Cline shares personal anecdotes to highlight the importance of empathy & genuine listening to understand the unique perspectives of refugee and immigrant communities. In our discussion we celebrate the richness that diversity brings & explore how it fosters innovation across settings.

Ms. Cline earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Belhaven University. She earned her Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Palm Beach Atlantic University. Ms. Cline spent her previous career in the Social Work and Addiction fields. She has a passion for diversity and immigrant issues, which was birthed, in part, from her experience as a social worker. She is currently the Founder and Executive Director of Embracing Diversity, a 501(c)3 founded serving the immigrant community. Ms. Cline is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in Public Affairs/Public and Nonprofit Management at the University of Texas at Dallas. She has also taught “Diversity in the Public Sector” and “Nonprofit Management” courses. She is a co-author of a book chapter about intersectionality and Human Resource Management during the COVID pandemic and is currently completing her dissertation on refugee policy.

Connect with Ms. Cline:

ravin.cline@gmail.com

https://www.diverseworld.co

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravincline/

In this episode, Rachel Archambault, also known as the PTSD SLP, joins me for an in-depth discussion on Trauma-Informed Care and the vital role speech-language pathologists (SLPs) play in supporting clients exposed to trauma. Emphasizing the importance of cultural humility and collaborative care, we share professional insights and highlight self-reflection as a crucial element of effective care for individuals and communities affected by trauma.

Rachel Archambault, MA CCC-SLP is an SLP Program Specialist for Broward County Public Schools. After experiencing a nationally publicized traumatic experience at her workplace, she looked for ways to help work with students (and herself) after trauma. She found trauma-informed care and has been presenting nationally to SLPs as well as other healthcare providers and educators on how Trauma-Informed Care can be used in their setting.

Connect with Rachel:

rachel@ptsdslp.com

www.ptsdslp.com

https://instagram.com/ptsd.slp

https://facebook.com/ptsd.slp

https://linkedin.com/rachel-archambault

For more information on trauma-informed care:

The Deepest Well - Nadine Burke Harris

How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime – Nadine Burke Harris

My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending our Hearts and Bodies - Resmaa Menakem

SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach

Practical Guide for Implementing a Trauma-Informed Approach

Trauma Informed Oregon

Ted Talk: How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime – Nadine Burke Harris

Equity centered Trauma-informed Education (book) - Alex Shervin Venet

What happened to you?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing (book) – Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey

In this episode, I interview Palestinian American activist Bahia Amawi about her fight against Texas’ anti-BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) legislation. We explore how these laws impact our work as speech-language pathologists and discuss their broader implications on free speech and global discourse about justice and human rights. Our conversation emphasizes the crucial need for open dialogue and understanding in the face of oppression.

Ms. Bahia Amawi started with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communications from the University of Florida. She worked in advertising for a couple of years. After realizing the environment of long hours, stressful deadlines, and lack of feeling any reward wasn’t suited for her, she went back to school and graduated with her master’s degree in speech language pathology from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fl. She worked full time with Austin Independent School District during the school year and at a health clinic over the summers until she had her first child thus influencing her switch to contracting so she could balance motherhood and still be involved in her field. Currently, Bahia is an active member of her Austin surrounding community. She is involved in youth group, and Islamic education outreach, she is a homeschooling mom, and she contracts (without the anti-BDS law) as a speech language pathologist with Pflugerville Independent School District.

Bahia Amawi is featured across news sources in Texas and beyond for her advocacy against Anti-BDS legislation. She is also featured in the documentary, Boycott (by JustVision), available on Apple TV, Google Play, Vimeo on Demand, and Prime Video.

Additional Resources:

A Texas Elementary School Speech Pathologist Refused to Sign a Pro-Israel Oath...

US: States Use Anti-Boycott Laws to Punish Responsible Businesses

Boycott (Documentary)

In this episode, Dr. Vishnu KK Nair and I delve into the intricate relationship between capitalism and the prevalence of biased materials and practices within communication sciences and disorders. Our candid discussion highlights trends in global service delivery and their repercussions on historically marginalized communities. We also discuss how the pursuit of profit can deter clinicians from dedicating the essential resources and time needed for equitable service delivery for global majority populations.

Vishnu KK Nair, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences at University of Reading (UoR). He is trained as a speech and language therapist and has worked in universities across four different countries: India, Australia, USA and the UK. He co-leads the health theme of the Centre of Literacy and Multilingualism at UoR. His current research utilises critical methodologies in understanding the intersection between bilingualism, race, and disability. He is committed towards decentring English and monoglossic ideologies and emphasizes on engaging in research and clinical practice that is rooted in racial, linguistic and disability justice.

In this episode, Shari Tucker and I engage in a thought-provoking conversation about Title IX, basketball, soccer, and equity work within the context of our personal journeys as former Division I college student-athletes. We delve into the triumphs and challenges that shape the ever-evolving landscape of equity in the educational arena. We also explore the transformative power of equity work and its resounding impact on the lives of students, athletes, and society as a whole.

Shari Tucker is currently serving in her third year as the Director for Equity for the Shorewood School District. Prior to joining the Shorewood staff, she served as a classroom teacher as well as an Associate Principal for the Glendale River Hills School District. Shari has served in the Milwaukee Public School system for 16 years as an educational assistant, classroom teacher, Culturally Responsive Grade Level Leader, and a GE Demonstration classroom educator. Shari is also a consultant with ICS for Equity. She received her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Marquette University where she played Division I college basketball. Lastly, she holds two postgraduate degrees, one in Educational Leadership as well as a Master's of Education.

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