My Baby's Black Life Matters

The weekend before last my family and I were in Northern VA and DC for other reasons but decided to stop by the newly named Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington DC. I'm originally from Alexandria, VA so when my sister and I were young we spent lots of time in DC and were able to visit all the monuments etc. My almost six year old has not visited those same landmarks and therefore I want to expose her to all of the history in the nation's capital. This was on our list of plans for the summer, pre-Rona but we did get a chance to see a few things while there. When we ventured out to newly named Black Lives Matter Plaza, which leads right up to the White House most of the crowd that you see on television had leveled off but there was still a aura about the place. There were folks selling t-shirts promoting black empowerment and the call for unity and equality for Black Americans. Now, what baffles me is that majority of Washington DC's population is Black but when you are near the White House it seems like it's another location. That's why it's ironic to me that we have to bring attention to black lives in a city that is saturated with blackness. Nonetheless, trying to explain to a five year old what is going on has been interesting. I explain to her that sometimes people aren't treated nicely because "we are brown". As I mentioned before, her challenges with loving her skin were the main reason for me starting this blog and movement to celebrate our culture in the first place. When my baby asks me "why" and I really dont have an answer other than the fact some people think you are not equal to them if you are brown but you are. You are just as great, just as smart, just as beautiful, just as talented as anyone else. She looks like she understands but I know she doesn't. I remember when I was pregnant with her before I knew I was having a girl I was terrified of having a little black boy coming into this world. What do I tell him? How do I prepare him for the fact that he will always be prejudged no matter what he does or where he goes? How do I keep him safe in an environment that automatically sees him as a threat? The year prior I had watched the whole debacle of the Trayvon Martin case and other cases, which probably increased my anxiety about the situation. I really sat there and felt like, dang, you could really be minding your own business and because someone sees you as a threat everyone thinks you deserve to die. That's the reality we are living in. Then I had to realize it's not just for the boys but also for girls, we are not safe either. In the streets, in our homes, at the doctors office where we have to beg for people to run testing on us because many times they write off how we are feeling and our ailments and down play them when they are brought to our healthcare providers attention. We also have to deal with the reality that when one of our girls goes missing, it's rare that it gets the same media attention and coverage as our counterparts to help in our search. We are overlooked at times for our ideas and business ventures even though black women are the leading demographic group or entrepreneurs as well as one of the groups that is leading in being the most educated. There is this constant undertone that we are not held to the same standards and we have to continue to work to negate that stigma. we must have these talks with our kids as early as five or younger. We have to prepare them for a world they playfully do not know exists. We have to prepare them for when they are the only black kid in the room and how to handle themselves. We have to shown them that as our former First Lady Mrs. Michelle Obama stated that "when they go low, we go high". I was excited to see my girl excited and starting to understand about her surroundings. She is probably more well aware then when I was a child so I am confident she will feel empowered as she goes on. One of the shirts for sale by one of the vendors my daughter loved and she kept saying the phrase  "Black Girls Are Lit"... I loved it and loves that she is loving being just who she is. 

LegaCEE Inc

Mental Health in the Black Community is something that only recently began to garner many of our attention. As more and more of us become open to the idea of seeing a counselor/therapist to combat our past tragedies and traumas it is important that we spotlight those working to make a difference and actively provide services to the community. We recently had a chance to catch up with Ms. Shareka Eldridge, LPC,  Owner of LegaCEE Inc, who specializes in outpatient counseling and consulting services. See our interview below for more information about her company and the impact she is making on the community.  

Q)      What is LegaCEE Inc and when and how did you get started?

A) LegaCEE Inc is an outpatient mental health practice. I decided in the fall of 2019 I wanted to bring awareness of mental health to marginalized populations. So in October 2019, I got the business license and in April 2020, I officially started accepting clients. I have a practice location/office, but due to COVID-19, I have been providing services virtually. 

Q) Please provide a little insight into your background to include your education and professional background. How did this help guide you to opening LegaCEE Inc?

A) I graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 2009 with a Bachelor's in Women's Studies with a focus on gender inequality. It was during my time at VCU that I became very involved  in bringing awareness to signs of sexual abuse and domestic violence through volunteering with the YWCA of Richmond. After graduating, I took a job in Corporate America but began doing a lot of volunteering with under privileged youth and sexual assault survivors. Corporate America was paying the bills but I was not feeling fulfilled. I decided to get my Masters and in 2012 I enrolled in South University. I was there for 2 quarters and then transferred to Walden University where I graduated from in 2015. In 2013, I left the corporate world and began working in the human services field full time. This journey was anything but easy as there were several challenges I faced due to not having the needed credentials though I had the experience. However, I still prevailed and worked with at-risk and under privileged youth in school and community settings. After graduating in 2015, more opportunities opened up for me, and I became a clinical supervisor for a community mental health agency. After a little over a year there, I realized I wanted to have direct access to the clients again and took a position with the Dept of Juvenile Justice as a therapist. This was one of my most fulfilling roles as it opened my eyes to how our youth can get caught up and lost in the judicial system. After almost three years at DJJ, I found myself being limited in the clinical care I could provide and I so knew the youth needed. It was also during this time, I became a LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) in 2018. As a licensed individual, I finally reached the "top" in the counseling world. In January 2019, I began working for a CSB (Community Services Board) county government, as a full time therapist for youth and family. Again, due to politics that control government agencies, I felt limited in my care and noticed a repetitive theme of misinformation from marginalized families. Newly licensed and feeling limited, I decided it was time for me to take a leap of faith and start my own practice, which led to the birth of LegaCEE Inc.  

  

Q) What services does LegaCEE Inc provide?

A) LegaCEE Inc provides individual and family therapy, parental coaching, life coaching and life skills groups. 

 

Q) Can you explain from your perspective how important mental health services are in the black community and what benefits the black community can expect to see with an increase of mental health services?

A) As a black woman, I've witnessed and been victim to the lack of mental health services for the Black community. However, I wanted to know more and I wanted better for myself (not saying others don't). Given the generational trauma on top of day to day stress, it is very imperative that Black people tend to their mental health. For starters, our mental health impacts our physical health, so once we are well within the mind, the body is sure to follow; meaning there will become a decrease in health issues that plaque the black community such as diabetes and hypertension. Additionally, tending to the mental health of black children earlier on can help prevent the incarceration and homelessness rate for the Black community. 

 

Q) In the black community there is oftentimes a stigma with receiving mental health services. What are your thoughts or suggestions on how to combat that stigma?

A) I am so glad this is a question. I just did a little video explaining this as a driving force behind the start of LegaCEE Inc. There is most definitely a stigma in regards to mental health, not just receiving it but even talking about it. For centuries, this is something Black people have been told is not for "us" or to just talk to the pastor. Now don't get me wrong, I am very spiritual and believe in the power of prayer but I also know God gifted me with the ability to help those with mental health needs as well. I say that to say "you can talk to your pastor and still have a therapist". The stigma around mental health is that it means something is "wrong with you" and that's so not true, but then again it is. Nothing is wrong with the person as an individual but it does mean that person will need extra attention to their brain. That's all it is. Our brains are an organ just like the heart but yet it is not taboo to visit a cardiologist for heart issues. If we start seeing the brain as the complex organ as it is, the stigma surrounding mental health will decrease, not only for the Black community but in general. 

 

Q) Your company has a focus on youth services. What made you want to specialize in helping youth and how important is it to begin working with individuals at a young age in your line of work? Is there any scenario in your career that helped shape your direction with your company?

A) Starting out, I just knew I was going to be a full time therapist for sexual assault and domestic violence adult survivors. However, as I began working more and more with our youth, I saw firsthand how much they hurt, how much they are overwhelmed, overlooked, and discarded. You wouldn't think this was the case but it was/is. Then my time at DJJ just truly opened my eyes to how untreated mental health could lead our youth to make poor decisions that could negatively affect their lives forever and I couldn't handle that. I know how important it is to reach people at a young ago so why not? Honestly, it does get tough at times and it is easy to blame the adults in the life of the child but I truly believe guardians do the best they can with what they have so it is my job to not only help that young person but to help the family as well.  

 

Q) How can people contact you to schedule services and are there any ways people can donate or offer support to assist?

A) To schedule an appointment, please feel free to email LegaCEECounseling@gmail.com or call (804) 412-8621. I currently accept Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Optum/United Behavioral Health and Medicaid with Anthem MCO. You can also self-pay for services. Donations and support of any kind is appreciated!!! Because of COVID-19, things have not been as expected but business is still open. Donations can be made through Paypal at PayPal.Me/legaceeinc. I would say the easiest support is to share LegaCEE's content via IG or Facebook. 

Contact Information:

Email: LegaCEECounseling@gmail.com

Phone: (804) 412-8621

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LegaCEEInc/

IG: Legacee_Inc

Ms. Shareka Eldridge, LPC, Owner of LegaCEE Inc