We wrapped up our mental health awareness month with a live discussion via our Freedom Train YouTube channel. We gave  summary of our three interviews this month promoting mental health care within our community. We want to give a big thank you to Mrs. Eustacia Trawixk-Dixie, Professor Carl Tone Jones, and Evendra Catherine for giving us their time and information. We learned more about anxiety and depression and how both are prevalent within our communities. We learned that our people should be seeking professional help for their issues rather than a convenient ear. We all suffer from post traumatic slave syndrome and all experience the stress of oppression. Our mental health is nothing to overlook,; healing our minds will help us gain true liberation. Think about it!!!   

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Evandra Catherine is currently a full time PhD student at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. Her program is Special Education and Disability Policy. Her research interest focuses on national policies that impact the education of Black boys, particularly those with receive special education services. She considers herself a Pan Africanist and political activist. Her overall purpose is to empower Black peoples to acknowledge their contributions and collective identity. She also seeks to bring awareness to the quality of life Black boys and men experience in America.
 
Evandra’s passion stems from her own lack of Black identity throughout her life. After she spent five years in the United States Air Force, she entered college at 23 years old, majoring in African American Studies. It was during those years that she learned what it meant to be Black in America. Now 12 years later, Evandra has dedicated herself to making change at both the grassroots level and politically. She campaigned for a Virginia state office in 2013, and aspires to campaign for Virginia state senate in 2019.
 
Evandra spent most of her childhood homeless and experienced significant trauma (physical, sexual, psychological and emotional). The pressures of adulthood and unresolved mental health issues presented great challenges in her life which has led to her being outspoken and transparent about her mental health struggles. She has since organized campaigns throughout Richmond that address childhood mental health challenges and racial healing. Evandra is also a public speaker and intellectual and leader in her community. After she finishes her PhD, her plan is to work as an education policy consultant to change national education policy for Black students.
 
Evandra is also a Richmond Virginia Top 40 Under 40 Class of 2015
 
Social media:
Twitter: @evcatherine
IG: @evandracatherine
FB: Evandra Catherine
 Website: www.evandracatherine.me

Upon obtaining his Master's Degree in Social Studies-Citizenship, Jones worked vigorously in the Philadelphia Public School system. As a professor, he also teaches courses in the area of community leadership. An accomplished lecturer, writer and public speaker, Jones has become a beacon of hope within the community as he strives to continue his focus concerning the improvement of the socio-economic conditions of the African born Americans as well as descendants of the African Diaspora. He continues to work with at-risk youths helping them to develop and utilize critical thinking skills through his lectures, workshops and community activism campaigns. He is Behavioral Specialist Consultant & Mobile Therapist. 

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There are times in life that we are rocked to our core. My calling in life is to help people when the feel stuck in situations. Using the therapeutic relationship to give individuals, couples, families the coping mechanisms needed to move forward in their lives and functioning. Restoring the peace of individuals is so important to me, and I take pride is using therapy to help do that. There is no one size fits all model of therapy, however Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has worked well with the short term clients that I have had most frequently. Assisting individuals with disabilities adjust to and create their new normal, is also an area of specialty that I love. Therapy as well as premarital preparation courses and rehabilitation counseling.
 
My educational background includes a MS in Rehabilitation Counseling from Thomas University as well as being a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. I have a BS in Psychology from the Florida State University. 

To Contact Mrs. Eustacia Trwick-Dixie email her @ [email protected] or click the button below.