Mental Health Awareness Month: Ms. Evandra Catherine Interview

8/19/2017

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