Hot girl summer is here! And while we hope you’ll have some time to find yourself and the kiddos lounging outside by the pool, we also wanted to give you the heads up that you and the summer sun might not be the only “hot” thing out here.
But even as we break out the Fall season drip and drive our families mad with pumpkin patch outings and Fall photoshoots, know that we’re not going ANYWHERE with the uncomfortable conversations.
As we carve pumpkins and shop for Halloween costumes, we’re still stopping to ask the real questions. Like, how are you really? What’s been troubling you as of late? What’s been exciting you? How can we show up for you?
And in the meantime, let’s give a shoutout to some of our 1M4 sistas who keep that hot girl summer energy all year long!
“My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.”
— Desmond Tutu
Partnerhsip Spotlight
Pop the bottles or put on some tea! It’s time to celebrate.
We’ve just partnered with Players Coalition!
Read more about our partnership and the goals we hope to achieve together here.
Sista Spotlight
In our community, we team up when needed.
But don’t get it twisted; our Sistas are out there changing lives on their own.
Get to know some of our Sistas and how they inspire us!
Sherley is the mother of 4 adult children with 8 grandchildren that affectionately call her “MiMi.” She loves to travel and experience new places, foods, and cultures.
Sherry is the proud mother of an adult son and daughter-in-law. She is a licensed professional counselor in Tennessee and Mississippi with two mental health practices, Knox Counseling Service and ReNew Me Counseling Services.
She is a board-approved supervisor in the counseling field. She enjoys music, plays, traveling, volunteering at a food bank, and serving as Chaplin in her church.
Volunteers Needed
We’re in our last week of volunteer input to fully revolutionize our community response guide by improving the user experience and capturing the experience of users “after the call”. But we can’t do this alone. We need just 3 more people to say “yes” to volunteering an hour or two of their time to get this project completed.
If you’re up to answering the call, instructions, training, and a script will be provided to make supporting your community one of the easiest decisions you ever make!
Catch Up on the Conversation!
Article of the Week
Check out what we’re reading and make sure to hit reply and tell us your thoughts!
Teen Cries Out For His Mother as Police Beat Him in Shocking Video
Why do you think people always call their Mother when harmed by police or others?
We’ve been thinking about this as news dropped of another instance of officer abuse of power.
Protect yourself as you read this one.
A Mental Health Tip For You!
As a mother or mother figure, we know that you’re juggling a million and one things on any given day. If it ain’t the kids, it’s managing the house. If it ain’t your job, maybe it’s drama with your family. Something is always happening, and with so much constant stimulation, it’s normal for your thoughts to get away from you or make you feel as if you’re sometimes not in control. You’re human.
One way to get those thoughts back in your control? Pay attention to your breathing. When your nervous system becomes dysregulated (which can be caused by certain triggers), utilizing breathing techniques can be a key way to calm your nervous system and signal to your mind that you’re safe. Will it magically fix everything? Of course not, Sis. But it will give you a moment of peace until you can get more support or call in backup.
Remember, if you’re ever experiencing a mental health emergency, 911 does not have to be your first call. Call 988 to be immediately connected to mental health professionals.
Spread Some Blessings!
The consequences of police violence extend far beyond the loss of life. For families affected, it’s the loss of income, the sacrifice of basic necessities, and the start of a high-cost legal fight. If you have the capacity, consider donating to 1M4. Proceeds help support impacted families and sustain the work of 1M4 toward ending police violence for good.
Advocating for your mental health and the mental health of those around you may not come naturally if this is new territory. But we can promise you this, the more you share your experiences and open yourself up to hear the experiences of others, the easier it will become, and the more lives you will be an active part in saving.
And with October being depression awareness month and the first week of October being mental illness awareness week, there’s no better time to start (or continue) having those conversations.
They empower you. They strengthen our community. They safeguard us all.
Your Sis In All Of This,
