You know that old saying, “if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans?” Well, the joke was on us this time. At the end of 2023, we had every intention of soft launching our new directory on Dec. 20th.
But because life be life’ing, things didn’t exactly workout as we had hoped. Plans got delayed and we fell off your inbox radar for a whole month as we started making modifications in the background. Thankfully, we were not deterred. Just determined.
“Perfection is the enemy of progress” so we are pressing forward, remaining agile as we get this tool into your hands. Which is why we’re back in your inbox today celebrating. Because thanks to your help and our amazing volunteers, our updated community response guide is LIVE.
And guess what? We gave it a real name (we know, FINALLY! We’re official official.)
Say hello to our updated community response guide: The Right Response Directory
With verified information on mental health response teams all across America, this updated and user-friendly directory will be a critical resource in decriminalizing mental illness.
By having this tool handy during or when witnessing a mental health or behavioral crisis, you can make a call knowing that your safety, or the safety of those you love, won’t be in jeopardy.
You’ll get not just any response but the right one for your specific mental health need. You’ll get the support of trained mental health professionals who can de-escalate the situation, handle your concerns, and treat you with care, which can significantly increase your chances of getting home safely.
So if there’s anything you get done today, make sure to tell your network about The Right Response!
“The more a parent prepares their child to realize that inequality is not the result of bad people but bad policy, the more we’re able to protect them.”
— Ibram X Kendi
Case Update On:
Isaiah “Zay” Williams
Last week Latia Alexander, mother of Isaiah “Zay” Williams, filed a formal lawsuit against the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department due to their murder of her son in January of 2022.
Read about the lawsuit on More Than A Hashtag’s Instagram page here:
Article of the Week
Check out what we’re reading and make sure to hit reply and tell us your thoughts!
Here’s a report from the Prison Policy Institute on top ways to reform (we prefer the term transform) the criminal legal system. Top spot mentions alternative response to police for mental health emergencies:
A Mental Health Tip For You!
Sis, let’s make something clear: EVERYONE’S safety is not your responsibility. As Black women, our responsibility to our community is to show up for them and ourselves by educating ourselves and others on the available resources.
There’s no better way to do this than by intentionally cultivating and connecting with your tribe. So this year, even as things get mighty hectic, put a reminder in your phone to check in on your own. Not just for them but for you too. Your sister-friends have the immense power to get you through the darkest times and celebrate the happiest ones.
By checking in with them routinely and not waiting until you’re in the depths of despair, you’ll do wonders in showing up for them and yourself. And remember, it doesn’t have to be a whole 2-hour keke every time. Sometimes, a text or funny meme is all that’s needed.
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.
Are you eager to help us get everyone home safely? There are a few ways you can make that happen:
- Forward this email to those in your circle
- Send a text to your besties telling them to bookmark www.therightresponse.co
- Look around in the directory and reply letting us know how your experience went, recommendations for improvement, other content you would like see shared. This is a community effort and we would love to hear from you.
Whether you do it all or just one, know that a little goes a long way. Every single person who learns about our alternative response directory helps us increase our reach and safeguard us all.
Your Sis In All Of This,
