A message from our CEO:

Greetings AMAAD Friends & Family,

We are fresh off the hills of the inaugural 2022 Summit For Our Tribes, a Black LGBTQ+ Health & Wellness conference gathering that the AMAAD Institute facilitated. I am especially thrilled about what took place throughout the day. We planned Summit Of Our Tribes to coincide with L.A. Black Pride, as just one of a collection of various other L.A. Black Pride community events and activities that have traditionally been associated with the July 4th weekend for over 35 years.

More than one-hundred and fifty (150) community stakeholders, gatekeepers, service providers, and others interested in issues related to Black LGBTQ+ people joined us throughout the day at the Earvin “Magic” Johnson Conference Center in South L.A. Not only did participants receive some impactful information through workshops, keynote, and panel discussions, but importantly we were able to fellowship as a collective.

At AMAAD, we are committed to expanding this annual Summit, and it is clear to me that the community is interested in helping to formulate what that expansion can look like in the future. Soon, we will assemble a community committee to plan and strategize for future years. I hope that many of you will join us to elevate the experience.

Thanks,

Dr. Carl Highshaw, MSW

Founder & C.E.O.

P.R.I.D.E.

By Lanelle Laws, M.., LMFT

Behavioral Health Therapist

Welcome New Staff

Mark Marbury

Executive & Budget Assistant to the CEO

Mark Marbury is originally from Childersburg, Al, and has predominately worked in the accounting field his entire career. Being from a rural part of Alabama, where people don’t speak their truth out loud, has helped him realize he can speak for those who can’t. That support has been through protesting, engaging, financial, or healthy conversations. He is most passionate about making a difference in his community. He likes to treat the company he works for as he started it. After graduating with a BS in Accounting, he received an honorable discharge from the United States Marine Corps with distinguished medals and badges. His role at AMAAD is the Executive and Budget Assistant to the CEO. He serves as the CEO’s point person for administrative and business processes, track team(s) operating budgets, validate expenditures to ensure alignment with managing budgets and make annual budget recommendations. He would like to help in the continued success and expansion of the services needed by underserved communities of color by ensuring our fiscal and financial resources are managed and distributed adequately.

Diamond Paulk

Community Engagement & Training Coordinator

Diamond Paulk is originally from Jacksonville, FL. Growing up in Flordia, where it was dangerous to live in your truth, she found it necessary to create spaces where individuals can ultimately be themselves consistently. She has worked alongside the community for five years and looks forward to continuing the work. Diamond is passionate about seeing her community win and is committed to providing resources and education to elevate our community. However, she feels her most significant accomplishment would be deciding to walk in her truth, despite the taboo surrounding the Transgender community. Therefore, Diamond joins the AMAAD Squad as the new Community Engagement & Training Coordinator. In this position, she plans to provide resources and education to our Transgender Community, so they feel empowered to be more than the world would see them as.

July Program Calendar

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Clinicians Corner

Lea’s Self-care Tips:

Unpack your thoughts,

Unpacking your thoughts is a healthy coping mechanism. Simply writing down your thoughts and feelings can release stress and help you to move forward in your goals. Put the pen to the paper and unpack. You will be surprised at how it lightens your load.

Lea Collins

Behavioral Health Counselor Therapist

Christopher Webb- Media Coordinator

Darnell Green- Editor

Carl Highshaw- Publisher