Activism

Frank Discussion on Men and Boys’ Mental Health

The Men and Boys Action Team is comprised of those who self-identify as male across the lifespan for discussion of mental health awareness and education. The team is led by William Spence Casey, a licensed clinical social worker with the Marin County Veterans Services Office, and Otis Bruce Jr., Marin County Assistant District Attorney.

Published

2 years ago

May 13, 2022

Oakland Post

Community in-person event titled ‘Redefining Strength’ on May 19

Courtesy of Marin County

Across their life spans, men and boys shy away from seeking mental health support particularly in times of distress, and that can be a key risk factor of suicide and other behavioral health issues.

To raise awareness, the Marin County Suicide Prevention Collaborative’s Men and Boys Action Team and the County of Marin’s Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) are hosting an in-person session called “Redefining Strength: A Conversation About Men and Boys’ Mental Health” at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 19, at the Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael. Online registration is open and required for attendance. The event is being held in partnership with the grassroots group RxSafe Marin, the Marin County District Attorney’s Office, and the Marin County Probation Department.

During the event, the collaborating partners will roll out their Redefining Strength campaign and hear from expert panelists before opening the community conversation about men and boys’ mental health and well-being and how to ask for help.

Through both its event and campaign, the Men and Boys Action Team is taking steps to inspire new thinking and actions among men and boys who are not known to seek help around mental health issues, suicidality, substance use, or addiction. After the event, the organizers will continue to listen and learn from men and boys and share the findings.

Casey, in his 18th year assisting military veterans, said his work fits well with his love of military history, his family of veterans, and his enjoyment of helping people.

“I am very proud to be a co-leader with the Men and Boys Action Team for the collaborative,” Casey said. “Our primary goal is to normalize a discussion around suicide prevention and mental illness. I’ve concluded from my life experience and profession that mental illness is part thief and part silent killer. When untreated and unidentified, it robs us of our time, joy, and happiness and, in a sense, our lives.”

Bruce leads the DA’s Office’s social justice and equity programs and serves as the community liaison and policy coordinator. A youth mentor and trial prosecutor in Marin for more than 30 years, he is dedicated to ensuring that youth and adults receive support and services for psychologically healthy, productive, and happy lives.

“Since the COVID-19 pandemic increased our community’s mental health issues, it is now important to encourage frank, open, and candid conversations around mental health, recovery, and wellness among men, young men, and boys who may be struggling,” Bruce said.

Among the team’s youth members is Deyne Jurie, a Dominican University student who became an intern and joined the team in the fall of 2021.

“It’s very interesting to be on a team with older men who have lived through or experienced mental health,” Jurie said. “As a college student, I represent the transitional stage from college to adult life for our team. Once the campaign launches, I plan to post it on my social media to reach my age group.”

Twice a month, the Suicide Prevention Collaborative’s Men and Boys Team hosts community meetings with presentations and discussions on topics about what it means to ask for help, how to help others, and ways to cope using healthy and positive strategies.

Dave Cort, the Executive Director of the San Geronimo Valley Community Center, regularly attends the monthly meetings and is a member of the Men and Boys Team.

“This work really captured my interest, especially because two of my close friends lost their sons to overdose,” Cort said. “The structure of the team and its focus on both men and boys with diverse lived experiences and a broad age range was also appealing. I have had an extremely great experience with the team because I can hear from high school and college guys as well as men of all colors.”

BHRS Director Dr. Jei Africa said the event is an opportunity to directly address the stigma of men and boys’ mental health. “What the Men and Boys Action Team is showing us is that we can be each other’s keeper and look out for one another when we’re in pain or struggling,” Africa said.

Locally, the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) oversees government-funded behavioral health and recovery services. If you or someone you know is in mental health distress, find resources on https://prevention.marinbhrs.org/or contact:

Marin Suicide Prevention Hotline: (415) 499-1100

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1 (800) 273-8255 y en Español: 1 (888) 628-9454

The Trevor Lifeline: 1 (866) 488-7386

Friendship Line (for 60 and older): 1 (800) 971-0016

Crisis Text Line: Text MARIN to 741741

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Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

Published

4 days ago

April 19, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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Oakland Schools Honor Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties

Every Jan. 30, OUSD commemorates the legacy of Fred Korematsu, an Oakland native, a Castlemont High School graduate, and a national symbol of resistance, resilience, and justice. His defiant stand against racial injustice and his unwavering commitment to civil rights continue to inspire the local community and the nation. Tuesday was “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution” in the state of California and a growing number of states across the country.

Published

4 days ago

April 19, 2024

Oakland Post

Fred Korematsu. Courtesy of OUSD.

By Post Staff

Every Jan. 30, OUSD commemorates the legacy of Fred Korematsu, an Oakland native, a Castlemont High School graduate, and a national symbol of resistance, resilience, and justice.

His defiant stand against racial injustice and his unwavering commitment to civil rights continue to inspire the local community and the nation. Tuesday was “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution” in the state of California and a growing number of states across the country.
One OUSD school is named in his honor: Fred T. Korematsu Discovery Academy (KDA) elementary in East Oakland.

Several years ago, founding KDA Principal Charles Wilson, in a video interview with anti-hate organization “Not In Our Town,” said, “We chose the name Fred Korematsu because we really felt like the attributes that he showed in his work are things that the children need to learn … that common people can stand up and make differences in a large number of people’s lives.”

Fred Korematsu was born in Oakland on Jan. 30, 1919. His parents ran a floral nursery business, and his upbringing in Oakland shaped his worldview. His belief in the importance of standing up for your rights and the rights of others, regardless of race or background, was the foundation for his activism against racial prejudice and for the rights of Japanese Americans during World War II.

At the start of the war, Korematsu was turned away from enlisting in the National Guard and the Coast Guard because of his race. He trained as a welder, working at the docks in Oakland, but was fired after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Fear and prejudice led to federal Executive Order 9066, which forced more than 120,000 Japanese Americans out of their homes and neighborhoods and into remote internment camps.

The 23-year-old Korematsu resisted the order. He underwent cosmetic surgery and assumed a false identity, choosing freedom over unjust imprisonment. His later arrest and conviction sparked a legal battle that would challenge the foundation of civil liberties in America.

Korematsu’s fight culminated in the Supreme Court’s initial ruling against him in 1944. He spent years in a Utah internment camp with his family, followed by time living in Salt Lake City where he was dogged by racism.

In 1976, President Gerald Ford overturned Executive Order 9066. Seven years later, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco vacated Korematsu’s conviction. He said in court, “I would like to see the government admit that they were wrong and do something about it so this will never happen again to any American citizen of any race, creed, or color.”

Korematsu’s dedication and determination established him as a national icon of civil rights and social justice. He advocated for justice with Rosa Parks. In 1998, President Bill Clinton gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom saying, “In the long history of our country’s constant search for justice, some names of ordinary citizens stand for millions of souls … To that distinguished list, today we add the name of Fred Korematsu.”

After Sept. 11, 2001, Korematsu spoke out against hatred and discrimination, saying what happened to Japanese Americans should not happen to people of Middle Eastern descent.
Korematsu’s roots in Oakland and his education in OUSD are a source of great pride for the city, according to the school district. His most famous quote, which is on the Korematsu elementary school mural, is as relevant now as ever, “If you have the feeling that something is wrong, don’t be afraid to speak up.”

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WOMEN IMPACTING THE CHURCH AND COMMUNITY

Published

5 days ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

Juanita Matthews

Sister Juanita Matthews

55 Years with Oakland Public School District

The Teacher, Mother, Community Outreach Champion, And Child of God

Juanita Matthews, better known as “Sister Teacher,” is a walking Bible scholar. She moved to California from the great state of Arkansas in 1971. Sister Teacher has a passion for teaching. She has been a member of Bible Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church since 1971. She followed her passion for teaching, and in 1977 became the lead teacher for Adult Class #6. Her motto still today is “Once My Student, Always My Student”.

Beyond her remarkable love for the Lord, Sister Teacher has showcased her love for teaching by working for the Oakland Unified School District for 55 years, all but four of those years spent at Emerson Elementary and Child Development School. She truly cares about her students, making sure they have the tools/supplies needed to learn either at OUSD or Bible Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church.

She’s also had a “Clothes Closet Ministry” for 51 years, making sure her students have sufficient clothing for school. The Clothes Closet Ministry extends past her students, she has been clothing the community for over 50 years as well. She loves the Lord and is a servant on a mission. She is a loving mother to two beautiful children, Sandra and Andre. This is the impact this woman of God has on her church and the community.