Latest News & Podcasts

Today I’d like to introduce Brian Weddington. Brian is a newer member at Independence Center, coming into services in 2020. Since joining Independence Center, he has become a peer specialist, completed his HiSET, enrolled at UMSL, moved into his own apartment, and has started interviewing for different jobs. We are going to spend a little time hearing Brian’s story and learn more about what he is up to now. 

We are going to be talking about Zero Suicide, which promotes safer care for those at risk of suicide. Zero Suicide believes that suicide is preventable and that the only acceptable number of losses due to errors in quality of care is zero. Today I am speaking with Kirsten Sierra, who has both her MSW and LCSW and works at Mercy as their first ever Zero Suicide Coordinator and Maria Needham who has her Bachelors of Social Work and works

This week I am talking one of Independence Center’s Community Support Specialists, Jordan Palmer. Jordan has been working as a CSS for 3 years and is current pursuing her masters in social work at Washington University in St. Louis.   Aside from managing a caseload, Jordan also is very involved with Independence Center’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work and did her practicuum project specifically addressing how racism intersects with mental health. 

Today I am talking to Sharee Silerio. Sharee Silerio is a St. Louis-born, raised and based writer, director and producer who focuses on telling stories where Black women + girls exist as full human beings on screen and feel seen, heard, loved and affirmed beyond the screen.  She recently completed her fourth short documentary Black Girl, Bleu, a conversation with Black women about the Strong Black Woman myth and how it impacts the mental health challenges they’ve been through, face and

This week I am talking with two people from Independence Center about mental health supports for older adults. Pat Marshall is a team lead at the Clubhouse and Karen Cox- Miller is a long-time member. Pat and Karen help to co-lead a group at IC called the Young at Heart group. This group is specifically for members 55 and older to socialize, connect, and support one another. This program has evolved over the last couple of years and now the

The second part of this episode focuses on mental health statistics for trans folks, how MTUG supports the transexpansive community in and around St. Louis, and how you can get in contact with Sayer and the people at MTUG. Show Notes Learn more about this episode of Let’s Rethink This Guest Info Learn more about our guest on this episode of Let’s Rethink This Resources Learn more about the resources mentioned on this episode of Let’s Rethink This Subscribe to

This week we are talking to Sayer Johnson from the Metro Trans Umbrella Group or MTUG. Sayer started MTUG in 2015 with the intention of bringing together the transgender community in the St. Louis Metro Area, the organization now serves all individuals that fall under the “umbrella term” of Trans which includes but is not limited to: transexuals, genderqueer, androgynous, agender, intersex, drag, and questioning and helps to mend the resource gaps, provide support, and resources to Trans folks in St.

This week I am talking with an old friend, Gabriella Carbone. Gabriella has her bachelor of arts in public and community services studies at Providence College and completed her master of social work from Hunter College. She now works with unhoused adults at the Bowery Mission in New York City assessing for need, creating individual action plans, and managing crisis situations. We are talking about living with a mental illness while working in the social services field. 

This week, I am so excited to be speaking with Independence Center member, Angel. Angel has been a member at IC for 4 years and has grown so much. We worked on a project together back in 2018 called the 40 stories in 40 days project where we created short videos of members sharing their life stories and published them on YouTube and the Independence Center Facebook page. Jump forward a couple years and Angel is now preparing to graduate

This week, I am so excited to be speaking with Ayana Dobos, who is a staff attorney at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. Ayana has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice & Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. She completed her Juris Doctorate at Emory University School of Law and now practices in St. Louis, MO. She is the Program Director & Attorney for the LAAAMI. LAAMI stands for Legal Advocacy for Adults with Mental Illness. We will be discussing