When I lived in the Dignowity Hill neighborhood, the Ella Austin Community Center stood as a beacon of healing, offering an array of social services to those in need — from day care to substance abuse prevention to mental health support to tutoring. My mother-in-law worked at the day care center there long before I met her son and before our own kids attended the day care.
Now, I work with the WestCare Foundation, a behavioral health organization housed at the Ella Austin Community Center that serves San Antonio and Laredo. I serve as the training coordinator for the trauma-informed ministry model program, which specifically targets the BIPOC community and BIPOC places of worship to provide free certified training in mental health, verbal de-escalation and psychological safety. The goal is to destigmatize mental health conversations, particularly within communities of color that have often adhered to the “what goes on in this house stays in this house” mantra.
The work involves accessing church leaders and members on San Antonio’s East Side, an area facing significant disenfranchisement. Churches are trusted spaces within communities of color. It’s where people turn to first when facing mental health challenges. By empowering pastors and church members with knowledge and resources, we aim to create a network that fosters recovery and wellness and a ripple effect that reaches more and more people in need.
Breaking the silence around mental health in these communities is no easy task. The deeply ingrained stigma and fear of judgment make it challenging for people to open up and seek help. My work involves creating safe spaces and changing mindsets so that people can come out of hiding and engage in the training that can truly make a difference.
Collaborative partnerships with organizations like DreamWeek, the Texas Diversity Council, the Global Chamber of Commerce, the Center for Health Care Services Foundation, Bethel International Christian Fellowship, Kick Start Your Life with Dr. Keely, Shalom Mental Health Ministries and the African American Mental Health Collaborative amplify the impact of this work. We participate in events, conferences and presentations to spread the message that these training opportunities are free, accessible and essential for building healthier communities.
The focus of the work is not only on adults but also on children, addressing issues like youth gun violence through collaborations like the one where we partnered with KLRN and Santikos to screen the Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness documentary for local youth. After the screening, we had young people share their own stories of struggles with mental illness and held a Q&A session. The emphasis is on creating a legacy of mental health awareness and breaking the cycles of intergenerational and historical trauma.
As the Ella Austin Community Center prepares to undergo renovations, we are implementing our 2024 strategic plan and aiming to continue and amplify this important work as part of what I call the mental health awakening. I am proud to be part of a movement that seeks to transform hearts, minds and communities. The work is ongoing and the challenges are real, but the commitment to mental health awareness and support remains unwavering. The ripple effect initiated within the walls of Ella Austin extends far beyond, touching lives and fostering positive change across generations and communities.
