Jennifer Quinto

Black, Indigenous, people of color, and other marginalized communities experience the highest rates of suicide, self harm, addiction, and other struggles related to trauma. When we shift the conversation to understand the structure and harm of colonization leading this wave even beyond our communities, we can start to see that when we look to decolonize not only our thinking, but apply that knowledge to the decisions that shape our lives and communities, we begin to see how cultural knowledge and practices can lend to our healing and empowerment.

• What messages come to mind when we feel our worst?
• What values, or social measurements lent to these thoughts?
• What are the cultural values that have been buried, that shaped our beliefs of who we are?

By learning cultural values, we can shift our thinking from disempowerment, to dignity, pride, and in our worth and value. When we see ourselves and one another through a cultural lens, we can begin to see our strength more vividly, and expansive.