I’m reminded of our strength and our resilience. When we look back at the individuals and movements that shaped our history, one thing is clear. Real progress has always been collective. We’ve endured because we supported one another, showed up for each other, and kept moving even when the path wasn’t clear. That’s why this community matters to me. If I haven’t said it enough, thank you. Thank you for being part of this space, for your presence, your care, and your commitment to each other. You are appreciated. Love, Jen S.💕

When the Mask Slips: The Radical Act of Letting Yourself Be Seen We’ve all been taught to “keep it together.” But what if healing begins the moment we don’t? In this week’s emotional wellness piece, Darnell “DJ Connect” Washington opens up about the mask he wore for survival — and the day it finally cracked. From foster care to breakdown to breakthrough, Darnell explores: - Why vulnerability is not weakness, but resistance - How emotional honesty saved his life - And what it really means to be witnessed, not fixed 👉🏾 Read it here: https://dimensionsofblackness.lovable.app/blog 💬 What mask have you outgrown — and what did it cost you to wear it? No right answers. Just real talk. 🗣️💜 #EmotionalWellness #BlackMenHealing #MentalHealthMatters #TheCultureClub #DimensionsOfBlackness

Blood introduces you. Loyalty makes you family. In this week’s 8-minute read, Dr. Indigo Moore (they/she) reflects on 12 foster homes and 18 years of searching, arriving at one truth: Family is who shows up. As a Black non-binary organizer serving QTPOC (Queer and Trans People of Color), Indigo shows how chosen family is not just a concept; it is a lifeline built through care, consistency, and community. 👉🏾 Read here: https://dimensionsofblackness.lovable.app/blog 💬 Who have you chosen as family, or who has chosen you? What does true belonging look like for you? No right answers. Just real talk. 🗣️💜

In this week’s powerful reflection, Darnell “DJ Connect” Washington shares the moment everything changed, sitting in his car at 26, furious at himself for “needing” therapy, carrying years of pain from foster care, silence, and survival. 👉🏾 Read here: https://dimensionsofblackness.lovable.app/blog 💬 What’s one emotion you were taught to hide, and what has hiding it cost you? No right answers. Just real talk. 🗣️💜

What would happen if you trusted your body as your primary teacher? I bet most of us would not fall “sick” anywhere near as much as we do. It’s like, I used to view myself as ‘crazy’ – that something was seriously wrong with me. Until I shifted environments and found people who saw me as wise and level-headed. That was when my symptoms of being ‘crazy’ disappeared. Same same with my body. What I’ve been describing as a disorder? I’m now recognizing as my body’s persistent attempts to communicate with me. It’s been complaining for years now. I’ve been ignoring it, trying to appear ‘normal’ for violent systems that threatened the well-being of myself and my daughter. So, its signals have become harder to overlook.. My hunch is that it’s reflecting its complete lack of ease (dis-ease) with my environment. I anticipate that shifting environments will resolve this. So I’m choosing to listen to its cues and give it the best environment possible so it can support this crucial work I’ve been entrusted with. What about you? What is your body telling you? How are you listening? In gratitude, Deborah.