Introducing The Community Leaders Of Color Mental Health Fund
Presented by Future Front Texas in partnership with Colors of Austin Counseling, The Community Leaders of Color Mental Health Fund is an ongoing therapy fund for Black, Indigenous and non-white leaders of color pursuing racial justice in creative, community, business and work settings.
Through this program, you can apply for up to five pro-bono therapy sessions.
*Nota Importante: Haga click para encontrar una traducción en Español.
☺ We know that BIPOC leaders show up for show communities in times of crisis—often while managing their own trauma and sense of safety.
✰ We also know that BIPOC folks step up to represent their communities in big ways—and that act of collective-care can be overwhelming.
AND That’s where the community leaders of color mental health fund comes in.
Through this fund, we will seasonally grant 15 community leaders of color up to five sessions each of culturally-appropriate crisis therapy with a therapist at Colors of Austin Counseling.
Because we envision a world where mental health is normalized.
We envision a world where our communities are fiercely cared for—and racial justice work is followed by restoration. We envision a world where BIPOC leaders in many community settings—from small business owners to entrepreneurs to organizers to nonprofit directors—receive the support they deserve.
HOW TO SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR SUPPORT:
2.) Submit your request with our form.
This resource has been brought forward due to the organizing work of Colors of Austin’s Director of Equity Sandra Olarte-Hayes (she/her/ella)—a bilingual LCSW, therapist, and circle keeper in Austin, Texas—in collaboration with fellow Black, Indigenous and POC colleagues and therapists from the Colors of Austin Counseling staff.
Once you apply for a session, you will be considered for placement with an available therapist in their network. Your request is entirely confidential. (Responses to your request may take five to seven business days.)
1.) Ensure you are eligible to apply.
You must be based in Austin, Texas.
You must identify as Black, Indigenous or a person of color.
You must identify as a woman, trans, gender-non-conforming or LGBTQ+.
You must be leading or a part of a creative project, community project, work project or business that furthers racial justice.
You must submit your support request by August 15, 2021 at 11:59 PM CT.
BEHIND THE FUND
Throughout August and September 2020, we partnered with activist Sandra Olarte-Hayes and 8 BIPOC therapists to provide 100+ pro bono therapy sessions in Austin, Texas through a program we called BIPOC Therapy Support. Thanks to the volunteer efforts of Sandra, our staff and the therapists that stepped up, more than 25 community leaders were connected to vital mental health support and received at least two to five sessions of pro bono help as they work to actualize racial and social justice for our world.
The Community Leaders of Color Mental Health Fund has emerged from that initial volunteer vision. In its current iteration, the fund has been redesigned through a partnership with Colors of Austin Counseling, to properly compensate therapists for their time, as well as ensure that every applicant is appropriately supported. Thanks to underwriting support from Tito’s Handmade Vodka, the fund was reintroduced in July 2021 and will continue to offer therapy options as more resources and donations become available.
Meet the fund’s founders:
Sandra Olarte-Hayes (she/her/ella) is a bilingual LCSW, therapist, and circle keeper in Austin, Texas.
Her healing work has focused on working with formerly and currently incarcerated individuals, young organizers, immigrant youth and families, and individuals on both sides of domestic violence. She also works with clients undergoing family conflict, depression, personal and intergenerational trauma, and racial and cultural issues. Sandra's work is grounded in anti-oppresive, feminist frameworks and she dedicates much of her energy to healing justice initiatives which bridge the gap between healing work and social change movements. She is deeply passionate about restorative justice and bringing healing to individuals on both sides of violence and strongly believes all change, both systemic and personal, are grounded in relationships, connection, and community.
Colors of Austin Counseling is an intentionally diverse multidisciplinary group practice that provides counseling services in-person and online within the state of Texas.
We are social justice oriented in our practice and inclusive in our work within the community. Our goal is to reduce the barriers that exist when it comes to mental health support and to provide high quality clinical services to all regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, ability and/or socioeconomic status.
Future Front Texas is a 501c3 nonprofit, homegrown in Austin 🌍
We started as a grassroots meet-up series called Boss Babes ATX (bbatx) in 2015. We are run by a four-person staff and a network of amazing volunteers, each committed to cultivating the spaces we want to see in the world.
Alongside our members, collaborators and partners, we nurture creativity, community-building and professional resilience in Texas. We make spaces where women and queer creatives, founders and leaders can grow together.
Currently, we produce an annual festival and market, a year-round learning club, as well as multiple community funds and initiatives.
Meet the fund’s underwriter:
Want to stay involved with Future Front Texas?
Keep up with what we’re up to—from virtual events to membership—here.