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MAGAZINE P LEASANT H OUSING

taking the lead IN HOUSING THE HOMELESS Tia Boyd

CONSEQUENCES OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC FOR bLACK AMERICANS mental HEALth

willis Dr.Jeremy When it comes to our health, knowledge is power

RECOVERY & REHABILITATION

OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN inmates

P L E A S A N T H O U S I N G

Table of C CON ENTS

TIA BOYD

04 10 12 18 28 38

Tia Boyd- Taking the Lead in Housing the Homeless

Chalita Watlington- Housing the Homeless Here and Now

CHARLITAWATLINGTON

Dr. Jeremy Willis- When it Comes to Our Health, Knowledge is Power

Nate Logan- Behavioral Health; Now More Vital than Ever

Kameeka Boyd- Community Care Begins with Community Caring

DR. JEREMY WILLIS

Tikia Wright- Managing Care for the Community

P L E A S A N T H O U S I N G

Contents

PLEASANT HOUSING

NATE LOGAN

PLEASANT HOUSING LOCATION MAIN OFFICE: 6314 WINDSOR HILL ROAD, SUITE 100 GWYNN OAK MARYLAND 21207

KAMEEKA BOYD

TIKIAWRIGHT

P L E A S A N T H O U S I N G

I am now able to minister to other wives who are currently experiencing the same thing I went through “

“

Tia

BOYD

Taking the Lead in Housing the Homeless

I n our United States community service continues to be needed from coast to coast and border to border. Yet despite our widespread and rather obvious needs, our communities often lack the very services that would help us all most directly. But when, where and how do we begin to address our national problems? • For Pleasant Behavioral Health Systems and Pleasant Housing Inc. Owner/Operator Tia Boyd, the “when” was as a fresh- faced teenager who witnessed an obvious need • The “where” was her home community of Baltimore • The “how” was through volunteering to feed the houseless and those most in need. This passion for service by the young Ms. Boyd lead directly to her professional work at the New Vision House of Hope where she was mentored by Founder and President, Charles Culver Sr., and went on to establish her career serving her community, learning and earning her “service stripes” through NVHH’s commitment to- • Traditional Housing for the houseless

After years of professional education and experience, the then Mrs. Boyd made the decision to branch out on her own and established both PBHS and its housing arm, PH Inc., in 2009. It was her goal to extend the good work she knew was needed and continue to serve her community in an even wider range. Together with her husband and partner, Kameeka Boyd (himself a veteran), the duo started with just one house and six residents in need. It is with some small amount of earned pride that Mrs. Boyd recently shared that PH Inc. now maintains six houses serving over 70 client/residents at any given time. Given their professional and service success one may be forgiven for thinking that it may be time to rest on her laurels and enjoy the fruits or her labor. But PH Inc. has already begun plans to continue to expand and serve additional communities in need. Yet when asked about her greatest professional accomplishment to date, Mrs. Boyd shared- “When I see our resident family going from nothing they want to be to something they want to be, taking care of their own home and truly enjoying their clean time—often for the first time in their lives—it lets me know that I’m on the right path.”

And for all of our communities, this path is one that’s desperately needed. The newest PH Inc. path includes plans to expand and serve the Orlando, Florida community even as they continue their work in the greater Baltimore area. Of course due to the both economic and social crash caused by the pandemic, this necessity for low-cost housing is more critical than ever before. With Mrs. Boyd and her husband taking the lead, we can look forward with hope instead of fear, and see the light of a bright future rather than the darkness of our

past. Because as they truly believe- Everyone deserves a place to call home!

• Substance Abuse IOP • Mental Health Services • Veteran Support

ARTICL

“The concept of addiction as a disease of the brain challenges deeply ingrained values about self-determination and personal responsibility.” – Dr. Nora Volkow, Dr. George Koob, Dr. AThomas McLellan

INSERT 3 Fighting for the Brain Disease Model Model can complicate messaging in treatment plans

Fighting public opinion can be an uphill battle, sometimes even a futile one. Despite years of progress and scientific advancements, researchers and treatment providers still find themselves having to convince the general public that substance use disorder is a disease. But it’s a message that can often complicate treatment plans as much as it seeks to inform.

LE 1 Setting the Record Straight Earlier this year, three of the nation’s leading drug experts wrote a paper seeking to explain, once and for all, how substance use affects the brain in the same way as similar diseases. In an article published in the New England Journal of Medicine, NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow, NIAAA Director Dr. George Koob, and Treatment Research Institute founder Dr. AThomas McLellan say they hope to reaffirm the brain disease model while simultaneously addressing common misconceptions about addiction. “The concept of addiction as a disease of the brain challenges deeply ingrained values about self-determination and personal responsibility that frame drug use as a voluntary, hedonistic act,” the authors write. The authors argue that public skepticism about the brain disease model comes from researchers’ inability to articulately describe the relationship between changes in neurobiology and the behaviors associated with addiction. Although countless scientific studies have proven the brain disease model to be accurate and effective, the authors admit more work may be needed to change public perception. “A more comprehensive understanding of the brain disease model of addiction may help to moderate some of the moral judgment attached to addictive behaviors and foster more scientific and public health–oriented approaches to prevention and treatment,” the authors write.

“You have to emphasize the responsibility on the part of the person, but you also have to explain why the behaviors are happening.” – Bob Rohret, MARRCH executive director

 Scientific studies attest that a person’s brain chemistry can be altered as a result of addiction.This fact can provide a needed explanation as to why continued use can still be a problem for people who clearly desire to get clean. “When you start to apply an explanation of why certain behaviors occur,” Rohret says, “it provides people some comfort in understanding why they’re doing what they’re doing.” Mixed Messages But as confident as many in the medical community are about the nature of substance abuse disorder, the idea that addiction is a disease presents something of a double-edged sword for treatment providers. “The messaging has to be sort of finessed,” says Bob Rohret, executive director of the Minnesota Association of Resources for Recovery and Chemical Health (MARRCH). “You have to emphasize the responsibility on the part of the person, but you also have to explain why the behaviors are happening.” Rohret says treatment providers have to inform those in recovery about the nature of their disease, while also making sure knowledge of that disease doesn’t become a crutch or an excuse for inaction. When presented correctly, Rohret says patients should understand their addiction and responsibility toward it in much the same way someone with heart disease may understand their affliction. Although they cannot change the biological makeup of their body immediately, they can make behavioral changes and take actionable steps that lead to more positive outcomes.

PLEASANT HOUSING

READY TO FACE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH?

410.566.0094 6314 Windsor Mill Rd. #100 Gwynn Oak, Maryland, 21207

D 1

PLEASANT HOUSING

C h a r l i t a W a t l i n g t o n HOUSING THE HOMELESS HERE AND NOW

T he growing American tragedy of unhoused hearts and souls sheltering in the streets is a problem for all of us. Many may even describe this issue as our national shame. The problem is a complex societal infection most prefer to leave untreated even as it spreads, and viable antidotes have so far eluded both our best and not-so-best efforts. Yet in the greater Baltimore community, we do have compassionate, capable and dedicated hands reaching out to lift our hearts and souls out of this spiralling abyss, and Pleasant Housing Inc. provides the warm, welcoming home where those hearts and souls can safely and securely re-stabilize their lives. And as Senior Director, Charlita Watlington is the strong woman providing the reliable structure, steady guidance and rock solid road map to a brighter future for all 73 of her resident family. In recent conversation, the great Ms. Watlington—an informal title her newest family lovingly insist upon—shared her philosophy of gratitude as she described her own almost entirely unplanned but entirely fortuitous arrival at Pleasant Housing Inc. With over two decades of professional success in property management on her resume but approaching professional burnout in her chosen field, Ms. Watlington made the decision to return to school to polish her academic achievements. And then fate took her hand. In 2015 while continuing her education, a near chance networking opportunity arrived when Pleasant Housing’s owner, Tia Boyd, met Ms. Watlington and immediately recognized that her vast professional experience and specific expertise were exactly what PH Inc. so desperately required. For her part, Ms. Watlington saw the opportunity to dive into her own heart’s desire and chosen vocation—Volunteering and giving back to the community that had given her such joy and success.

Of course the challenges of housing a multitude of adults in varying degrees of distress—mental health issues, substance abuse history, recent incarceration— demanded a dedicated map with a firm hand guiding what was a long forgotten or previously unknown path for so many of her newest family. That Pleasant Housing map as per Ms. Watlington currently covers six houses (4 male only, 1 female only and 1 coed) and includes- • Mandatory In-House Group Counseling • Mandatory Medication Management • Mandatory Household Maintenance • In-House Nurse Practitioner • In-House Manager • Regularly Scheduled Life Skill Sessions with the Senior Director

“WE’LL CONTINUE TO GROW, CONTINUE W L TO GIVE BACK AND HOPEFULLY CREATE A I N A E MORE HEALTHYAND STABLE COMMUNITYAS WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDEWRAPAROUND I P SERVICES. I’M SO GRATEFUL.” U

This reliably structured roadmap quickly became even more necessary when our world changed in 2020. Ms. Watlington and PH rapidly partnered with the Baltimore City Health Department and hosted a clinic for all Baltimore residents in general, and all PH residents in particular. The results? A 100% vaccination rate for all her PH resident family! This is a national success story of discipline, dedication and community cooperation we can all aspire to achieve. Her daily, hands-on work as a certified med technician—her most recent academic achievement— certainly provides invaluable guidance for all her residents and her devotion to establishing proper nutritional values is equally invaluable. And yes, grocery shopping is on her personal and lengthy list of family services. When asked about the future vision of her Pleasant Housing work. Ms. Watlington shared- “We’ll continue to grow, continue to give back and hopefully create a more healthy and stable community as we continue to provide wraparound services. I’m so grateful.” So are we. Because everyone deserves a home.

Dr. Jeremy When It Comes to Our Health, Knowledge is A s a species we humans have had

a pretty tough run the last two years. We’ve been beaten, battered and bewildered by a global pandemic that’s proven both too fast to catch and/or too slippery to hold; seemingly one step ahead while we’re constantly two steps behind. In our desperate search for blessed relief we’ve generally uncovered more questions than answers and more problems than solutions. Reliable leadership has been lacking, and definitive direction in short supply. But we do have some real answers, we do have some solid solutions, and we do have some reliable leadership. Dr. Jeremy Willis, founder and CEO of Priority Toxicology Laboratories, is one of our dedicated medical professionals who has devoted his life and career to leading the fight in eliminating the uncertainty of our present, ensuring the sustained health of our future, and maintaining his personal commitment to education as a vital key as well as the primary direction to unlocking the promise of our next generation of leaders. Fascinated by the precision of science in general—and chemistry in particular—from an early age, young Dr. Willis applied himself to his earliest studies, going on to receive his PhD in organic chemistry from Tougaloo College before continuing his post-doctoral work at both the University of Florida and Emory University. This commitment to the rigors of scientific academia seamlessly dovetailed into generously sharing his gifts through education and mentoring, moving forward into teaching

in his chosen field of organic chemistry at renowned Moorehouse College. Following a decade of guiding young Moorehouse men and women to their most specific roadmaps of scientific success that began with terminal degrees of their own, Dr. Willis recently shared that his years of enriching and guiding young minds were among the most rewarding of his professional life. But of course his own family commitmentsmultipliedthroughtheyearsand his transition to the private sector eventually became both a professional necessity and a dream which need no longer remain deferred. Following in his father’s own entrepreneurial footsteps (himself head of his own construction company) in 2017 Dr. Willis created Priority Toxicology Labs to capably serve the growing needs of the greater Atlanta community with simple, clear and definitive direction- “Our goal is to help our community become more knowledgeable and ultimately be in control of their health.” And then just two years into his lab’s burgeoning success in that direction, the entire healthcare landscape changed dramatically. Whether we can consider it fortunate given our circumstances, Dr. Willis had nonetheless positioned his lab to be the rock which breaks the crashing waves of an ongoing healthcare catastrophe very few of us imagined possible. Continue on next page>>>

Willis Power

DR. JEREMY WILLIS

“When I consider the accuracy of results my lab produces, I always first think of my grandma as the one receiving our results.”

Transitioning smoothly from UTIs and DNA sequencing into the sudden and overwhelming necessity for Covid-19 testing, Priority Labs rapidly repositioned its capabilities to handle accurate testing results of up to 2K samples per day, with a reliable 24-hour turnaround time. One invaluable key at the time was the lab’s acquisition and use of ThermoFisher’s vital ORF testing equipment in March of 2020, in line with the CDC’s own simultaneous use of this vital technological resource. Always keeping his beloved grandparents in mind, Dr. Willis further explained his lab’s commitment to professional accuracy with his own unique and very human touch- “When I consider the accuracy of results my lab produces, I always first think of my grandma as the one receiving our results.” And Dr. Willis remains one of our most approachable and clearheaded healthcare advocates and instructors. When asked to best describe the most current need for community testing, vaccination and healthcare vigilance in the face of Covid’s latest variation, Dr. Willis shared this simple but crystal-clear guidance- “With a typical flu season vaccination, there is an actual small introduction of that virus included in the vaccine. But I want my community to think of the Covid vaccine and its boosters not as this type of introduction. Because it’s more of an ‘email’ to their body’s ‘spam folder’ which merely uses messenger RNA to simply ‘signal’ the body to any actual future introduction of this virus fromoutside. This is the key difference between the Covid vaccination and typical flu season shots.” Further simple, clear and effective direction includes- • Be Proactive, Not Reactive (don’t wait to get sick) • Get Tested • Get Vaccinated/Boosted • Knowledge is Power Although many now reasonably hope we’re seeing the light at the end of our long pandemic tunnel, Dr. Willis sees our future soberly if optimistically. He expects that we may all suffer some degree of ongoing PTSD-like symptoms after our long and stressful healthcare nightmare but that we’ll most likely be able to effectively deal with any and all future Covid variations much more in line with an average flu season run. And with men like Dr. Willis leading the way, we can all feel reassured that our refreshed path will lead us to a much brighter light.

PLEASANT HOUSING

6314 Windsor Mill Rd. #100 Gwynn Oak, Maryland, 21207 410.566.0094 CONTACT

W e’ve all heard the ambiguously sly proverb/ curse-“May you live in interesting times.” And right now, we all understand those words on a much more profound level because…we now live in very interesting times. And as one directresultofourcommonpredicament,we’vebeguntoalso understand that mental health is an all-important feature of our common humanity that’s far too often either neglected as too confounding, or all together ignored as too costly. Yet even as we all continue to painstakingly struggle and suffer through the crashing storms of our “interesting times”, we have those dedicated professionals who offer us all a beacon of light to guide our way through our threatening darkness. In the greater Baltimore community, Pleasant Behavioral Health Systems is that beacon for many, and its Chief Compliance Officer, Nate Logan, is that dedicated professional. A Chicago native son, Mr. Logan first began his academic journey graduating from local Oakton Community College before he decided to see the world with the US Navy, leaving after four years of honorable service—as a Petty Officer Third Class (E-4)—which included the prestige of his membership in the Presidential Honor Guard. Not one to rest on his national service laurels, Petty Officer Logan then immediately dove back into his personal academic pursuits, eventually receiving both a Master’s in psychology and an EdD in education from Liberty University. It was this dedication to serving his community and plumbing the depths of the human condition that lead him directly to his current role as Chief Compliance Officer at Pleasant Behavioral Health Systems, where he currently manages both his community’s growing mental health needs, and the increasingly complex bureaucracy

of Maryland’s Department of Health through their Optum Maryland system. Mr. Logan’s service to his community is undoubtedly more vital than ever because among the more unfortunate facts of our “interesting times” which we all share- • Mental healthcare issues are more prevalent than ever before recorded • Mental healthcare for lower income citizens is increasingly challenging to afford • Mental healthcare service continues to become increasingly difficult to manage. As just one example of the professional challenges, founded in 2016 PBHS initially offered a range of services which included a dedicated focus to substance abuse/ addiction problems—in conjunction with their mental health service—but in 2019 had to refocus to a more comprehensive “wraparound” service model that incorporates an umbrella of all their services, with an Optum-oriented focus on mental health as a Maryland imperative. The much needed and comprehensive PBHS umbrella services now include- • Individual and Group Counseling • In-House Treatment • Financial Training and Education • Housing Assistance • Ongoing Living Assistance

CONTINUE READING ON PAGE 20>>>

Behavioral Health Now More Vital

NATE LOGAN

“Continuously serving our lower income community and helping them get the reliable mental health, financial and living services they need and that we need to provide for everyone in need.”

than Ever

N A T E L O G A N C O N T I N U E D

“We want to recognize these problems and then address them directly and responsibly.”

CONTINUE READING HERE... In short, PBHS provides comprehensive counseling, treatment and life skill services for those of us most in need, and for many unable to access or manage this vital resource any other way. When asked about his PBHS’s priority moving forward, Mr. Logan recently shared- “Continuously serving our lower income community and helping them get the reliable mental health, financial and living services they need and that we need to provide for everyone in need. We want to recognize these problems and then address them directly and responsibly.” Skilled professional community members helping other members of their community to access, learn and live the skills needed to build an even stronger, more sustainable community for all of us to share. This is one definition of successful long-term planning that every community could use, and one example of community values that we can all benefit from learning.

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ARTICL

Integrated treatment works best for victims of sexual abuse who are also addicts. Researchers have found a dramatic link between the

“ 1 out of every

INSERT 4 occurrence of sexual abuse and substance abuse. According to alcoholrehab.com, “sexual abuse victims are three times more likely to suffer depression, six times more likely to suffer PTSD, 13 times more likely to abuse alcohol and 26 times more likely to abuse drugs than those who have not been sexually abused.” They go on to say that one out of every six women and one in 33 men in America have been the victim of sexual assault or rape in their lifetime.

6 women and one in 33 men in America have been the victim of sexual assault or rape in their lifetime. ” -alcoholrehab.com

Integrated treatment

Treatment centers are beginning to recognize the need for integrated treatment techniques for victims undergoing substance abuse recovery. Since there’s such a high prevalence of sexual abuse among addicts, integrated treatment offers a fuller recovery for sexual abuse victims. Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is one common form of treatment. In CBT, individuals are offered psychoeducation, therapy instructing and empowering them to deal with their condition in an optimal way. Stress management tools are also helpful. Individuals can be taught to change their situations or their reactions and how to maintain appropriate personal boundaries. The regulation of emotions can be a challenge for a person who has been sexually abused. In CBT, clients learn what emotions are socially tolerable and they learn how to be flexible enough to permit some spontaneity. Survivors are also taught how to delay emotional reactions as necessary. 30 24

LE 3

Individuals can be taught to change their situations or their reactions, and how to take good care of themselves.

 Integrated treatment for those suffering from substance abuse addiction and sexual abuse greatly increases the chance that this person will remain sober for the long haul.They can also experience greater joy and healing than if they were treated for substance abuse alone. Telling their story One effective aspect of CBT is for the person to do a “trauma narrative.” In addition to telling their story by the spoken word or writing it down, they can also use drawing, painting or other art forms to communicate the trauma.The narrative can then be shared with a safe person, like a trained therapist or substance abuse counselor.The hope is that the survivor will be able to let go of some of the trauma. Healing can then take place. Another facet of CBT is behavior management training. Clients are encouraged to stay calm in an emotionally charged situation, manage their own responses, learn what limits are appropriate, handle challenging questions and learn how to prevent physical confrontations with others. According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), survivors are also encouraged to do what they can to heal themselves. Good sleep and nutrition, exercise, and regular routines like starting and ending the day in a peaceful way are a good place to start for people from this background. Those in recovery are also urged to write down leisure activities they find enjoyable and engage in those activities regularly. Clients are also encouraged to use journaling and inspirational reading to further grow in their recovery. Finally, having a supportive group of friends and family will help an individual recover emotionally from this kind of trauma.

INSERT 4

6314 Windsor Mill Rd # 100,

PLEASANT HOUSING

410.566.0094

Gwynn Oak, MD 21218

[

KAMEEKA

B O Y D

IMAGE

“ We’ve done a lot, but there’s always more to do. And we want to end homelessness through any means necessary.”

Community Care Begins with COMMUNITY CARING

E ach of our unique lives necessarily take a singular path. Sometimes we painstakingly plan and then follow our path with focused determination, and sometimes our path’s course surprises even ourselves as we push forward towards our fulfilling light. Occasionally all of our careful planning and determination dead ends in disappointment, and even more occasionally the surprising turns of our almost unforeseen paths lead to grateful joy and deep personal satisfaction. For Mr. Kameeka Boyd, the latter life course of fortuitous fate continues to surge towards the sunlight of a brighter future. The brighter future—for his family and his community—continues to take shape in the form of Pleasant Behavioral Health Systems and its housing arm, Pleasant Housing Inc. Mr. Boyd’s long journey began in his native and very working class Baltimore where poor path choices were plentiful, and more fulfilling choices seemed few

Having now removed over 2,000 of his most beleaguered US citizens from sheltering in the streets of Baltimore and provided a stable and structured house and home—for many their first—Mr. Boyd shared his newest service experience. [ ] “Somany inmy community don’t fully realize that, unfortunately, we can all be just one paycheck from homelessness. This is still an economic reality and social pitfall. But I truly believe stable housing is a human right, and at Pleasant Housing we’ll continue to address this issue directly.” CONTINUED READING ON NEXT PAGE...

and far between. But blessed with a generational mindset of determination to serve—both his father and stepfather were military men—in 2002 Mr. Boyd stepped up to the biggest of national challenges when he enlisted in the US Army, which lead directly to his service in Iraq following the infamous 911 attacks which sparked the inferno of the US War on Terror. Struck by the destitute housing conditions of beleaguered Iraqi citizens during his service there, Mr. Boyd completed his own Iraq mission in 2005 (as SPC/E-4) and the returning Specialist Boyd was then—and once again—struck by the near equally desperate need for affordable housing in his own US home. It was at this juncture that Mr. Boyd’s firm belief in housing as a human right crystallized into a life goal and professional vision. After a brief stint in diplomatic security in Washington DC., new private citizen Boyd then returned to his native Baltimore in 2009 and established Pleasant Housing Inc. and PBHS with his wife and partner, Tia.

[

[ Community Care Begins with COMMUNITY CARING CONTINUED

Of course in 2020, Baltimore, the US and the entire world was thrown into chaotic distress and this human right became an even more vital community priority. Through their work and dedication the combined community outreach of PBHS and PH Inc. managed to continue to serve their community through the ongoing pandemic including- • Providing Community Clinic and Vaccination Services • Providing PBHS’s Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program (PRP) • Coordinating Safe Field Trips for all Client/ Residents • Coordinating Community Cookouts

Of course the vital need for affordable housing continues and this is the primary area where Mr. Boyd now envisions the future establishment of entirely new communities in the more welcoming climate of Orlando, Florida. Currently in the planning and design stages, PH Inc. sees their newest , most expansive and most ambitious housing project as the viable goal for their newest mission. As Mr. Boyd recently shared-

[ ] “ We’ve done a lot, but there’s always more to do. And we want to end homelessness through any means necessary.”

And in the US, this not only a worthy, but also a very necessary mission if there ever was one.

[

PLEASANT HOUSING

410.566.0094

6314 Windsor Mill Rd. #100, Gwynn Oak, Maryland, 21207

PLEASANT HOUSING

CALL US TODAY

919.900.7438 FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS 41 .566.0094 32

AT PLEASANT HOUSING

WE ARE PROUD TO PROVIDE A HIGH LEVEL OF QUALITY CARE TO ALL OUR PATIENTS.

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6314 Windsor Mill Rd. #100 Gwynn Oak, Maryland, 21207

Tobacco statistics “What’s the deal with tobacco?” asks a Fresh Empire graphic. With this ques- tion, it launches into the ingredi- ents found in cigarettes, along with the health and social side effects of smoking. Images on Fresh Em- pire’s website show freshfaced youth looking directly into the camera as a way to deliver a straightforward and relatable source of information for young people. Fresh Empire does not rely on imag- ery alone. It also provides poignant statistics and cites research conduct- ed by the HHS and Internal Agency for Research on Cancer, among other organizations: •Cigarette smoking causes 480,000 deaths per year. • Smokers die, on average, 10 years younger than non-smokers. • 16 million people have at least one disease caused by smoking. A graphic on the site shows what Fresh Empire calls “all sorts of nasty chemicals” in tobacco, along with unsavory facts about those substanc- es. Listed first is carbon monoxide, which is found in car exhaust. Cig- arettes contain arsenic, Fresh Em- pire informs readers, which is used in pesticides. And there’s benzene, found in gasoline. Another header states simply “keep your cash,” which leads to a statistic that smoking half a pack a day costs an average of $1,000 per year. “That’s a lot of cash to blow on cig- arettes,” Fresh Empire states. “What would you rather spend $1,000 on?”

When you are addicted to tobacco, you are not in control. So says the main message of Fresh Empire, an Internet and TV campaign designed to inspire teens and young adults to stay away from cigarettes. Fresh Empire’s website—freshempire.betobaccofree.hhs.gov—has infor- mation and informational videos all about the consequences of smoking. Here, young people can learn about the chemical content of cigarettes, health risks associated with tobacco use and social drawbacks. Fresh Empire, sponsored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), puts on events with performers such as rappers Silento and Stuey Roc, who deliver posi- tive, tobacco-free messages. “Being fresh is about yourself. The empire is yourself, man,” says radio per- sonality ET in video footage of a Fresh Empire concert. And Rock had this to say about tobacco use on a Fresh Empire video: “Smoking is not cool.” Fresh Empire’s anti-tobacco appeal is all about staying independent nt Signals i-smoke “Being fresh is about yourself. The empire is yourself, man.” - Radio personality ET

Online videos and TV ads The website has a series of short videos and TV ads, all with poignant soundbites and stories about the self-empowerment that comes from staying away from smoking. In a 30-second TV spot, young people, one after another, repeat the mantra, “I reject anything—including tobacco—that tries to control me.” Jayy Starr, a young hip-hop musi- cian, stars in a commercial where she tells the story of her grandfather. He smoked cigarettes for many years and died of lung cancer. “Losing my grandfather has influ- enced my whole musical being, because it makes me more passionate,” Starr says in a behind- the-scenes video for the ad. “I’m not going to lose

young man in sunglasses and a scarf. Throughout the videos, television ads and web content, Fresh Empire implores young people to think of cigarettes as an affront to autonomy. Surrendering to nicotine is not being in control, they say. Therefore, smoking is not fresh. “Losing my grandfather has influenced my whole musical being, because it makes me more passionate. I’m not going to lose another person to cigarettes. To me, being a leader means being

In another video, young people stand in the middle of the frame as messages flash on the screen alongside then. One reads “Long live Fresh Empire. Long live you. Live tobacco-free.” Another spot flashes empowering words for young women—“fresh,” “strong,” “boss,” “royal,” and “queen”—before a female voice-over says, “Fresh Empire is flippin’ the script in fash- ion, in hip-hop, in life.” Another video opens with the question “What’s Fresh Empire?” followed by a group of young people defining the tobacco-free movement. “It means looking out for you,” the first young man says. Another adds, “And your fam, too.” “When you are doing you, looking fresh, people follow,” says a stylish

tobacco-free.” -Singer Jayy Starr

another person to cigarettes. To me, being a leader means being tobacco free.”

AD Ad goe

OF AN UNBALANCED MIND

D 4 es here

PLEASANT HOUSING

6314 Windsor Mill Rd. #100 Gwynn Oak, Maryland, 21207 410.566.0094

tikia

“NOW MORE THAN EVER, SIMPLY SINGING HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND JUST BRINGING SMILES TO EACH AND EVERY RESIDENT IS MY MOST JOYFUL PROFESSIONAL GOAL.“ MANAGING CARE FOR THE COMMUNITY

In 2020 our big world took an almost entirely unexpected change for the very worst. All of us, worldwide, were thrown into a new cycle of global chaos that not only threatened our lives, but ended far too many as well. In addition to the physical threats however, as the shifting quick sands of our new health crisis continued to cycle, recycle and confound us all, old threats began to fester and worsen like reopened wounds. • In social forced, quarantined social isolation many of us—young, old and in-between—began to suffer both minor and major symptoms of mental illness which only intensified over time. • In social isolation and separated from our regular workday routines and/or the comfort of our normal family structures, many of us began to fall victim to increased substance abuse. • In social isolation and separated from structured health care routines, those of us already suffering from mental health and/or substance abuse issues endured a degradation of their already critical conditions. In the greater community of Baltimore, where many of these issues were already problematic and already damaging to the community as a whole, these issues became a firestorm of social illness whose impact burned through already fragile social safety nets. Luckily, there were still community care facilities ready to take on this unexpected challenge. Pleasant Behavioral Health Systems—and its housing arm Pleasant Housing Inc.—were ready to step up and capable, experienced Case Managers like Tikia Wright were the “boots on the ground” already in place to get the job done. Ms. Wright began her service to the community very early on by starting off working in transitional housing for those in need directly after high school. Encouraged and mentored by her mother, Ms. Wright pursued her passion for serving her community through the very evident need to address housing issues for those most in need. Often, her cases are a challenging stew involving any number or combination of issues—mental health/ substance abuse/incarceration—which bring out her very best effort combined with her very best use of her long professional experience in transitional housing. CONTINUE READING ON NEXT PAGE...

wright

When the pandemic hit—with all its enforced professional and personal isolation—of course all of her challenges increased tenfold. Suddenly, instead of face-to-face meetings and counseling, Zoom meetings and faceless digital communication became the uncomfortably “new normal”. But throughher years of challenging service Ms. Wright has never lost her faith in the human touch. Coming through the worst of it, her case manager duties have final begun to re-stabilizeandas she recently shared, her favorite method of therapy for her client residents—celebrating birthdays together—has returned. “Now more than ever, simply singing happy birthday and just bringing smiles to each and every resident is my most joyful professional goal.” Community service can take many forms. And perhaps introducing smiles into our mix may just be one of the most vital gifts we never knew we needed so much.

TIKIA

WRIGHT

PLEASANT HOUSING

LIVING TO CARE, LLC Living To Care, LLC provides referrals and placement services for Individuals, Families, Private Sectors, Assisted Living, Nursing Homes, and Mental Health Clinics. We take the burden off of individuals, families, and facilities to find a place that fits your needs. Furthermore, additional services are provided for individuals and families ,such as one on one care consultation, step by step admission policies, and the financial process.

CALL US TODAY!

214.237.7342 OR EMAIL

Info@livingtocare.com

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Caring Is Not Just For Business; It 's Who We Are. LIVING TO CARE, LLC -

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LIVINGTOCARE.COM 41

PLEASANT HOUSING

VISIT 6314 Windsor Mill Rd. #100 Gwynn Oak, Maryland, 21207

410.566.0094

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PLEASANT HOUSING

410.566.0094 6314 Windsor Mill Rd. #100 Gwynn Oak, Maryland, 21207

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