At Active Minds, we believe that an emotionally healthy world is not possible without a just world. Systemic racism is a mental health and public health crisis and changing the culture around mental health includes ending the systemic racism in that same culture. This month, as we acknowledge BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month, we wish to highlight our Emerging Scholars Fellowship Program.
The Emerging Scholars Fellowship, generously supported by The Scattergood Foundation for Behavioral Health, has a key emphasis on health equity and anti-racism work within youth mental health and this year’s fellows are all individuals who strive for a healthier, more inclusive, and empathetic society. Through their various projects, they have given a voice to young mental health. This year, these five fellows have connected with national experts in the field of behavioral health, building a peer network of support, and gaining professional and personal experience presenting their work to college audiences.
Learn more about our 2021 Emerging Scholars who we are so proud to support, learn from, and watch grow.
- Jardin Dogan (she/her)
Jardin Dogan is a fourth year doctoral candidate in the University of Kentucky’s Counseling Psychology program. Through her fellowship, she aims to assess critical consciousness as a culturally-relevant coping mechanism for race-related stressors as well as evaluate negative mental health effects among Black communities. - Selina Flores (she/her)
Selina Flores is currently completing her Masters of Public Health at San Francisco State University. Her project examines how decolonizing mental health through holistic approaches can help promote positive mental health outcomes and eliminate disparities in seeking help specifically for college-aged students of color. - Amanda Goa (she/her)
Amanda Gao is a current undergraduate student at Georgetown University where she is pursuing a degree in Healthcare Management and Policy. Through her research, Amanda is evaluating mental health literacy among BIPOC college students as well as the current resources available to students on campus. Alongside being a fellow for the Emerging Scholars Program, Amanda is also the President of her college’s Active Minds chapter and a mental health advocate. - John Taylor (he/him)
John Taylor is a PhD candidate in the Human Sexuality Studies Program at Widener University. Within his doctoral studies, he will explore the perceptions young Black men hold pertaining to structural violence, mental health, and sexual behavior and their connections. John is extremely passionate about educational and public health initiatives that address issues involving Black men and their families and highlights this focus in his work. - Jennifer Tran (she/her)
Jennifer Tran is a doctoral student at the University of South Florida within the Interdisciplinary program of Behavioral and Community Sciences. Her project will provide an online resource aimed at addressing stigmas associated with marginalized populations such as those living with mental illnesses, LGBTQ+ individuals, and BIPOC. The emphasis of this resource is giving power to intersectional storytelling.
