My Mind Matters | Nikelcia Marcelin

How have the Arts impacted your life?
The Arts have been a healing mechanism during my entire life. It’s literally and essential worker in our world. It has been a healing agent of laughter, expression, and translation of the countless stories that allow a safe place to share our emotions, thoughts and opinions. It’s also a place that has taught so many life lessons that I use today.

How important are the Arts to our youth?
The Arts are the Essential Workers of our youth. Most children would not be able to manage the stressors of this world without the creative expression of Arts in our community. It’s the backbone of mental health. From a laugh to a healthy cry having a place to relate in this world has become harder and harder for youth. I remember growing up and playing with neighbors and now children are unable to do that but through Arts they are able to connect and share thoughts on the latest episode or dance challenge. It bridges the gap in ways that truly needs more attention like never before.

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Tell us about your business.
My Mind Matters Mental Health conference is an inspired event that started as a way to provide resources and tools for Veterans and community members in Mental Health Awareness in 2018. Our Founder Nikelcia Marcelin a PTSD survivor saw a need in her own community and with the help of her friends and community leaders she’s been able to host annual Mental Health conferences that inspire change, build community and help others.
My Mind Matters audience draws a large age dynamic, the audience desires to learn, be inspired and motivated for change in our community.
The goal of our community
Inspire Our Nation to Live Healthier Lives in the area of Mental Health
Provide Leadership, Direction, Motivation, and Community In the Pursuit of Mental Health Awareness

Tell us about your virtual event during these Covid-19.
As a result of Covid-19 we had to find a creative way to communicate the needs of our community while the climate create several pandemics, from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at a rise due to a world pandemic, Suicide rates amongst teens at a all time high. Racial Inequality amongst the African American Community as a global pandemic. The need to share valuable content with Great Thought Leaders became imperative. We were able to find ways to interact with all types of audiences through social media mediums such as Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. These mediums provided a way for us to bridge the communication divide and reach more people then we could ever imagine. Our events in person ranged from 500-1000 at max participant registrants, walk-in’s and community leaders. Our Virtual Community surpassed our expectations. We reached over 70,000 Viewers and counting! The success of this event was a collaborative efforts from the speakers, community leaders, and participants.

Give us some insight on your work with PTSD.
As I reflect on the work with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) the common thread within the community is that most people are not aware that they have PTSD. Since there is a education divide amongst our society it’s imperative to foster more empathy and compassion for the learning curve that’s ahead in our society as a whole. Our education system from all sectors including the workforce must include a mental health component to ensure we are working together as community to bridge the gap as a whole and provide resources that will foster a pedagogy of learning that’s conducive to the learning track needed to see results in all areas of mental health.

What will it take for more African Americans to deal with mental health in their community?
In my humble opinion, it’s not the victims responsibility to fix the problem of the perpetrator.
The African American Community is a Victim of Mental Disorder. And just like our government system saw opioid addiction as a mental illness and gave financial support and mental health support to its victim.
The government has the same responsibilities for the African American Community. We need more resources funneled to our community and less process and red tape to connect to those resources.

What other projects are you working on?
Currently My Mind Matters has brought on a Subject Matter Expert Mr. Jay Barnett Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Mental Health Therapist to lead the charge in mentoring and coaching our communities on how to Live in purpose and on purpose.
We will roll out a mentorship online training course that will facilitate training on mental health resources and education, emotional intelligence techniques, behavioral health strategies, education on free support in the pursuit of mental health and so much more in 2021. For more information visit our website at www.mymindmatters.us
Our goal is provide a lasting mentorship community that empowers our leaders to be the change they want to see.