African American Mental Health and Wellness (AMEN) team is collaborating with KAZI FM 88.7 in producing a radio series to highlight the importance of addressing mental health and physical wellness in the African American community. The monthly series will feature AMEN team members from the School of Nursing, leaders from Mt. Zion Baptist and Rehoboth Baptist churches, and community organizations who provide mental health resources and support in Travis County.
The Austin Branch of NAACP: Paving the Way to Racial Equity
April 12, 2023 Podcast:
Moderators Shannon Jones and Jacki Hecht interviewed Nelson Linder, President of the Austin Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, better known as the NAACP. The mission of the NAACP is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.
The Austin Branch of the NAACP was started in 1919 and has a great history of striving for equality. Linder shares that the African American Quality of Life Initiative started in 2004 and began by assessing how African Americans were doing in terms of health and opportunities and discovered significant deficits. Years later, the Quality-of-Life Initiative strives to close these health gaps for individuals in the Austin area.
The national NAACP is promoting health and well-being among African Americans by going out into the community, building relationships, and letting individuals know that they matter. Priorities to address inequities in the Austin area include education, health, employment, economics, and public safety. Linder adds that building relationships and rapport with community members is essential for sustaining efforts. The NAACP is partnering with several civil rights organizations in the Austin/Travis County, such as the Anti-Defamation League, to promote thriving in Black communities. As the great Nelson Mandela says: "We owe our children — the most vulnerable citizens in any society — a life free from violence and fear.”
For more information on the Austin Branch of the NAACP and how to get involved, visit the Austin Branch of the NAACP.
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