SAFER SPACE

FOR US, BY US

Safer Space looks to create a therapy network exclusively for the Black Lives Matter movement.

BY CERVANTÉ POPE

@ghettocross

Outside the centuries of violence Black people have faced simply for existing, on a more local level, the past 100-plus days of protests have exacted an undeniable mental and emotional toll on BIPOC individuals and the allies who support them. Without an immediate end in sight, the need for mental health maintenance is becoming even more crucial, especially to keep the fight for justice alive.

Anita Randolph saw that need immediately. Along with mayoral hopeful and activist Teressa Raiford, Randolph— a neuroscientist originally from Atlanta who’s now doing medical research into addiction — have teamed up to start the Safer Space program, a peer-to-peer mental health support group for the BIPOC community and supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement.

It’s volunteer-run, with professional mental health providers offering their services to fill the gap between the specific support people of color often need and the lack of quality care they actually receive. Randolph spoke to WW about how Safer Space will operate, and the challenges such a program faces operating in a city with Portland’s demographic makeup.

WW: Why is something like Safer Space important?

Anita Randolph: We know that we have this gap not only in the BIPOC community, where access to mental health support is an issue, but there are so many issues we’re facing right now that we just don’t have the support for. I also identify as African American and I work in mental health, so I understand the difficulties, stereotypes and stigmas that go along with no-call support in my own community. There’s just this huge outcry for mental support, and I see people getting braver at the center of everything. In phase one, we’ve been collecting volunteers who are licensed clinicians. They could be psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, or social workers who specialize in counseling and mental health. We’ve got about 100 clinicians who signed up in less than a week, and we’re still hoping for more to sign up. They’re getting thoroughly vetted, because it’s extremely important for me to not perpetuate a broken system where we have individuals going in for mental health support and coming out more traumatized. We’re checking everyone’s licenses, as well as asking them a series of questions regarding their history with volunteering and working with the BIPOC community. They’ll also go through our anti-racist and trauma-informed training as well.

As a member of the BIPOC community myself, I know I’ve been resistant to seeking the help I need because of the lack of counselors of color, especially who accept the Oregon Health Plan. Have protesters and other BIPOC citizens expressed similar concern about not wanting help from someone they can’t relate to?

That is a huge problem. Even with me being in the mental health field, this is the first state I’ve lived in where even I haven’t explored getting peer-to-peer or mental health support myself because I see how bad discrimination is in the Pacific Northwest. I see how badly I’ve been treated at hospitals I’ve worked at, and I’m like, “Wow, this is really an issue. I wouldn’t want to be your client.” I’m just really glad that we have individuals who are willing to take the leap and provide some type of service for everybody. We don’t care if you have insurance or not—our services are free. We won’t turn you away.

Have most of the people who have signed up so far been white? I understand that especially in Portland and especially during a time right now that considering white people as your peers is very dependent on how they present their allyship. Might that be another hurdle for people who need that type of support but don’t consider white people to necessarily be their peers?

It’s definitely a hurdle. I’m from Atlanta, and if this were in Atlanta, there wouldn’t be an issue. There would be so many Black and Brown people signing up. But this is the Pacific Northwest, and there aren’t many BIPOC individuals in the field out here, which is really difficult. In order for us to do this, all volunteers must go through the anti-racist and trauma-informed training. I don’t care how high of a position they have at their hospital or practice. They won’t be able to offer support until we can ensure that all of their interactions will be appropriate. People are going to have to be very humble through this process. They’re going to have to do a lot of legwork.

Just looking at the typical BLM protest out here, I feel like there may be more non-BIPOC than BIPOC participants. Is there a hierarchy of who can receive support first based on their identity, or is it on a first come, first served basis?

We’ve got a lot of volunteers so far, so I’m hoping this won’t be an issue. It’ll be first come, first served, with priority obviously given to BIPOC individuals. When someone in need comes to us, they’ll be able to look at a picture of the clinicians and read biographies and choose who they want help from. I don’t want to take anyone’s power away from them—I want them to feel empowered by the process and to feel like they’re in control.

ANITA RANDOLPH

Of course. There are many reasons why people don’t or can’t protest, like health issues or regarding COVID, and there are so many different ways to push the movement other than protesting. That’s why we just left it very general, to just be a supporter. That could be somebody who is working on policies, someone like you who is interviewing people and spreading the word, or someone who comes to the protest and is organizing stuff. We understand that there are so many pieces of the puzzle and we need everybody to fill in their piece. In order to do that, everybody has to be mentally charged and ready.

Since there is a more loose definition of support, how will Safer Space approach the people who “support” the movement just because it’s a trend to do so, who maybe post a photo or two on Instagram with a hashtag, but their support doesn’t go beyond that?

That’s a big problem, too. It really sucks. We’re going to try our best to come up with some type of system where the clinician can flag someone and then we go and follow up with them. Because the service is free, we don’t want people out here trying to take advantage of this system we’re trying to get off the ground. There are so many negative people out there, but we have to try. I’m not saying I have all the answers, but I have to try. For more information about Safer Space, see dontshootpdx.org/safer-space-for-black-lives-matter.

REST EASY

New healing collective Radical Rest believes that if you free the body, the mind will follow.

BY BRIANNA WHEELER

BRIAN BROSE

T Aisha Edwards really wants to be the offi cial White House plifying the relationship between patient and provider. therapist. “I definitely see mental health as being involved in a “If I was Donald Trump’s therapist, we would live in a comprehensive approach to healing oppressive systems,” different America,” she says with a laugh. “I’m not even says Edwards, whose own somatic therapy practice, Full playing. Quote me.” Flight Wellness, serves community members affected by She laughs, but the sentiment is authentic. After 14 systems of normalized oppression. “I spend all day with years serving marginalized communities with high-risk, patients unraveling and uncoupling the ways that capitalout-of-control-behaviors, Edwards has come to see mental ism, white supremacy, and colonization have dismantled health as a way to learn how the body becomes a vehicle for their relationships with their bodies.” oppressive systems, both in the physical world and within. To provide care under the Radical Rest umbrella, practiShe credits those insights to somatic therapy—a practice tioners commit a certain amount of room in their caseload emphasizing the connection between mind and body— each month to serve members of the BIPOC community which is also a driving force who may not otherwise have behind the health collective she founded, Radical Rest. ”IF I WAS DONALD access to their services. Though all the providers Established in the wake donating their time share of the George Floyd proTRUMP’S THERAPIST, the same somatic worldtests, Radical Rest is an view, they each embody that autonomous collection of local healers offering free WE WOULD LIVE IN A mission in their own singular way, from bodywork, talk and donation-based services to BIPOC activists working DIFFERENT AMERICA. therapy and naturopathy to tarot, astrology, music the front lines of Portland’s continuing protests. I ’M NOT EVEN PLAYING. t h e r a p y, a n d a n c e s t r a l medicines. Wellness can “I know that what these movements need to be susQUOTE ME.“ be found in a transcendent tarot reading, chakra work, tainable is healing justice,” acupuncture, or even a bit she says. “It feels pertinent to be doing something, not —T AISHA EDWARDS of witchcraft. But regardless of the delivery, each service from the policy framework, provided through Radical but inside our own bodies.” Rest aims to empower front At its core, the term “healing justice” refers not just to line protesters as a means to support the greater movement equitable care—it is also meant to address unpacking the of abolishing white supremacy. trauma caused by internalized white supremacy, capitalism Radical Rest’s providers are scheduling services through and ableism. This mission of dismantlement anchors RadSeptember 27, after which the team will take a brief recuical Rest’s manifesto: To take down the oppressive systems perative break and reconvene in mid-November. that surround us, we must fi rst destroy them within ourselves. “I can see that my providers are fatigued and I’m Radical Rest’s provider network is a diverse assortment fatigued,” Edwards says. “We’re going to take some time of practitioners, many from marginalized communities to be true to the mission, and Radical Rest itself is going to themselves. Patients can shop services and connect with take a radical rest.” providers directly on the Radical Rest website, further simSee radicalrest.org for more information.

SUPPORTLAND

Photos by Chris Nesseth On Instagram: @chrisnesseth

The PDX Ewoks—a collective of street medics and crisis support workers—organized a support eort at Clackamas United Church of Christ in Milwaukie to aid those displaced by the wildfires in Oregon, while Snack Bloc oered free supplies at North Portland’s ReBuilding Center.

Rev. Adam Ericksen opened his church to provide emergency relief for those displaced by the wildfires in Oregon.

Snack Bloc’s free store at the ReBuilding Center on North Mississippi Avenue.

Julia delivers food to volunteers at various mutual aid locations across town.