Event Date: Apr 29, 2024
Location: Oakland, CA
CERI and Interfaith Movement for Human Interfaith Movement convened a pivotal mental health equity summit in the Bay Area, part of a broader series of community dialogues across California. This event addressed urgent challenges arising from the state’s mental health and housing crises through a multigenerational lens, with a strong emphasis on delivering culturally and linguistically relevant information to diverse racial and ethnic communities, including immigrants and refugees. Expert-led presentations and a resource fair, organized in collaboration with Disability Rights California and CPEHN, served to educate community leaders and partners from Alameda, Contra Costa, and Santa Clara counties about recent mental health policies such as CARE Court, SB 43, and Proposition 1. These sessions highlighted the historical context and equity implications of these policies, emphasizing perspectives rooted in racial justice and disability rights.
The summit also aimed to cultivate advocacy skills and foster a collective advocacy agenda among participants. Interactive discussion sessions provided a platform for community members to share their lived experiences, perspectives, and priorities concerning mental health policy and advocacy. These dialogues not only empowered attendees with effective advocacy strategies but also shaped future policy directions aimed at safeguarding essential community services amidst legislative changes. By employing these inclusive approaches, the initiative successfully engaged diverse communities, equipped them with the knowledge and tools to advocate for culturally appropriate services and equitable access, and documented their narratives to inform and fortify ongoing advocacy efforts in the Bay Area.