Black History Month Special
Speaker
- Wandah Mitchell Parenti; Author, Faith Leader and Family Member
Summary
Wandah discussed the challenges of raising two African American sons who lived with mental illness. She shared the impact it had on African American families and highlighted some of the disparities she experienced from being in this population. She discussed the importance of having conversations about and heightening awareness of mental illness in the African American community. She felt it was necessary to dispel the stigma of mental illness for all, but especially in African American homes, schools, churches, and communities because when they didn’t talk about it or give it its proper name, they lost the opportunity to get the proper resources for better outcomes.
Wandah was a college graduate with a degree in business management; however, her true passion was ministering and mentoring women, which she purposefully fulfilled for several years. She attended Oakland Bible College and eventually graduated from the Rock School of Ministry in Livermore, CA. She felt it was time to apply her faith by volunteering as a counselor and educator for the PACE Program for post-abortive women at Valley Pregnancy Center in Pleasanton, CA.
In January of 2021, Wandah completed her first book titled, “She Who The Son Sets Free, Is Free Indeed,” which became an Amazon Best Seller in Christian Business & Professional Growth.
NAMI CC Executive Director Gigi R. Crowder, L.E., also shared her campaign Black Minds Matter 2!
