I am Shawn LaRe' Brinkley, President & Executive Clinical Director for the William Joseph Brinkley Center for Cultural Affirmation. We are a non-profit organization providing training to student therapists in practicum, earning hours toward graduation. We also offer low-cost, affordable therapy on a sliding scale to those who might not have insurance and cannot afford traditional therapy rates. The organization was founded in honor of my late husband, William Joseph Brinkley, who lost his life in 2021 to COVID-19. I wanted to honor his life with my own to continue his legacy of kindness and generosity.

The agency is experiencing financial struggles, facing operating costs as we grow. Our goal is to continue to serve therapists in need of a place to learn, practice, and hone their therapeutic skills while serving a population that may be underserved--helping erase the stigma around mental health in communities of color and other marginalized populations. www.wjbcenter.com