Joseph Badiali knows how hard life can be when you don’t have hope. During high school he lived in Hayward at his grandmother’s house. He has fond memories of living there but it was also a time when he experienced a mental health crisis and at twenty years old found himself arrested and in the criminal [...]

Zaniyah Pumphrey is a 20-year-old from Fresno California. She is an entertainment content creator, brand ambassador, a daughter, a sister, and a single mother. Her hobbies involve anything with nature or creativity and loves fun and expressive environments. As a young adult, she experienced many depressive times in life trying to find purpose in the world [...]

Tanzania Bennett is a 21-year-old from East Oakland. She is a mother of 2 children. She has experienced mental health issues since 8 years old. Her first experience with depression and anxiety occurred when her family went through a divorce and custody battle. Both sides of her family suffer from suicide, severe depression, anxiety, and addiction. [...]

Damien Rozell Pope Jr is a 24-year-old black man from Richmond, California who is a poet, mental health advocate, and aspiring therapist. He is a younger brother and son who has been responsible in supporting his mother with her mental health challenges for the last 13 years. I am a passionate individual and artist who seeks [...]

Brianna, also known as Bri, hails from Deep East Oakland, California. Currently, they are a first-year, first-generation student at UC Merced, majoring in psychology and minoring in Community Research and Service. Deeply passionate about social justice, Bri has always been active in their community, drawing strength from the support they received growing up. In 7th grade, [...]

Sabrina Catherine Abong is a 27 year-old foster youth activist. She takes part in the Youth Advisory Board of Oakland. Sabrina has had several articles published including mental health, resilience, role models, and more. She is a former foster youth, a single mother, and a homeowner. Sabrina’s goal is to be a social activist and transform [...]

I am The Prince of Hearts. Love has always been the current that has carried me throughout my life. When I think of the question “Who am I”, nowadays the first thing that comes to my heart is love. I am beautiful and divine as is everyone around me. I no longer just think of myself [...]

My name is Nancy Nguyen and I come from a Vietnamese immigrant family. I grew up in a town called Perris in southern California. Currently, I am studying integrative biology and public policy at the University of California, Berkeley. Ultimately, my goal is to attend medical school and become a physician who serves low-income communities such [...]

My name is Lupita Martinez and I'm from East Oakland CA. I was born in the city of San Francisco, but I grew up in Oakland and Fruitvale. I'm half Mexican, a quarter Salvadorian, and a quarter Nicaraguan. I have a younger brother and a baby sister who are my motivation and the reason I'm still [...]

My name is Maria Guadalupe Zaragoza Barajas, and I am an immigrant from Mexico. In 2010, my family moved to California, to escape a world of poverty, violence, and no education. I have lived in all parts of the Bay Area like many others that face high rents and evictions. I am passionate about healing and [...]