Building Mental Health Friendly Communities for African Americans Using a Faith-Based Strategy
In Recognition of African American Heritage Month
Speakers
Founders of Mental Health Friendly Communities:
- Pastor Horacio Jones
- Gigi Crowder, NAMI CC Executive Director
Summary
For our February 2022 General Meeting, NAMI Contra Costa had Mental Health Friendly Communities Founders, Pastor Horacio Jones and our Executive Director, Gigi Crowder, share a community-defined, culturally responsive program that relied on faith and spirituality as an essential ingredient for supporting mental wellness in the African American Community.
About Pastor Horacio Jones
Pastor Horacio “Ray” Jones was born on June 13, 1961, in Oceanside, CA, and began his tenure in ministry at the age of 21. He is a graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School, San Jose, CA, and he completed studies toward a Master’s of Divinity Degree from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary of Mill Valley, CA. Pastor Jones is married to Florence V. Jones (formerly Florence V. White). Together they have five children: four sons, one daughter, and a precious granddaughter.
Pastor Jones had the joy and privilege of pastoring Family Bible Fellowship of Newark, CA. F.B.F. was launched on January 3, 1988, and has planted or sponsored over 15 congregations throughout the nation. Hearing the calling of God from Luke 4:18, Pastor Jones established the Tri Cities Community Development Center to provide services, programs, and resources for the least of the least of our society. Currently, as President/CEO, he managed reentry services for ex-offenders, mental health training, and advocacy for the African American Community, academic development for children struggling to excel in the classroom, food and clothing for families in transition, and health advocacy for caregivers and individuals living with advanced illnesses.
About Gigi Crowder
Gigi R. Crowder, L.E., a native of Oakland, CA, is the mother of two biological children; 30-year-old twin sons and has served as a foster mom and mentor to many more through divine interventions. Gigi served for over nine years as the Ethnic Services Manager for Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services and worked in the Behavioral Health Care field for more than 32 years after completing her studies at the University of California, Berkeley. As a family member of several loved ones who have received private and public mental health services, she is a strong advocate for promoting culturally responsive behavioral health services for all peers and family members. She is unapologetic about focusing efforts to address the needs of African Americans who she deems as one of the groups most harmed and neglected due to systemic racism.
She created Black Minds Matter 2!, which has given her opportunities to speak across the nation. Gigi became the Executive Director of NAMI Contra Costa in January of 2018, after serving in a consultant role as their Fund Developer. She is also the FaithNet Coordinator of NAMI CC and has advanced efforts statewide to reduce mental health stigma by training Faith Leaders. Gigi promotes utilizing natural resources such as those found in faith/spiritual communities and works hard to advocate for the use of community defined strategies for all, with a particular focus on better addressing the needs of unserved, underserved and inappropriately served ethnic and cultural communities. Her current focus is addressing the needs of those living with mental illness who were often criminalized for living with a medical condition.
