Celebrating the Remarkable and Resilient Racquel Garcia, BHAAC Co-Chair
Racquel Garcia, Behavioral Health Administration Advisory Council (BHAAC) Co-Chair, founded HardBeauty in 2019 with the mission of empowering people to rise and thrive beyond their circumstances through a trauma-informed healing-centered approach. At the root of all of her work, Racquel believes that building community and exploring all pathways are the basis of thriving in a life of recovery. Learn more at https://www.hardbeauty.life/.
CALL TO ACTION:
Even little actions make a big impact, so let’s share some goodness with Racquel and her team. This movement is educating for no cost so if you have learned from JFM’s work, please consider giving something back.
Donate to HardBeauty Foundation: A $70 donation sponsors recovery coaching for an individual who is in need and uninsured/underinsured or give what you can.
Shop for a Cause: HardBeauty has an online boutique so please consider showing Racquel and her community love with some retail justice.
Follow Along on Social: Follow HardBeauty on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Follow HardBeauty Foundation on Facebook.
True representation and diverse voices are crucial in shaping policies and initiatives that impact the well-being of our communities. Unfortunately, instances of systemic bias and the silencing of marginalized voices persist, even within critical organizations like the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA). One such courageous individual who has been advocating for change within the BHA is Racquel Garcia, a BIPOC identifying Co-Chair of the BHA Advisory Council (BHAAC). Garcia's dedication to advancing equity, transparency, and trauma-informed leadership within the behavioral health care system is commendable and serves as a shining example for us all.
BHAAC plays a pivotal role in the governance and co-creation of the BHA. As appointees representing lived experiences, they are the voice of those directly impacted by mental health policies and services. Their insights and perspectives are invaluable in ensuring that the mental health care system is responsive, inclusive, and meets the needs of all individuals, especially those from historically-excluded communities. The BHAAC, led by Garcia and others representing lived experiences, is a beacon of hope for true representation in mental health governance. Their perspectives and insights add depth to decision-making, and their presence is an essential step towards addressing systemic biases in the mental health care system.
Garcia's journey as Co-Chair of the BHAAC has not been an easy one. Amidst the turmoil within the BHA, voices of lived experience have been stifled and ignored. In a brave letter penned for the May 2023 BHAAC meeting, Garcia confronted Michelle Barnes, highlighting the disparities in treatment and the harm caused by the lack of responsiveness from BHA leadership.
She courageously shared her father's experience of segregation, acknowledging that communities of color have long awaited a seat at the table, and she is determined not to abandon the struggle. Garcia demanded answers to critical questions, seeking transparency and involvement of the BHAAC in decision-making processes moving forward. Her unwavering commitment to her role as Co-Chair demonstrates her dedication to dismantling harmful practices and fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion, and co-creation within the BHA.
The JFM team showed up in solidarity with Garcia at the May 2023 BHAAC meeting along with others who shared their support in the meeting chat. The BHA team stated at the end of that meeting that they would make the chat transcript available with the meeting agenda and minutes. The agenda and minutes were posted to the BHA website but the chat transcript was never released which is a concern for honesty and transparency for the BHA team. The minutes include a link to a letter and a list of questions that Racquel sent to BHA leadership in advance of the May meeting. Garcia’s letter is a must-read. All links were live at the time of posting this drop.
The May 2023 BHAAC meeting minutes include the following:
Racquel Garcia expressed concerns about Michelle as the interim Commissioner. These concerns included knowledge of her story and who she is, the meeting being public with an audience and wanting a private meet/greet with Michelle. Note that the council is not allowed to meet with more than one member without it being a public meeting. Racquel read a list of prepared questions, which you can read through in this email communication.
Despite facing personal difficulties, Garcia showed up for the meeting, driven by her commitment to trauma-informed, equitable, and inclusive leadership. However, she expressed deep disappointment in the leadership's silence and lack of outreach. Garcia pointed out the need for difficult conversations and the importance of accountability from BHA leadership and Governor Polis, but to date, there has been none.
Garcia's experiences within the BHA are heart-wrenching. Her attempts to bring transparency, diversity, and equity have been met with gaslighting and attempts to silence her. The disregard for her concerns and the refusal to acknowledge her experiences as a Person of Color within the BHA exemplify the systemic challenges faced by BIPOC leaders in advocating for change.
As allies and advocates, it is our duty to show up for Garcia and support the power of lived experiences. We all must demand more than just token representation and call for justice and equity in mental health care. Let us come together and amplify Garica's voice, symbolically joining her on September 21, 2023 at 9:00 am at the BHAAC’s next Zoom meeting, and show that we are people to be acknowledged and perspectives to be valued.
Garcia's unwavering dedication to promoting equity and transparency within the BHA is an inspiration to all. Her advocacy, supported by research and lived experiences, is instrumental in reshaping mental health care policies to be inclusive and effective. The BHAAC, under Garcia's co-leadership, stands as a vital bridge between policymakers and the communities they serve. Garcia's commitment to evidence-based decision-making is commendable. She supports her advocacy with peer-reviewed journal articles that highlight the efficacy of peer support, a critical component of mental health care. Her dedication to bolstering the workforce by placing peer professionals in communities across the state, as seen in her support for SB 22-181, is crucial in building a more inclusive and responsive mental health care system.
As we rally to celebrate and uplift the remarkable contributions of Racquel Garcia, it is imperative that we also recognize the heavy burden she carries as she navigates through experiences of harm and oppression. Racquel's journey has been marked by isolation and pain, as she faces challenges within the BHA that seek to silence her voice and diminish her efforts for equity and transparency.
We are with you, Racquel.
Sign the Petition to Reinstate Dr. Medlock
On Monday, April 17, 2023, Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) Commissioner, Morgan Medlock, MD, MDiv, MPH, a Black community leader, was unjustly removed from her Colorado cabinet position without cause. Her removal risks the lives of millions of people in Colorado who deserve accessible, trauma-informed, and culturally-responsive behavioral health care. It also perpetuates the message that strong, qualified Women of Color are vulnerable to the whims of political systems and cabinet leadership.
Demand justice for Dr. Medlock by signing the petition for Governor Polis to bring her back as the Commissioner of the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA).