September 21 BHAAC Meeting Part One: Silencing Emily
Trigger Warning: This post contains discussions of sexual trauma and related experiences. Reader discretion is advised.
On Thursday, September 21st, the Behavioral Health Administration Advisory Council (BHAAC) convened for a meeting that would prove to be one of the most tense and triggering spaces ever witnessed by members of the Justice for Medlock movement (JFM). JFM attended the meeting as a cautionary measure to observe and support council members, including Racquel Garcia, who had recently resigned as BHAAC co-chair due to harm experienced by BHA Interim Commissioner Michelle Barnes.
Minutes into the meeting, an uncomfortable silence hung in the virtual room. The BHA team, comprised of Michelle Barnes, Summer Gathercole, and Division Director Meghan Shelton, along with the three new Interim Deputy Commissioners, remained silent in the face of serious allegations. This silence created an awkward and unsettling atmosphere that left participants longing for recognition and response.
Ignoring the Voice of Trauma Survivors
During this meeting, a public participant named Emily bravely shared a story of sexual trauma within the behavioral health system. However, as Emily poured her heart out, the BHA team ignored the chats for more than 20 minutes. This included Emily's chats that urgently sought acknowledgment and support.
Adding to the discomfort, the BHA team's Trauma-Informed practitioner-led participants through a grounding session during the silencing, further highlighting the stark contrast between the safe, trauma-informed space they were supposed to provide and the reality of the meeting. As JFM watched, the collective hoped someone would recognize and respond to Emily with the empathy and understanding she deserved.
A Painful Greeting in the Face of Silence
Finally, when Interim Commissioner Michelle Barnes did acknowledge Emily, it was done in a callous and dismissive manner. She chatted at Emily, saying, "Hi Emily. Nice to hear from you again." This insensitive greeting came while Emily was in the midst of sharing her frustration at being ignored and mistreated, emphasizing that Barnes and her team were lying in their responses.
Such a casual and dismissive response to someone who was desperately trying to be heard while sharing a story of sexual trauma was not only insensitive but also deeply hurtful.
Emily's Struggle to Be Heard
The BHA team claimed they had responded to Emily and that she was welcome to reach out to Barnes for a meeting via an email shared in the chat. This response only heightened Emily's anger and frustration, as she shared she had been attempting to contact Barnes for over six weeks through multiple channels with no response.
Throughout the meeting, the BHA team continued with their planned presentation, creating a sterile and unsafe environment. They took no notice of the public chat's pleas and concerns until, without any prior announcement, they abruptly shut down the public chat function.
A Community's Response to Silence
Despite the silence imposed by the BHA team, members of the council courageously showed up to support Emily in the chat. They refused to let her voice be silenced, offering encouragement and solidarity. They were determined to ensure that Emily's story would not be buried beneath bureaucratic silence.
Honoring Emily's Story
At the end of the event, Dr. Stacey Oberly, the meeting chair representing the council, led a transparent public comment session. During this time, Racquel Garcia called for the public chat feature to be restored. With the technical support of Deputy Commissioner Lara, Emily was finally able to share her story.
Many public attendees had supported Emily from the beginning of the meeting, and their solidarity was unwavering. It was a testament to the strength of community and the power of collective support.
A Call for Compassion and Truth
As the BHA team silenced Emily and other public attendees, they moved on to their next agenda item without acknowledging the harm caused. But Emily's story deserves to be heard with care and compassion, not dismissed in silence.
The BHA confirmed that the recording and minutes of the meeting will be available on their website here. Hopefully, It is our hope that Emily's story will be honored in the way she intended, with the compassion and understanding she deserves.
Emily's experience during the BHAAC meeting provides a poignant and relevant connection to Dr. Medlock's story, highlighting the broader challenges and systemic issues faced by individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities, when they speak out against discrimination and injustice.
1. Systemic Challenges: Just as Dr. Medlock faced racial discrimination within her workplace, Emily's story reflects the challenges and resistance often encountered when individuals within a system attempt to voice their grievances. Emily's struggle to be heard during the BHAAC meeting mirrors Dr. Medlock's experience of feeling unheard and mistreated within her professional setting.
2. Silence and Dismissal: Both cases involve the unsettling dynamics of silence and dismissal by those in positions of authority. In Dr. Medlock's case, her concerns were met with resistance and dismissal from senior leaders within the administration. Similarly, Emily's story underscores how her trauma was initially met with silence and indifference by the BHA team, highlighting a pattern of disregarding the voices of those who have experienced harm.
3. Upholding Truth and Compassion: In both instances, there is a call for compassion, empathy, and truth-telling. Dr. Medlock's bravery in filing a racial discrimination complaint and Emily's courage in sharing her story of trauma both demand a compassionate and empathetic response from those in power. The connection lies in the shared commitment to upholding truth and compassion in the face of adversity.
4. Strength in Community: Emily's story, like Dr. Medlock's, emphasizes the strength of community support. Dr. Medlock found allies in JFM and received support from colleagues and advocates. Similarly, Emily received support from council members during the BHAAC meeting, highlighting the power of collective solidarity in amplifying voices that refuse to be silenced.
In essence, Dr. Medlock's story and Emily's experience are poignant examples of the broader failures of this new BHA leadership under Barnes and Gathercole. These incidents signal the urgent need for serious conversations and decisive action toward removing Michelle Barnes from her position as Interim Commissioner. Barnes' tenure has been marked by a series of concerning missteps and lapses in leadership, which have left a trail of harm, mistrust, and unanswered questions in the BHA’s wake. Her inability to address the issues raised by Dr. Medlock, a highly respected mental health advocate, and her callous disregard for Emily's traumatic experiences demonstrate a fundamental lack of empathy and competence required for such a crucial role.
Barnes has consistently proven herself unfit for the Interim Commissioner role and, by extension, public service. The impacts of her leadership failures are felt not only by dedicated professionals like Dr. Medlock but also by the vulnerable individuals and communities who depend on the BHA for essential support and care. It is incumbent upon those responsible for making such decisions to consider the well-being of Coloradans and take the necessary steps to ensure that effective and compassionate leadership is at the helm of this critical agency.
In times like these, it is essential to stand together and uphold truth, compassion, and the unwavering commitment to support those who courageously speak their truth, no matter the silence they may face. Emily's story is a reminder that in the face of adversity, we can find strength in community and amplify the voices that refuse to be silenced.
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Sign the Petition to Reinstate Dr. Medlock: Demand justice for Dr. Medlock signed the petition for Governor Polis to bring her back as the Commissioner of the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA).
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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).