July 18, 2025 • 30 mins
Manny Munoz covers topics that matter to your safety, health, and well-being. Did you know over 850,000 vehicles were stolen in the U.S. last year? Manny speaks with Triple A’s Mark Jenkins about how these thefts happen, how to protect yourself, and why July is Vehicle Theft Prevention Month.
Summer sun means more time outdoors — but are you protecting your skin? Becky Kamowitz, Executive Director of The Skin Cancer Foundation, shares expert tips on preventing sun damage.
Finally, mental health challenges impact everyone differently. Manny talks with Sharlene Kemler, CEO of the Loveland Foundation, about how they’re supporting communities in need.
Summer sun means more time outdoors — but are you protecting your skin? Becky Kamowitz, Executive Director of The Skin Cancer Foundation, shares expert tips on preventing sun damage.
Finally, mental health challenges impact everyone differently. Manny talks with Sharlene Kemler, CEO of the Loveland Foundation, about how they’re supporting communities in need.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to iHeartRadio Communities, a public affairs special focusing on
the biggest issues in facting you.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
This week.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Here's many munhos and welcome to another edition of Iheartradios Communities.
As you heard, I am Manny Munyo's and I would
love a follow from you on Instagram at iod Manny
is my handle at iodma n Y. Did you know
that last year alone, more than eight hundred and fifty
(00:31):
thousand vehicles were stolen in the United States, And since
July is Vehicle Threat Prevention Month, we thought we should
talk about how it happens and how best to protect yourself.
And for that I bring in Mark Jenkins with Triple A.
Good morning, Mark, good to talk to you.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Good morning. Nice talk Tom.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
So talk to me about the fact that that's a
staggering number nationwide, eight hundred and fifty thousand vehicles stolen
last year alone.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Yeah, and I think that a lot of it is
oftentimes just crime of opportunity. You have criminals who are
looking to make a quick buck, or just they're seeing
technology and through the windows things that are maybe left there,
or they're just looking to boost a car and maybe
try to flip it for some cash.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
And often we see that we as the car owners
make it easy for the bad guys, don't we.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Yeah? Unfortunately. So I mean, you know, you have people
who leave like a digital device in the back seat
or some kind of valuables in the cup holder or
something like that, and or you leave the doors unlocked.
I mean, you know, the easier you make things for
the criminal, then they're going to take advantage of that.
And like I may have already said, I mean, it's
oftentimes just a crime of opportunity. So the harder you
make it for a criminal, then the less likely it
(01:43):
is you'll be victimized.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
What are some of the key things that we could
do to prevent becoming a victim? Obviously, leaving the doors
unlocked is the number one we shouldn't do.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yeah, I mean, well, yeah, don't leave the keys in
the car, Always lock your doors, close your windows, turn
off the vehicle when you're not nearby if you're looking
to warm up the vehicle, you know, during the colder months,
stay close to your vehicle, keep an eye on it
if you can. And you know, I think that just
remove any kind of valuables or anything that might be
(02:14):
enticing for a criminal to bash in your window and
get inside.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
What about technology, because so many cars these days just
have these smart keys or these fobs. You don't even
really get used to turning it in, to unlocking it
or locking it. How do they use that kind of
technology to steal cars?
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Yeah, I mean, you know, so that technology is pretty
in depth, and you know, obviously something we don't want
to educate everybody about, but you know, I think that
you know, as a consumer, you just should know that
there are people out there who look for opportunities to
copy the signal that comes from your key fob that's
specific to your car, and that's how sometimes these thieves
(02:55):
are actually boosting vehicles is because they're able to capture
that signal and then transfer that to the vehicle to
start it. There are things out there on the market,
like a Fara day pouch that you could actually put
your key inside that'll block the signal to prevent any
kind of attacks. You could also maybe consider a kill
switch that's inside of your vehicle. That could be you know,
(03:16):
it could cost maybe a couple hundred bucks maybe to
have it installed, but essentially what that is is a
hidden switch in your vehicle that essentially disables the vehicle
to where only you know where. This is. If if
a criminal gets inside your vehicle it tries to start it,
it won't start. Even if they had your key fob,
it still won't start. That way, whenever you hump in
(03:37):
your vehicle, you flip the switch and you're ready to go.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
That's fascinating. Have you seen trends in vehicle thefts over
the last few years, I mean, have they increased, decreased
certain kinds of cars that are being targeted more than others,
things like that.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
I think throughout the years we've seen kind of things evolve, right.
I believe Honda Civix were very popular at one time.
You've also seen kind of a trend at one time
where Hyundai's were often boosted, and then so the manufacturer
had to look for ways to try to reduce that
(04:11):
from happening. But I think that you know, if you're
a consumer that's outing on the market right now, maybe
do a quick search just to find out what type
of vehicles are commonly stolen to see if that is
one of the vehicles you're looking at. That way, you
can at least be aware of it and look for
any potential ways to avoid becoming a victim.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
What about things that you can see, Like if somebody
is like kind of scoping out your vehicle, they have
those like steering wheel locks used to be the famous
commercial back in the eighties or nineties. How effective are
those kinds of things?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
I mean, that is something that we recommend, you know,
the steering wheel lock. There are locks that you can
put on your accelerator or your brake pedals. You know,
you can also have decals that are put up on
your windows or your windshield or your side windows. Think
about it like this, So if you're a homeowner at
a lot of homeowners don't actually have a sickcurity system,
but they might put up that sign outside their house
(05:03):
or those stickers on the windows that at least suggest
they have a security system. You can do the same
thing with your car. It's that multi layer, that multi
step level of protection that makes the criminal think twice.
If they're spending time thing twice, they're probably not going
to invest much more time in looking at your vehicle.
I think about it like a criminal wants to be
in and out pretty fast. They want to either take
(05:25):
what they see on your car seats, or they want
to take the vehicle itself, and if it's going to
be a hassle, they probably don't want to do anything
with it because they don't want to risk getting caught.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
What about insurance? Does insurance generally cover a stolen car?
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Liability insurance of course is mandatory in all states, but
comprehensive coverage is not required. But that is the type
of insurance that you would need to protect yourself against theft.
So think about liability insurance. If you crash your vehicle,
then you know you've got coverage there. But if something
happens to your vehicle, let's stay in tree falls on
your vehicle, if you have flooding damage, or if if
(06:01):
your vehicle is vandalized or stolen, then you have coverage
if you have comprehensive insurance.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Vehicle Theft Prevention Month. The goal for you at Triple
A is just to bring attention to the problem and
to make sure people don't become victims.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Absolutely. I mean, we are all things about the automobile.
We talk about gas prices, we try to help you
when your vehicle breaks down, and of course want to
protect you in all aspects of your journey. And that
includes not having your vehicle stolen, something you can't really
can't really provide your road sid assistance if you don't
have a vehicle right.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Something none of us want to want to fall victim too.
He is Mark Jenkins from Triple A for Vehicle Theft
Prevention Month in July. Mark, appreciate the time and the information.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Be well, all right, you too.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Just a reminder if you have any questions or comments,
you could follow me on Instagram at iod manny is
my handle at iod m A n y. It's summer.
That means we're spending more time outdoors or is that
means more sun exposure? And one thing is for sure,
most of us don't do nearly enough to protect our
(07:06):
skin from the sun's damaging rays. So let's discuss it
with Becky Cammel. It's executive director of the Skin Cancer Foundation.
You could find them online at skin cancer dot org. Becky,
I appreciate the time, Thanks so much for having me, Manny.
Let's talk a little bit about skin cancer because it is,
from what I understand, the most prominent cancer there is
(07:28):
and pretty easily preventable largely.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
No, yes, that's absolutely true, and your listeners may not know,
but skin cancer is the world's most common cancer, and
here in the US about one in five Americans will
develop a disease by the age of seventy. Although anyone
can get skin cancer, there are some people who are
at higher risk. So if you have a light skin tone,
(07:51):
if you have a history of indoor canning, if you
have a history of sunburns, if you have a first
degree relatives who's have the disease, all of those those
things can increase your risk. But as you said, the
good news is that skin cancer is highly preventable with
a daily sun protection strategy. So things like wearing sunscreen
every day, covering up with clothing, hats, sunglasses, seeking shade,
(08:16):
all of those things will help decrease your risk of
the disease.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
I want to talk to you obviously about sun blocks
and things like that going to the beach or outdoors
in a moment. But the Skin Cancer Foundation, you all
just updated your criteria for the Seal of Recommendations. What
exactly is that?
Speaker 3 (08:32):
So the Scale of Recommendation is one of our oldest
education programs that we developed back in the early nineteen eighties.
Our founder, doctor Perry Robbins, worked with a Photobiology Committee.
So these are experts in the interaction of the sun
and the skin, and so the Photobiology Committee and the
members of this committee they develop criteria for sun protection products.
(08:57):
So beginning with sunscreen and the Earth only nineteen eighties,
and then adding other categories of sun protection as scientists
as science based standards improved over the years and we
learn more about these different categories and how they can
help protect people from the sun. So you can find
our Steel of Recommendation on all sorts of sun protection
(09:20):
products beyond sunscreen, also clothing, hats, sunglasses, window glass, window tints, awnings, umbrellas,
other shade products. All of these things together will help
reduce your risk of sun exposure and help prevent skin cancer.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
What are the differences? We were all familiar, I guess
with SPF and sunblocks and things like that, but now
you've got these other terms like UVA and UVB. What
are the important things to look for on all these products.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
So for sunscreen and our Seal of Recommendation, we break
it into two categories. Some sunscreens have our daily use
Seel of Recommendation and some have our act Feel of Recommendation.
So daily use sunscreen is one that's going to help
protect you from incidental sun exposures, So the kind you
might get commuting to and from work, or going out
(10:10):
to your mailbox to check the mail, maybe taking your
dog for a quick walk. So you're looking for an
SPS thirty and broad spectrum protection UVA UVB and an
SPF of thirty okay, and then for active for sunscreens
with our active Feel of recommendation, you want an SPF
fifty and making sure that the product is water resistant.
(10:33):
So this is the sunscreen that you're going to want
if you're going to spend extended time outdoors, maybe a
day at the beach, maybe you're going for a run,
seeing an outdoor concert, things like that where it's really
important that you're protected from the sun.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
So many of these products have they're all chemicals, right, So,
especially with the Skin Cancer Foundation, are any of the
chemicals in these products harmful that you would encourage us
not to use something with a space chemical?
Speaker 3 (11:01):
No, the sunscreens that are available in the US have
all been available for many years, and sunscreens are all
safe and effective.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Is there a specific type of sunscreen that is more
beneficial than others? Other than the SPF UVA numbers.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
No, you know. Here at the Skin Cancer Foundation, we
say the best sunscreen is the one that you will
use every day. So it might take some trial and
error to find one that works with your skin type
and skin tone, but there are so many great options
available right now.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
What are some of the other things avoiding the sun?
Making sure that we're wearing these kinds of sunscreens that
we can take to avoid getting skin cancer.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
So the Skin Cancer Foundation we talk about clothing being
your first defense against the sun. Sunscreen is great and
we encourage daily use, but clothing is going to block
the UV rays, so whenever possible, covering up with long
sleeved shirts and pants that certainly helps. Hats with our
Seal of recommendation must have a three and brand, so
(12:00):
a wide brimmed hat, wrap around, sunglasses that that block
more of the skin on the face. All of those
things will help protect you. And then if possible, we
recommend scheduling outdoor activities for early in the morning or
later in the day when the sun's raise aren't as intense.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
We were talking about the seal of recommendation. Is it
awarded to specific products.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Any manufacturer that is a member of our Corporate Council
can apply to earn the Seal of Recommendation for their products.
So every single product is reviewed by members of our
Photobiology Committee to ensure that the product meets the criteria
they've set for safety and efficacy.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
What are some of the challenges you face balancing partnerships
within the industry and the scientific integrity of the seal program.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
It's pretty straightforward because we have our Photobiology Committee reviewing
every single product. The product must meet that's the criteria
that they've set. So we do have a products that
apply for our Seal of Recommendation and don't meet that criteria.
And in fact, right now, because we've just recently increased
(13:14):
the standards for sunscreens and fabrics in the program, we
actually know of some manufacturers who are reformulating their products
to make sure that they continue to meet our criteria.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
Rule of thumb, the first thing we should look for
when buying these products, either whether it's close or an
actual lotion or cream.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
I would say look for the Skin Cancer Foundation Feel
of recommendation and you can find the list. If you
don't see the actual feel on the packaging, go to
skin cancer dot org, put some link for recommended products
and you'll see an entire database of products that have
earned our Seal of recommendation.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Becky Camelwitz, executive director of the Skin Cancer Foundation, and
you can find out more information on their website. It
is skin cancer dot org, skin Cancer dot o RG. Becky.
I really appreciate the time and the employ information be well.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Thank you so much, Manny.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Just a reminder, if you have any questions or comments,
you can follow me on Instagram at iod Manny is
my handle at iodma n Y. Mental health and addressing
those issues is a topic we've discussed many times on
the show and how different people and different groups have
different mental health needs. Today we're joined by Charlene Kemmler,
(14:25):
CEO of the Loveland Foundation. You can find them online
at the Loveland Foundation dot org. Charlene, I appreciate the time,
thanks for joining me, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
For having me. It's a complete honor, especially during BIPOD
Mental Health Awareness Month.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Yeah, so tell me first about the Loveline Foundation. What
is it, why was it founded?
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Yeah? We are a nationwide organization that actually covers across
the therapy sessions for black women and girls nationwide. So
we're also hoping that if we address the mental health
issues within marginalized communities, we're actually able to address mental
health issues for everyone. That's truly the hope for the organization.
We've been doing it for five years and we've covered
(15:06):
well over two hundred and ten thousand hours of therapy
session since we've been started.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
Is there a gap in the mental health assistance available
to Black women and girls?
Speaker 3 (15:18):
There is? In general, there's a mental health gap for everyone.
To be fully transparent with you, now, within the black community,
there's less opportunities for our participants to actually find a
therapist of color. But in general, what our biggest goal
really is is destigmatizing mental health and actually giving folks
all the tools that's possible because one of the things
(15:39):
that we've realized within our short time that we've been
doing this as an organization is that there's not enough
therapist out there. So that's one of the things that
we're trying to increase access to for everyone, but also
being able to just make mental health accessible. So one
of the things that our participants come to us and
tell us is that they have to make a choice
between covering one week's of groceries versus one hour of
(16:02):
therapy session. And no one should be able to have
to make that has to make that decision, especially when
you're always being told put your oxygen mask on first
before you can assist everyone else, right, And that's what
the organization is about. We're here to basically give you
that oxygen mask so you can take care of yourself
and then be able to take care of everybody else
within your community.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Is it?
Speaker 1 (16:24):
And I find this when I deal with mental health
issues having to do with with military veterans, with members
of law enforcement, really with men, with men in general
in the black communities, it's still kind of taboo or
stigmatized to even talk about needing somebody to talk to
having mental health issues. M M.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
It is. And actually, I'm really glad that you brought
that up, Manny, because you're even talking about veterans. It
is something that even for veterans is a hard process.
And I have to give the DA a lot of
credit that they've been able to help destigmatize that, especially
when people are dealing with post traumatic stresses order. And
for us, what we're really trying to do is just
break down that barrier. Allowing folks to understand that your
(17:07):
mental health is just as important as your physical health.
So being able to give folks the tools, show them
how to use the tools, and then let them decide
which tool works best for them. That's where the sustainability
comes in. And that's where the destigmatization comes in, because
not everybody really wants to do therapy sessions, and that's okay. However,
(17:29):
maybe it's you actually having an opportunity to do a
guided meditation some folks really respond to that, or doing
a sound back folks respond to that, or doing a
yoga flow series, or even going out for a yoga
for a run or even going for a walk. It's
really just giving folks in this mentality of taking care
of the mental well being and really figuring out what
(17:51):
is the best fit for you.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
Why was the Loveland Foundation originally created? Where where did
the founder to find that need in the community.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
Yes, so, our founder Rachel Cargole had five years ago,
came out of her very first therapy session and it
was the most eye opening therapy session for her and
she was so happy that she finally was able to
afford therapy. That her thing. When she walked out of
that session. She wanted every woman to feel that, but
(18:23):
in particular black women to feel that when they are
at least leaving a therapy session. And she felt that
this was a complete audience that didn't really have access
to that, and she really wanted to make it accessible
for all. So she started up a Beautiful Birthday wish
fundraiser where she told her audience, Hey, I for my birthday,
(18:43):
I would like to grant other women the opportunity to
go to therapy. And when she did that, she was
able to raise over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars
is what we started off with. Wow, and we've been
able to build that two hundred and fifty thousand dollars
to the foundation that you currently see right now.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
That's amazing website, by the way, the Loveland Foundation dot org,
the Loveland correct Foundation dot org. You talk about needing more,
for example, black therapists and something like that. Is it
because a black therapist would better be able to associate
with a black woman and girl in a therapy session,
(19:22):
or because a black woman and girl would feel more
comfortable opening up to a black therapist.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
It's you know what, it's both actually, Manny and really
what we've told our participants is if you have found
a therapist who is a therapist that you like, and
it's a therapist who is not of color, at the
end of the days, you're getting the support you need.
That's the most imperative thing. However, what we've realized is
(19:47):
that for a lot of our participants it's easier for
you to go in to actually see a therapist who
reflects yourself because they feel like they're not having to
go over any of the microaggressions that folks maybe going
through and explaining their situations that can sometimes be a
little bit triggering and traumatizing for folks. For example, my
(20:07):
husband Full of Transparency is a white man and his
therapist is actually a black woman, because his thing was
he's an inner ration. His therapist before was a white
woman and she really wasn't understanding the West Indian culture.
So he went and found a therapist who actually understood
the West Indian culture, and he found a black female
(20:28):
therapist where he feels like he was getting the most
out of it, where he felt he was training his
therapist about cross cultural differences, and that was something he
didn't want to be spending his time in therapy doing
and that's what a lot of folks feel, and that's
one of the things that we are actually really proud
of as an organism. As I said, allies are just
as important. Our goal at the Foundation is really if
(20:50):
we focused on our goal is that if we focus
and reimagine the mental health therapy for a black women,
we're actually reimagining it for everyone and giving everyone an
easier process through it. So for our allies, for example,
we actually do a cross cultural training for therapists who
are not actually of color. So if you are a
(21:11):
white therapist who wants to actually do the cross cultural training,
it's an amazing opportunity because our whole thing is it's
either you know or you don't know, and if you
don't know, it's our job to actually give you the training.
And if you want that training, it allows for more
sustainabilities because as I said before, the numbers is a
number game is what we're playing right now. We just
(21:32):
don't have enough therapists in general for the United States
population overall. The Attorney Surgeon General has been seeing this
for over four different administrations, so it's nothing new, but
what we're trying to do is increase that access, but
also understand that sometimes allies need that training so that
(21:53):
they're not doing the training on their participant. Instead they
have the understanding, they're understanding the culture and it makes
for a much more successful therapy session for everyone at
the end of the day, and that's our goal.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
Do you provide resources for a therapist who might want
to be able to expand their abilities?
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Yes, we do. And one of the things that we're
really proud of is that we are not only about
ones for nurturing our population, but we also nurture the nurturers.
So we actually provide group therapy sessions for our therapists,
offer them therapy sessions as well, and we also try
to provide them cross cultural training because that's something that
our therapists have asked for in their fields. And that's
(22:36):
something that we're really proud of, is that we are
listening to our therapists and providing them the resources that
they actually need to be successful in their jobs. And
I think that's what all therapists are looking for, is
for folks to meet them in the middle and be
able to help them expand and that's what the Foundation
has been able to do with all of our You know,
we have well over five thousand active therapists within our network,
(22:59):
and we part with large therapy directory partners because we
thought that's more sustainability. We don't always have to reinvent
the wheel. If someone is out there doing something amazing,
partner with them. That's where you get the long term impact.
That's where you get the true philanthropy, and that's where
you're able to actually see the change.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
A few more minutes here with Charlene Kemmler, CEO of
the Loveland Foundation. The website is the Loveland Foundation dot org.
Real Briefly, again, if you could explain the foundation and
what it does.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
We actually provide the cost of therapy sessions, cover the
cost of therapy sessions for black women and girls nationwide,
but we also provide the resources for our therapists. We're
trying to increase the access to the therapists in terms
of continuing education and also being able to provide them
our amazing healers is what they call what we call them,
(23:54):
providing access for our healers to heal as well. So
we are really a mental health organization that is trying
to change the ecosystem of mental health in general, so
that it's actually accessible for everyone within the United States.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
Bigger challenge for you fundraising for the organization or getting
the word out that these resources that you provide to
the community are even available.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
The biggest challenge that we are facing right now is
the demand to be fully transparent with you. It really
is the demand. We are seeing folks come to us.
We're seeing the same numbers that we were seeing during
the pandemic. And during the pandemic it was a time
where everyone actually realized, oh, I'm human and I have emotions,
(24:40):
and that I need these resources. And we were able
to provide those resources. This year alone, from January to April,
for example, we spend already one point two million dollars
in therapy sessions for folks. Wow, that is more as
almost double that what we spent last year. So this
year what we have scene is that with unfortunately, with
(25:03):
the current news cycle that you're seeing and everyone is seeing,
it is causing significant anxiety for folks. You know, there
we are in a time of isolation. That was something
that then the Surgeon General had spoken about for a
very long time that Americans right now are seen in
the siloed of isolation, and US for an organization is
(25:26):
really working with as many mental health organizations out there
as possible so that we can actually provide this access because,
as I said before, the problem that we're having right
now this year is the demand. We've had a significant
uptick of folks because they've lost their jobs and because
of the current economy that we're in right now, they're
(25:49):
not feeling comfortable being able to pay for their therapy
session and are coming to us as an organization to
cover those sessions for them. And us as an organization
we cover up to time twelve sessions per participant, Wow,
so that gives some participants up to three to four
months of therapy sessions.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
Has the Foundation's mission changed as you've uncovered the need
the demand out there.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
Our mission has not really changed that much. We've been
very clear. When we first started off this organization, we
did a landscape analysis that really see what resources were
out there, who's doing what work out there, and if
they're doing it, partner with it. But if we're seeing
that there is a need a gap, how do we
fill in that gap? And one of the things that
(26:34):
we noticed was that when it came to direct services
that was something that we saw there was a lack
of and that's why we created our system very simple.
The only thing we have actually increased is not even increased,
we've increased, we truly have. We've increased the numbers of
vouchers that we've given. We started off with four vouchers,
increased to eight and have increased to twelve because of
(26:55):
the feedback that we got from our therapists. And then
on top of it, we've really been noticing that there's
been a drop off on a lot of our therapists
because after the pandemic, a lot of therapists were no
longer taking clients and they had a really big burnout.
So one of the things that we have actually focused
on is how do we prevent burnout in our therapists.
How are we nurturing the nurturers so that we can
(27:18):
continue to utilize them as resources. And I would say
that's a little shift that we've been able to make
is really being able to include our therapists into our
mission because they are our DNA. We cannot do what
we do without our amazing therapists within our network, and
it's imperative that we take care of them so that
(27:38):
they can continue to take care of the populations that
they serve.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
How does someone listening take advantage of the resources you're providing,
either for mental health treatment or as a therapist.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
As a therapist or for mental health treatment, we always
say come visit our website, the Lovelinthfoundation dot org orderly basis.
We are always accepting new participants into our session for therapists.
We have a plethora of programs going on. We are
always looking for new therapists to come onto our platform
if they're on any of our partners, whether it's Psychology Today,
(28:15):
Black Girls, Smiles, Open Path, if you're on any of
those platforms, we're always welcoming any of those therapists within
our network and really being able. Where as we say
to folks, it's really just follow us on social also
because and it's also the love and foundation on all
of our platforms, whether it's Facebook, whether it's Instagram, TikTok,
(28:36):
or even on YouTube. And what we're really proud of
is that we have been listening to our audience on
topics that they want to see. So what you see
on our social media, our topics that our audience are
the ones who are guiding it and we've always been
seen as a beacon of hope, and I think that's
what everybody wants during this time. So being able to
follow us on our social media, you're able to actually
(28:57):
get additional tips and tools that we actually provide for everyone,
because at the end of the day, as we've said,
we are really trying to destigmatize mental health for all.
Even though we do focus on black women and girls,
our goal is to just destigmatize mental health in general
and for folks that feel more comfortable having that conversation.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Charlene Kemmler, CEO of the Loveland Foundation, the website and
their socials again the Loveland Foundation dot org, The Loveland
Foundation dot org. Charlene, I really appreciate the time. Best
of luck, Nanny, thank you so much. As always, I'd
love a follow on Instagram and I follow back at
(29:38):
iod Manny is my handle at iod m A n
n Y. And that'll do it for another edition of
Iheartradios Communities. I'm Manny Muno's until next time.
Welcome to iHeartRadio Communities, a public affairs special focusing on
the biggest issues in facting you.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
This week.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Here's many munhos and welcome to another edition of Iheartradios Communities.
As you heard, I am Manny Munyo's and I would
love a follow from you on Instagram at iod Manny
is my handle at iodma n Y. Did you know
that last year alone, more than eight hundred and fifty
(00:31):
thousand vehicles were stolen in the United States, And since
July is Vehicle Threat Prevention Month, we thought we should
talk about how it happens and how best to protect yourself.
And for that I bring in Mark Jenkins with Triple A.
Good morning, Mark, good to talk to you.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Good morning. Nice talk Tom.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
So talk to me about the fact that that's a
staggering number nationwide, eight hundred and fifty thousand vehicles stolen
last year alone.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Yeah, and I think that a lot of it is
oftentimes just crime of opportunity. You have criminals who are
looking to make a quick buck, or just they're seeing
technology and through the windows things that are maybe left there,
or they're just looking to boost a car and maybe
try to flip it for some cash.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
And often we see that we as the car owners
make it easy for the bad guys, don't we.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Yeah? Unfortunately. So I mean, you know, you have people
who leave like a digital device in the back seat
or some kind of valuables in the cup holder or
something like that, and or you leave the doors unlocked.
I mean, you know, the easier you make things for
the criminal, then they're going to take advantage of that.
And like I may have already said, I mean, it's
oftentimes just a crime of opportunity. So the harder you
make it for a criminal, then the less likely it
(01:43):
is you'll be victimized.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
What are some of the key things that we could
do to prevent becoming a victim? Obviously, leaving the doors
unlocked is the number one we shouldn't do.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yeah, I mean, well, yeah, don't leave the keys in
the car, Always lock your doors, close your windows, turn
off the vehicle when you're not nearby if you're looking
to warm up the vehicle, you know, during the colder months,
stay close to your vehicle, keep an eye on it
if you can. And you know, I think that just
remove any kind of valuables or anything that might be
(02:14):
enticing for a criminal to bash in your window and
get inside.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
What about technology, because so many cars these days just
have these smart keys or these fobs. You don't even
really get used to turning it in, to unlocking it
or locking it. How do they use that kind of
technology to steal cars?
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Yeah, I mean, you know, so that technology is pretty
in depth, and you know, obviously something we don't want
to educate everybody about, but you know, I think that
you know, as a consumer, you just should know that
there are people out there who look for opportunities to
copy the signal that comes from your key fob that's
specific to your car, and that's how sometimes these thieves
(02:55):
are actually boosting vehicles is because they're able to capture
that signal and then transfer that to the vehicle to
start it. There are things out there on the market,
like a Fara day pouch that you could actually put
your key inside that'll block the signal to prevent any
kind of attacks. You could also maybe consider a kill
switch that's inside of your vehicle. That could be you know,
(03:16):
it could cost maybe a couple hundred bucks maybe to
have it installed, but essentially what that is is a
hidden switch in your vehicle that essentially disables the vehicle
to where only you know where. This is. If if
a criminal gets inside your vehicle it tries to start it,
it won't start. Even if they had your key fob,
it still won't start. That way, whenever you hump in
(03:37):
your vehicle, you flip the switch and you're ready to go.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
That's fascinating. Have you seen trends in vehicle thefts over
the last few years, I mean, have they increased, decreased
certain kinds of cars that are being targeted more than others,
things like that.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
I think throughout the years we've seen kind of things evolve, right.
I believe Honda Civix were very popular at one time.
You've also seen kind of a trend at one time
where Hyundai's were often boosted, and then so the manufacturer
had to look for ways to try to reduce that
(04:11):
from happening. But I think that you know, if you're
a consumer that's outing on the market right now, maybe
do a quick search just to find out what type
of vehicles are commonly stolen to see if that is
one of the vehicles you're looking at. That way, you
can at least be aware of it and look for
any potential ways to avoid becoming a victim.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
What about things that you can see, Like if somebody
is like kind of scoping out your vehicle, they have
those like steering wheel locks used to be the famous
commercial back in the eighties or nineties. How effective are
those kinds of things?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
I mean, that is something that we recommend, you know,
the steering wheel lock. There are locks that you can
put on your accelerator or your brake pedals. You know,
you can also have decals that are put up on
your windows or your windshield or your side windows. Think
about it like this, So if you're a homeowner at
a lot of homeowners don't actually have a sickcurity system,
but they might put up that sign outside their house
(05:03):
or those stickers on the windows that at least suggest
they have a security system. You can do the same
thing with your car. It's that multi layer, that multi
step level of protection that makes the criminal think twice.
If they're spending time thing twice, they're probably not going
to invest much more time in looking at your vehicle.
I think about it like a criminal wants to be
in and out pretty fast. They want to either take
(05:25):
what they see on your car seats, or they want
to take the vehicle itself, and if it's going to
be a hassle, they probably don't want to do anything
with it because they don't want to risk getting caught.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
What about insurance? Does insurance generally cover a stolen car?
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Liability insurance of course is mandatory in all states, but
comprehensive coverage is not required. But that is the type
of insurance that you would need to protect yourself against theft.
So think about liability insurance. If you crash your vehicle,
then you know you've got coverage there. But if something
happens to your vehicle, let's stay in tree falls on
your vehicle, if you have flooding damage, or if if
(06:01):
your vehicle is vandalized or stolen, then you have coverage
if you have comprehensive insurance.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Vehicle Theft Prevention Month. The goal for you at Triple
A is just to bring attention to the problem and
to make sure people don't become victims.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Absolutely. I mean, we are all things about the automobile.
We talk about gas prices, we try to help you
when your vehicle breaks down, and of course want to
protect you in all aspects of your journey. And that
includes not having your vehicle stolen, something you can't really
can't really provide your road sid assistance if you don't
have a vehicle right.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Something none of us want to want to fall victim too.
He is Mark Jenkins from Triple A for Vehicle Theft
Prevention Month in July. Mark, appreciate the time and the information.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Be well, all right, you too.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Just a reminder if you have any questions or comments,
you could follow me on Instagram at iod manny is
my handle at iod m A n y. It's summer.
That means we're spending more time outdoors or is that
means more sun exposure? And one thing is for sure,
most of us don't do nearly enough to protect our
(07:06):
skin from the sun's damaging rays. So let's discuss it
with Becky Cammel. It's executive director of the Skin Cancer Foundation.
You could find them online at skin cancer dot org. Becky,
I appreciate the time, Thanks so much for having me, Manny.
Let's talk a little bit about skin cancer because it is,
from what I understand, the most prominent cancer there is
(07:28):
and pretty easily preventable largely.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
No, yes, that's absolutely true, and your listeners may not know,
but skin cancer is the world's most common cancer, and
here in the US about one in five Americans will
develop a disease by the age of seventy. Although anyone
can get skin cancer, there are some people who are
at higher risk. So if you have a light skin tone,
(07:51):
if you have a history of indoor canning, if you
have a history of sunburns, if you have a first
degree relatives who's have the disease, all of those those
things can increase your risk. But as you said, the
good news is that skin cancer is highly preventable with
a daily sun protection strategy. So things like wearing sunscreen
every day, covering up with clothing, hats, sunglasses, seeking shade,
(08:16):
all of those things will help decrease your risk of
the disease.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
I want to talk to you obviously about sun blocks
and things like that going to the beach or outdoors
in a moment. But the Skin Cancer Foundation, you all
just updated your criteria for the Seal of Recommendations. What
exactly is that?
Speaker 3 (08:32):
So the Scale of Recommendation is one of our oldest
education programs that we developed back in the early nineteen eighties.
Our founder, doctor Perry Robbins, worked with a Photobiology Committee.
So these are experts in the interaction of the sun
and the skin, and so the Photobiology Committee and the
members of this committee they develop criteria for sun protection products.
(08:57):
So beginning with sunscreen and the Earth only nineteen eighties,
and then adding other categories of sun protection as scientists
as science based standards improved over the years and we
learn more about these different categories and how they can
help protect people from the sun. So you can find
our Steel of Recommendation on all sorts of sun protection
(09:20):
products beyond sunscreen, also clothing, hats, sunglasses, window glass, window tints, awnings, umbrellas,
other shade products. All of these things together will help
reduce your risk of sun exposure and help prevent skin cancer.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
What are the differences? We were all familiar, I guess
with SPF and sunblocks and things like that, but now
you've got these other terms like UVA and UVB. What
are the important things to look for on all these products.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
So for sunscreen and our Seal of Recommendation, we break
it into two categories. Some sunscreens have our daily use
Seel of Recommendation and some have our act Feel of Recommendation.
So daily use sunscreen is one that's going to help
protect you from incidental sun exposures, So the kind you
might get commuting to and from work, or going out
(10:10):
to your mailbox to check the mail, maybe taking your
dog for a quick walk. So you're looking for an
SPS thirty and broad spectrum protection UVA UVB and an
SPF of thirty okay, and then for active for sunscreens
with our active Feel of recommendation, you want an SPF
fifty and making sure that the product is water resistant.
(10:33):
So this is the sunscreen that you're going to want
if you're going to spend extended time outdoors, maybe a
day at the beach, maybe you're going for a run,
seeing an outdoor concert, things like that where it's really
important that you're protected from the sun.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
So many of these products have they're all chemicals, right, So,
especially with the Skin Cancer Foundation, are any of the
chemicals in these products harmful that you would encourage us
not to use something with a space chemical?
Speaker 3 (11:01):
No, the sunscreens that are available in the US have
all been available for many years, and sunscreens are all
safe and effective.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Is there a specific type of sunscreen that is more
beneficial than others? Other than the SPF UVA numbers.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
No, you know. Here at the Skin Cancer Foundation, we
say the best sunscreen is the one that you will
use every day. So it might take some trial and
error to find one that works with your skin type
and skin tone, but there are so many great options
available right now.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
What are some of the other things avoiding the sun?
Making sure that we're wearing these kinds of sunscreens that
we can take to avoid getting skin cancer.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
So the Skin Cancer Foundation we talk about clothing being
your first defense against the sun. Sunscreen is great and
we encourage daily use, but clothing is going to block
the UV rays, so whenever possible, covering up with long
sleeved shirts and pants that certainly helps. Hats with our
Seal of recommendation must have a three and brand, so
(12:00):
a wide brimmed hat, wrap around, sunglasses that that block
more of the skin on the face. All of those
things will help protect you. And then if possible, we
recommend scheduling outdoor activities for early in the morning or
later in the day when the sun's raise aren't as intense.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
We were talking about the seal of recommendation. Is it
awarded to specific products.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Any manufacturer that is a member of our Corporate Council
can apply to earn the Seal of Recommendation for their products.
So every single product is reviewed by members of our
Photobiology Committee to ensure that the product meets the criteria
they've set for safety and efficacy.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
What are some of the challenges you face balancing partnerships
within the industry and the scientific integrity of the seal program.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
It's pretty straightforward because we have our Photobiology Committee reviewing
every single product. The product must meet that's the criteria
that they've set. So we do have a products that
apply for our Seal of Recommendation and don't meet that criteria.
And in fact, right now, because we've just recently increased
(13:14):
the standards for sunscreens and fabrics in the program, we
actually know of some manufacturers who are reformulating their products
to make sure that they continue to meet our criteria.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
Rule of thumb, the first thing we should look for
when buying these products, either whether it's close or an
actual lotion or cream.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
I would say look for the Skin Cancer Foundation Feel
of recommendation and you can find the list. If you
don't see the actual feel on the packaging, go to
skin cancer dot org, put some link for recommended products
and you'll see an entire database of products that have
earned our Seal of recommendation.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Becky Camelwitz, executive director of the Skin Cancer Foundation, and
you can find out more information on their website. It
is skin cancer dot org, skin Cancer dot o RG. Becky.
I really appreciate the time and the employ information be well.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Thank you so much, Manny.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Just a reminder, if you have any questions or comments,
you can follow me on Instagram at iod Manny is
my handle at iodma n Y. Mental health and addressing
those issues is a topic we've discussed many times on
the show and how different people and different groups have
different mental health needs. Today we're joined by Charlene Kemmler,
(14:25):
CEO of the Loveland Foundation. You can find them online
at the Loveland Foundation dot org. Charlene, I appreciate the time,
thanks for joining me, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
For having me. It's a complete honor, especially during BIPOD
Mental Health Awareness Month.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Yeah, so tell me first about the Loveline Foundation. What
is it, why was it founded?
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Yeah? We are a nationwide organization that actually covers across
the therapy sessions for black women and girls nationwide. So
we're also hoping that if we address the mental health
issues within marginalized communities, we're actually able to address mental
health issues for everyone. That's truly the hope for the organization.
We've been doing it for five years and we've covered
(15:06):
well over two hundred and ten thousand hours of therapy
session since we've been started.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
Is there a gap in the mental health assistance available
to Black women and girls?
Speaker 3 (15:18):
There is? In general, there's a mental health gap for everyone.
To be fully transparent with you, now, within the black community,
there's less opportunities for our participants to actually find a
therapist of color. But in general, what our biggest goal
really is is destigmatizing mental health and actually giving folks
all the tools that's possible because one of the things
(15:39):
that we've realized within our short time that we've been
doing this as an organization is that there's not enough
therapist out there. So that's one of the things that
we're trying to increase access to for everyone, but also
being able to just make mental health accessible. So one
of the things that our participants come to us and
tell us is that they have to make a choice
between covering one week's of groceries versus one hour of
(16:02):
therapy session. And no one should be able to have
to make that has to make that decision, especially when
you're always being told put your oxygen mask on first
before you can assist everyone else, right, And that's what
the organization is about. We're here to basically give you
that oxygen mask so you can take care of yourself
and then be able to take care of everybody else
within your community.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Is it?
Speaker 1 (16:24):
And I find this when I deal with mental health
issues having to do with with military veterans, with members
of law enforcement, really with men, with men in general
in the black communities, it's still kind of taboo or
stigmatized to even talk about needing somebody to talk to
having mental health issues. M M.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
It is. And actually, I'm really glad that you brought
that up, Manny, because you're even talking about veterans. It
is something that even for veterans is a hard process.
And I have to give the DA a lot of
credit that they've been able to help destigmatize that, especially
when people are dealing with post traumatic stresses order. And
for us, what we're really trying to do is just
break down that barrier. Allowing folks to understand that your
(17:07):
mental health is just as important as your physical health.
So being able to give folks the tools, show them
how to use the tools, and then let them decide
which tool works best for them. That's where the sustainability
comes in. And that's where the destigmatization comes in, because
not everybody really wants to do therapy sessions, and that's okay. However,
(17:29):
maybe it's you actually having an opportunity to do a
guided meditation some folks really respond to that, or doing
a sound back folks respond to that, or doing a
yoga flow series, or even going out for a yoga
for a run or even going for a walk. It's
really just giving folks in this mentality of taking care
of the mental well being and really figuring out what
(17:51):
is the best fit for you.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
Why was the Loveland Foundation originally created? Where where did
the founder to find that need in the community.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
Yes, so, our founder Rachel Cargole had five years ago,
came out of her very first therapy session and it
was the most eye opening therapy session for her and
she was so happy that she finally was able to
afford therapy. That her thing. When she walked out of
that session. She wanted every woman to feel that, but
(18:23):
in particular black women to feel that when they are
at least leaving a therapy session. And she felt that
this was a complete audience that didn't really have access
to that, and she really wanted to make it accessible
for all. So she started up a Beautiful Birthday wish
fundraiser where she told her audience, Hey, I for my birthday,
(18:43):
I would like to grant other women the opportunity to
go to therapy. And when she did that, she was
able to raise over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars
is what we started off with. Wow, and we've been
able to build that two hundred and fifty thousand dollars
to the foundation that you currently see right now.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
That's amazing website, by the way, the Loveland Foundation dot org,
the Loveland correct Foundation dot org. You talk about needing more,
for example, black therapists and something like that. Is it
because a black therapist would better be able to associate
with a black woman and girl in a therapy session,
(19:22):
or because a black woman and girl would feel more
comfortable opening up to a black therapist.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
It's you know what, it's both actually, Manny and really
what we've told our participants is if you have found
a therapist who is a therapist that you like, and
it's a therapist who is not of color, at the
end of the days, you're getting the support you need.
That's the most imperative thing. However, what we've realized is
(19:47):
that for a lot of our participants it's easier for
you to go in to actually see a therapist who
reflects yourself because they feel like they're not having to
go over any of the microaggressions that folks maybe going
through and explaining their situations that can sometimes be a
little bit triggering and traumatizing for folks. For example, my
(20:07):
husband Full of Transparency is a white man and his
therapist is actually a black woman, because his thing was
he's an inner ration. His therapist before was a white
woman and she really wasn't understanding the West Indian culture.
So he went and found a therapist who actually understood
the West Indian culture, and he found a black female
(20:28):
therapist where he feels like he was getting the most
out of it, where he felt he was training his
therapist about cross cultural differences, and that was something he
didn't want to be spending his time in therapy doing
and that's what a lot of folks feel, and that's
one of the things that we are actually really proud
of as an organism. As I said, allies are just
as important. Our goal at the Foundation is really if
(20:50):
we focused on our goal is that if we focus
and reimagine the mental health therapy for a black women,
we're actually reimagining it for everyone and giving everyone an
easier process through it. So for our allies, for example,
we actually do a cross cultural training for therapists who
are not actually of color. So if you are a
(21:11):
white therapist who wants to actually do the cross cultural training,
it's an amazing opportunity because our whole thing is it's
either you know or you don't know, and if you
don't know, it's our job to actually give you the training.
And if you want that training, it allows for more
sustainabilities because as I said before, the numbers is a
number game is what we're playing right now. We just
(21:32):
don't have enough therapists in general for the United States
population overall. The Attorney Surgeon General has been seeing this
for over four different administrations, so it's nothing new, but
what we're trying to do is increase that access, but
also understand that sometimes allies need that training so that
(21:53):
they're not doing the training on their participant. Instead they
have the understanding, they're understanding the culture and it makes
for a much more successful therapy session for everyone at
the end of the day, and that's our goal.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
Do you provide resources for a therapist who might want
to be able to expand their abilities?
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Yes, we do. And one of the things that we're
really proud of is that we are not only about
ones for nurturing our population, but we also nurture the nurturers.
So we actually provide group therapy sessions for our therapists,
offer them therapy sessions as well, and we also try
to provide them cross cultural training because that's something that
our therapists have asked for in their fields. And that's
(22:36):
something that we're really proud of, is that we are
listening to our therapists and providing them the resources that
they actually need to be successful in their jobs. And
I think that's what all therapists are looking for, is
for folks to meet them in the middle and be
able to help them expand and that's what the Foundation
has been able to do with all of our You know,
we have well over five thousand active therapists within our network,
(22:59):
and we part with large therapy directory partners because we
thought that's more sustainability. We don't always have to reinvent
the wheel. If someone is out there doing something amazing,
partner with them. That's where you get the long term impact.
That's where you get the true philanthropy, and that's where
you're able to actually see the change.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
A few more minutes here with Charlene Kemmler, CEO of
the Loveland Foundation. The website is the Loveland Foundation dot org.
Real Briefly, again, if you could explain the foundation and
what it does.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
We actually provide the cost of therapy sessions, cover the
cost of therapy sessions for black women and girls nationwide,
but we also provide the resources for our therapists. We're
trying to increase the access to the therapists in terms
of continuing education and also being able to provide them
our amazing healers is what they call what we call them,
(23:54):
providing access for our healers to heal as well. So
we are really a mental health organization that is trying
to change the ecosystem of mental health in general, so
that it's actually accessible for everyone within the United States.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
Bigger challenge for you fundraising for the organization or getting
the word out that these resources that you provide to
the community are even available.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
The biggest challenge that we are facing right now is
the demand to be fully transparent with you. It really
is the demand. We are seeing folks come to us.
We're seeing the same numbers that we were seeing during
the pandemic. And during the pandemic it was a time
where everyone actually realized, oh, I'm human and I have emotions,
(24:40):
and that I need these resources. And we were able
to provide those resources. This year alone, from January to April,
for example, we spend already one point two million dollars
in therapy sessions for folks. Wow, that is more as
almost double that what we spent last year. So this
year what we have scene is that with unfortunately, with
(25:03):
the current news cycle that you're seeing and everyone is seeing,
it is causing significant anxiety for folks. You know, there
we are in a time of isolation. That was something
that then the Surgeon General had spoken about for a
very long time that Americans right now are seen in
the siloed of isolation, and US for an organization is
(25:26):
really working with as many mental health organizations out there
as possible so that we can actually provide this access because,
as I said before, the problem that we're having right
now this year is the demand. We've had a significant
uptick of folks because they've lost their jobs and because
of the current economy that we're in right now, they're
(25:49):
not feeling comfortable being able to pay for their therapy
session and are coming to us as an organization to
cover those sessions for them. And us as an organization
we cover up to time twelve sessions per participant, Wow,
so that gives some participants up to three to four
months of therapy sessions.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
Has the Foundation's mission changed as you've uncovered the need
the demand out there.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
Our mission has not really changed that much. We've been
very clear. When we first started off this organization, we
did a landscape analysis that really see what resources were
out there, who's doing what work out there, and if
they're doing it, partner with it. But if we're seeing
that there is a need a gap, how do we
fill in that gap? And one of the things that
(26:34):
we noticed was that when it came to direct services
that was something that we saw there was a lack
of and that's why we created our system very simple.
The only thing we have actually increased is not even increased,
we've increased, we truly have. We've increased the numbers of
vouchers that we've given. We started off with four vouchers,
increased to eight and have increased to twelve because of
(26:55):
the feedback that we got from our therapists. And then
on top of it, we've really been noticing that there's
been a drop off on a lot of our therapists
because after the pandemic, a lot of therapists were no
longer taking clients and they had a really big burnout.
So one of the things that we have actually focused
on is how do we prevent burnout in our therapists.
How are we nurturing the nurturers so that we can
(27:18):
continue to utilize them as resources. And I would say
that's a little shift that we've been able to make
is really being able to include our therapists into our
mission because they are our DNA. We cannot do what
we do without our amazing therapists within our network, and
it's imperative that we take care of them so that
(27:38):
they can continue to take care of the populations that
they serve.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
How does someone listening take advantage of the resources you're providing,
either for mental health treatment or as a therapist.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
As a therapist or for mental health treatment, we always
say come visit our website, the Lovelinthfoundation dot org orderly basis.
We are always accepting new participants into our session for therapists.
We have a plethora of programs going on. We are
always looking for new therapists to come onto our platform
if they're on any of our partners, whether it's Psychology Today,
(28:15):
Black Girls, Smiles, Open Path, if you're on any of
those platforms, we're always welcoming any of those therapists within
our network and really being able. Where as we say
to folks, it's really just follow us on social also
because and it's also the love and foundation on all
of our platforms, whether it's Facebook, whether it's Instagram, TikTok,
(28:36):
or even on YouTube. And what we're really proud of
is that we have been listening to our audience on
topics that they want to see. So what you see
on our social media, our topics that our audience are
the ones who are guiding it and we've always been
seen as a beacon of hope, and I think that's
what everybody wants during this time. So being able to
follow us on our social media, you're able to actually
(28:57):
get additional tips and tools that we actually provide for everyone,
because at the end of the day, as we've said,
we are really trying to destigmatize mental health for all.
Even though we do focus on black women and girls,
our goal is to just destigmatize mental health in general
and for folks that feel more comfortable having that conversation.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Charlene Kemmler, CEO of the Loveland Foundation, the website and
their socials again the Loveland Foundation dot org, The Loveland
Foundation dot org. Charlene, I really appreciate the time. Best
of luck, Nanny, thank you so much. As always, I'd
love a follow on Instagram and I follow back at
(29:38):
iod Manny is my handle at iod m A n
n Y. And that'll do it for another edition of
Iheartradios Communities. I'm Manny Muno's until next time.
Host
Manny Munoz
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.