Black women are more prone to being jailed than white women, and that tendency starts in school.

There in racial disparities in the nation’s education system that our society choose not to see, hear, or talk about. According to several studies, black girls are 6 times as likely to be suspended as Whites. They are even suspended and expelled at higher rates than black boys. So there's no surprise that black women are over-represented in prisons, but did you know the rate is more than double the rate for white women. Black women are more likely to go to prison than women of any other racial or ethnic group. In fact, 1 in 16 African-American women — in contrast to 1 in 111 white women. This is a health crisis!

A prison sentence is a family sentence, with black families disproportionately facing a host of obstacles in terms of barriers to income potential and wealth, education, housing and family stability. Further, 1 in 13 Black people in America cannot vote due to felony disenfranchisement laws, taking away their voice.

Here's a few more reason why we should be outraged as a community: incarcerated women are more likely to be victims of domestic violence (71 percent of women behind bars, according to a 2008 study); suffer from mental health challenges (73 percent in state prison and 75 percent in local jails); and have a history of substance abuse (73 percent in state prison and 47 percent in federal prison). Why is our country criminalizing trauma and mental illness?!

Does this information make you angry? It should. This week, let's talk about trauma in our community, what it looks like in our women and girls, and how we can create community healing spaces to address this issue.

Join us each week for a​n interactive discussion about Mental Health ​and Wellness within the Black community.

Every week we will explore a different topic that addresses: the ​mental and physical impact of trauma, transforming the stigma around mental health, available support resources, and how we can heal from personal, racial and community traumas.

If there is a specific topic related to Black Mental Health and Wellness that you would like to hear discussed, send us your idea. If you have an area of expertise that you would like to share with the community, contact us. If you have a related organization or service that you provide, let's talk. We’d love to hear from you!

**Be advised that subject matter may not be appropriate for young children. Light refreshment will be served. There is free parking at the site.**