Great Minds
Think Alike.
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In marginalized communities, this philosophy is everything, especially when it comes to health and lifestyle decisions. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, people find affiliation with others who seem similar to them, and thus develop a connection. This connection is a deep, holistic understanding based on mutual experience where people are able to converse on equal ground without the constraints of traditional power structures (like those seen in a doctor-patient relationship). When it comes to health literacy and making important decisions, the trust and understanding within the conversation is key.
WHO WE ARE
Like Minds is a peer-centered wellness group created by peers with specialized experience in providing prevention and intervention services aligned with health needs of marginalized communities. Our peer network collaborates with an array of culturally responsive clinical professionals, alternative health practitioners, and paraprofessionals that are mutually committed to promoting wellness and building social transformation in the lives of communities on the margins globally.
OUR VALUES
Connection
Connection is about building trust in relationships that shape social landscapes.
Transformation
Through connections and relationships, people feel more empowered and confident in their own capabilities.
Fullfilment
The result of self-empowerment motivates individuals to pursue their goals and achieve life
fulfillment.
OUR MISSION
Like Minds was launched in 2019 with the mission to connect communities to peer-informed education and practices that enhance health and social change. Our vision is to see marginal communities empowered with effective tools to lead healthy and fulfilled lives.
Research shows that marginalized communities are most likely to be impacted by poor health outcomes directly influenced by social environments that are systemically inequitable. Although any dimension of marginalization negatively impacts health, most individuals experience multiple intersections of marginalization which makes navigating barriers to wellness complex and far reaching. Traditional prevention approaches have primarily been one dimensional, have reinforced imbalanced power structures like the expert/patient relationships, education and practices informed by dominant culture lifestyles, or are simply unsustainable.
WHY it ALL MATTERS
Shortly put? Individuals within marginalized communities are humans and deserve the same proper treatment as everyone else. According to The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) everyone has the right to health information that helps them make informed decisions and health services should be delivered in ways that are understandable and beneficial to health, longevity, and quality of life. We've done the research, and have compiled defined points of why this matters.
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