Today we’d like to introduce you to Calissa Ngozi

Calissa, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?

My name is Calissa Ngozi, and my story is one of resilience, determination and grit. I knew as a little girl, that my passion was to work in mental health in some capacity. I knew it was impactful work, and it was my desire to be a part of intentional change. The landscape of mental health has changed in the 21 years that I have been a part of the professional community.
There are less barriers in some instances-yet, so much work is still to be done to shatter the stigma, allow more access to mental health supports, and have open conversations with the next generation about the importance of discussing, labelling and understanding their own mental health.

Currently, I am an Award-Winning Inspirational Speaker, a Professor, and I run a mental health business in collaboration with another company. We offer specialized support services for individuals of all ages, dealing with multi-level barriers. I am also a contributor to nationally syndicated television news programs, as an on-air mental health expert.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

My life has been surrounded by trauma-from conception. Born into the world with a parent with severe mental health, which led to being placed in foster care as a baby. Later adopted, with a mother who also later struggled with her own mental health. I had bouts of poverty, abuse, and exposure to drugs and alcohol. Even with the struggles of my early childhood, my family got through it. It helped me understand the power of mental health and what my role needed to be. It was to help people from a therapeutic and harm reduction lens. I knew that through pursuing my education and adding my real-life experience, I would be an asset to contributing to the betterment of the mental health space.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

As an award-winning mental health speaker, my role is to empower people of all ages with a story of hope and determination. I do this as an Empowerment and Resilience mentor for youth and my mental health business. As well, I host, keynote and facilitate mental health events, workshops and experiences as a Keynote expert in the field. My expertise both personally and professionally has helped propel me to reach larger audiences with my messaging of, “It’s ok to not be ok.”

I am most proud of my ability to not be a product of my circumstance. To become victim to valor. To recognizing my true value to mental health. To be able to teach at the College level as well, the next generation of change-makers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.calissangozi.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calissangozi/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calissa.ngozi