We were lucky to catch up with Ebony Hutchinson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ebony, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

The Community Reach is a nonprofit that was established to provide holistic community based programming and services to marginalized communities. My goal is increase access to culturally competent and informed providers by addressing barriers caused by systemic oppression. I also want to provide perinatal services through the parenting program as this population is high risk for maternal morbidity and infant mortality. Eventually I’d like to be able to provide doula support for some of the mothers with higher needs.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

The Community Reach (TCR) is a non profit I started to provide holistic community based services. I wanted to have a mechanism to raise funding for some of the projects I was already doing. Through my mental health program my goal is to reduce the stigma within marginalized communities by addressing two major barriers : access to clinicians that reflect the communities being served and inadequate financial resources. The market rate cost for individual therapy for this area is $60-115 depending on the payer source (Medicaid or commercial insurance). I’ve worked in managed care and I also currently operate a private practice so I’m aware that even individuals that are insured are insurance poor due to the increase in high deductible plan. TCR accepts Medicaid, self-pay $50, and siding scale $25-35 with trained graduate intern. Our therapists are trained in play therapy, EMDR, PCIT, perinatal mood disorders, and DBT. Our graduate interns receive training in play therapy and perinatal mood disorders.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

I started funding TCR with funds from my private practice. My private practice was for recreational activities and savings. I invested $40K to establishing the foundation. I paid for consultations, professional services, and equipment. I continue to make donations to programming. In 2020 I started the business development and in 2021 we were serving clients. TCR is only 4 years old and has accomplished a lot.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In 2019 I had a child and the next month my husband was diagnosed with leukemia (he transitioned in 2021). That was my lightening moment , I wanted to make an impact with the time I had on earth. In Dec 2019 I started the foundation for TCR. I understood that there is a connection between systemic r oppression, trauma, and mental health.

There’s an increased risk of vicarious trauma to therapists that share the lived experiences of clients served. I understood this because I was a dope therapist, but I was struggling to do the work. At home I was postpartum, with a dying husband, during a pandemic . At work I was experiencing the pandemic and world with clients. I was burnt out and I knew I needed balance. I decided to reduce my client case load and it increased my effectiveness and reduce feelings of burnout.

In 2020 I started the business development and in 2021 we were serving clients. TCR is only 4 years old and has accomplished a lot.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thecommunityreach.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecommunityreach?igsh=anJnOXJucjBjdnds
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCommunityReach?mibextid=LQQJ4d