Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shontrice Slayton. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Shontrice, appreciate you joining us today. Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.

“My parents did an amazing job of showing my brother and me the power of community. As hardworking parents, there were times when they had to lean on my grandparents for support, ensuring my brother and I could make it to our appointments or providing babysitting when needed. As a business owner, I’ve found their example invaluable, especially when it comes to outsourcing expertise in areas such as accounting, creative direction, and program planning. This skill has proven to be a powerful tool for building a sense of community and sharing skill sets among others. I’m truly grateful to my parents and grandparents for setting solid examples of courage and mutual support.” My grandparents instilled in my brother and me that proximity to what is desired is important. I’m very thankful to God for my foundation and the nuggets given by my parents/grandparents.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Ms. Slay, the founder of Mentally Cultured (MC), where we focus on healing trauma in African-American families through modern resources. My personal experiences with trauma led me to create MC, and we emphasize nurturing the inner child as a transformative path. Our unique approach, rooted in empathy and devoid of stigma, includes initiatives like Wellness Luncheons, Culturally Responsive Teaching Seminars, ‘Me & The Homies Been Talking Podcast,’ and Positive Apparel. We support and educate the Black and brown community on their healing journey while embracing their faith.

MC offers comprehensive trauma recovery with a focus on the whole individual. As a lifestyle consultant, I draw from my faith and then from my expertise as a Licensed Educator, Professional School Counselor,

Certified Wellness and education Advocate, and a passion for the arts and personal fashion. Our three tiers target personal, social, and lifestyle wellness, with specific programs and goals.
•Personal Wellness Tier: Focuses on individual well-being with Intentional Wellness (IW) Sessions and Culturally Responsive Educator Seminars for educators.
•Social Wellness Tier: Provides safe spaces for healing and community sharing through our podcast, “Me and The Homies Been Talkin,” Wellness & Friends Event/Brunch, and Mentally Fueled Playlist.
•Lifestyle Wellness Tier: Emphasizes how daily presence shapes our world and self-perception, featuring Positive Apparel (Smile Memphis) and Vendoring & Pop-Ups initiatives.

Our mission is to be a cornerstone for holistic trauma recovery, challenging stigmas, and partnering with organizations like Black Girls In Blazers, Alameda County, Golden State Prep, and Solid Grounds to create transformative events. At Mentally Cultured, we value the power of collaboration, which enhances mental health and self-esteem. We partner with local sponsors and kindred organizations, such as Alameda County, Black Girls In Blazers, Golden State Prep, and Solid Grounds, to create impactful collaborations.

1. Alameda County: Our partnership with Alameda County’s Doula Support Services began with a documentary screening on birth justice and Black motherhood produced by Jessica Jones. We collaborated on events like “From the Ashes” and “Maternal Mental Health,” focusing on nurturing mental well-being in parents and families. They also joined our faith-based “Walk and Talk to educate our attendees on the importance of doulas and their amazing program currently supporting black mothers.
2. Black Girls In Blazers: We joined forces with Black Girls In Blazers for a community event for young girls, contributing tools for wellness and self-esteem. This partnership extends to news features, community events, and shared goals.
3. Golden State Prep: Our collaboration with Golden State Prep involves empowering youth through
programs like “100 Young Men & Women of Color” and organizing a successful backpack drive to
provide school supplies, supporting mental well-being and success.
4. Agape: We spoke to 5th-grade girls about entrepreneurship and the importance of mental well-being and support systems, inspiring young minds.
5. Solid Grounds: Solid Grounds: Our partnership with Solid Grounds includes faith-based “Walk and
Talk initiatives like the “Me & The Homies Been Walking In-person Interactive Podcast,” where we
promote insights about mental health and self-empowerment. We also sat on a coffee and conversations panel, emphasizing the relationship between mental health and art.
6. Virginia Union University: We support this HBCU by facilitating our first year educator and culturally responsive teaching seminars. These seminars highlight the fundamentals on behavior management, special education, and becoming an integral expert in your classroom.

Through these collaborations, we amplify our mission and contribute to positive transformation within the community.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

At this exact moment I am being called to pivot and reframe certain elements of MC. This has been interesting and uncomfortable all at the same time due to my mind being set on how I wanted the outcomes for certain outreach to look. I can say I am excited to stretch our brand and add new elements to support nurturing our inner child within our community, which will lead to transforming our lives. As I tell my kiddos the choices we make today determine our tomorrow. My advice to anyone who is called to pivot, remember your why, practice discernment, lean on your team, while enjoying the process. Hallelujah Amen lol!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn hyper independence and wanting everything to be perfect. The fun in being a business owner is being able to be creative and bring in like minded people that are down with supporting your vision and giving much needed insight to ways to accomplish the current goal I may not have thought of. Great proverb once said if you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together. While maneuvering in hyper independence and fear of judgment from others, I found myself blocking my blessings. When I stepped out on faith and courage, the blessings began to overflow with opportunities. During this time it was important to seek counsel from God then mentors so I’m not just saying yes but being intentional about each opportunity/ partnership. Here at MC we love connecting with our community partners and making a difference in the lives of others. Be sure to reach out if you would like to connect!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Mentally Cultured
• Linktree: Https://linktr.ee/mentallycultured