We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Veronica Clanton Higgins a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Veronica, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Opening the Compton Wellness Center was one of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken financially, emotionally, and professionally. After years of doing mental health equity advocacy and healing work in the community through pop-ups, events, and collaborations, I knew our people needed a permanent space, a sanctuary that felt like us in every way. A space rooted in cultural identity, radical healing, and accessible wellness. But the path to opening those doors was filled with uncertainty and sacrifice.

The idea was born out of both passion and pain. After losing my Son to gun violence and carrying the weight of personal and community grief, I felt an urgent call to create a space where healing wasn’t just a conversation, it was a commitment. But transforming that vision into reality meant betting on myself in ways I never had before. I didn’t have major institutional funding, and I wasn’t operating under a traditional nonprofit model. I was building this center through sheer determination, grassroots partnerships, and deep community trust.

There were months of bureaucratic delays, skyrocketing overhead costs, and moments when I questioned if I could actually pull this off. I had to navigate a maze of city permits and inspection setbacks, all while still doing the emotional labor of supporting others and holding space in the midst of my own grief. My team and I invested personal funds, leaned into fiscal collaborations with community partners, and relied on the belief that our community deserve more than makeshift wellness…we deserve permanence.

The doors ‘officially’ opened in June 2025, and it’s been nothing short of transformational! We became the first dedicated community mental health and wellness center in Compton! A place where people feel seen, safe, and supported. The Compton Wellness Center offers access to free and low cost wellness services, healing circles, grief support, and leadership development rooted in cultural compassion.

Taking that risk meant betting on a vision that didn’t yet exist,but now stands as a testament to what’s possible when we dare to build for our own. The Compton Wellness Center isn’t just a building. It’s a love letter to my community.

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?

For those who may not have heard of me yet, my name is Veronica Clanton-Higgins. I’m a trauma-informed mental health equity consultant, community-rooted mental health professional, and the CEO of VCH Prosperity Consulting LLC. I’m also the founder of the Compton Wellness Collective and the Compton Wellness Center. The Compton Wellness Center was designed with love, strategy, and purpose to offer healing to historically marginalized folx in Compton and surrounding areas.

I was raised in Compton, California, and my work is a reflection of my deep love for my city. I didn’t just “get into” this work, I was called into it through both lived experience and professional training. After earning my BA in Sociology and Psychology from Cal State Dominguez Hills and my Masters In Social Work from USC, I committed myself to addressing the mental health disparities I witnessed in my community. I’m now completing my PhD in Clinical Sexology to further expand the healing tools I can offer. As a Registered Associate Clinical Social Worker and certified life coach, I blend clinical rigor with culturally grounded, somatic, and holistic practices.

My services include mental health equity consulting, life coaching, trauma-informed community wellness programming and wellness professional development for organizations. Through the Compton Wellness Collective, we offer access to individual and group therapy, healing circles, wellness workshops, and wellness events. We also design and lead grief groups, culturally relevant parenting programs, stress management support, and leadership coaching because we understand that healing isn’t one-size-fits-all.

Opening the Compton Wellness Center in 2024 was a dream realized after years of grassroots work and personal sacrifice. It is now the first dedicated mental health and wellness hub in Compton led by and for Black and Brown healers. It’s a space where residents can find free or low-cost services that reflect their identities and experiences. Our services move beyond traditional talk therapy to include movement, mindfulness, art, music, and community-based healing.

What sets me apart is my ability to integrate both clinical knowledge and community wisdom. My approach is decolonized and accessible. I honor ancestral resilience while challenging systems that have historically harmed us. My work doesn’t just serve the community because I belong to it. That distinction means everything.

What I’m most proud of is turning my own grief into purpose. After experiencing the devastating loss of my Son,Xavier, to gun violence, I committed even more deeply to creating spaces of restoration.

I want potential clients and supporters to know: this is not charity work, it’s justice work. It’s joy work. It’s community preservation. My mission is to make healing accessible, affirming, and rooted in the realities of our people. Whether you’re a resident seeking support, a leader navigating burnout, or a partner looking to collaborate, I invite you to join us in the work of healing the hood. One breath, one circle, one story at a time.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your firm or practice?

We launched the Compton Wellness Collective and eventually the Compton Wellness Center through a grassroots, community centered funding model. Operating under a fiscal sponsorship with Our Culture Hub Foundation allowed us to access grants and donations without traditional nonprofit status. We also invested personal funds and leveraged deep community relationships to build trust and secure early support. This flexible approach gave us the freedom to focus on impact while navigating the financial and administrative barriers many Black-led wellness initiatives face.

Any advice for managing a team?

My advice for managing a team, especially when working with seasoned professionals, is to shift the mindset from management to co-creation. I don’t manage my team; I collaborate with them. Each of the eight incredible individuals I work alongside is an expert in their field, from art healing and meditation coaching to foster youth advocacy. They each run their own businesses, and together we formed a collective rooted in shared purpose and mutual respect.

What keeps morale high is recognizing and honoring everyone’s autonomy, brilliance, and lived experience. I lead with clarity and vision, but not control. We make space for honest dialogue, shared decision making, and creativity. I believe in building a culture of trust, flexibility, and collective care. I work hard to ensure that everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. When people feel respected and empowered, they bring their full selves to the work. That’s how we’re able to create powerful, healing programming for the community together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.comptonwellnesscollective.com
• Instagram: compton_wellness_collective