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Onyx Monthly Newsletter

September 2022

Greetings Onyx Family!!

As we start to look ahead to the last quarter of the year, we also want to look back at the accomplishments we as a company and community have achieved in the past month or so.

In August we celebrated both Black Business and Black Philanthropy Month, and as you know Onyx will ALWAYS be champions of the community and intentional about the work that we do. Did you know that there are more than 2 million Black-owned businesses in the United States?? And that Washington, D.C. has the highest percentage of Black-owned businesses?!

So we know what this means...BLACK BUSINESS + PHILANTHROPY MATTERS!!!

“The common idea of Philanthropy is associated with charity, through financial means and donations. However, the root of the definition is the "promotion of welfare,” for others,” says Dr. Plummer. “Some of us raise money, give money, earn the money, or some of us execute goals with the money. With these roles, we have assigned additional attributes that may or may not be accurate, things like "giver," "receiver," or "earner," and in our capitalistic society, this tends to have different emotional and social weight.

As we promote mental health, analyze semantics, and move forward in the synergy between heart and mind, I believe it's time to highlight the wholeness of the definition...the focus on the promotion of welfare. If we are our true authentic selves with great self-awareness and keen insight, we will correct the narrative of philanthropy and not just focus on the capitalist perspective of money, but the drive to promote human experience, human beings, and human welfare through wellness.

Take a look at a few Black businesses we love as you look into the upcoming holiday seasons and continuing to support Black businesses! We asked these Black business owners what they love about being a Black Owned Business. Take a look -

District Home and @districthome_

“What I love most about being a small Black owned business is the sense of community and access that I have found.” - Brittney Easterling, Owner

Donna Faye’s Bakery and @donnafayesbakery

“I love that I am a small business, but I do not allow that to limit myself or my businesses on how successful I can truly be! Being Black owned is just the icing on the cake.” - Jamila Jenkins, Owner

Funny Acting Black Girl and @funnyactingblackgirl

“I love that even the sky is not the limit. I love that as a multi-business owner, I get to monetize my gifts in ways that were impossible in full-time employment for someone else. I love that I get to challenge the status quo and I even experience fear a bit differently than when I was a full-time employee of a traditional business.” - Zerandrian Morris, Owner

The Ignant Intellectual and @theignantintellectual

“I love that both of my businesses reflect the deep & profound "both/and" nature of who I am at my core. They force me and others to reckon with what often feels like realities that cannot co-exist but do. Realities that are in perpetual tension.” - Zerandrian Morris, Owner

As we enter into September we’re also reminded of the idea of going back to school, or even starting a new school! Whether it’s transitioning from high school to college (again, shout out to Dr. Plummer’s daughter Alyssa for entering her freshman year at UNC), or starting Kindergarten, middle school, or high school, we must remember that it’s a transitional time for us all. Both parent and child can feel anxiety and overwhelmed by the change so remember to work together and encourage open communication about how everyone’s feeling.

Dr. Plummer hosted an episode of Spillin’ the Tea w/ Dr. P last year on transitioning into college with her good friend Jessica Brown of the College Gurl Foundation, and you can watch the full episode on the Onyx YouTube Channel.

September 26th is US National Family Day!

This day puts the spotlight on the people that make our lives meaningful. Families come in many forms and sizes and under different circumstances, but what they all share is unconditional love and support for those growing on the same family tree..or a different one!

Take a look at the beautiful families of Onyx Therapy Group.

Dr. LaNail Plummer, CEO

Miriam Lane, Educational Consultant

Jada Pinnell-Williams, Assistant Clinical Director

Asia Vianna Leak (second from the right) Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor

Chevon Mathews, Administrative Clinical Director

Desiree Brown, Educational Consultant and Trainer

Take a look at Onyx in the media from last month!

August 11th: AFRO article

Dr. Plummer recently contributed an emotional piece on AFRO.com about the mental health implications that women of color will undoubtedly experience from the overturning of Roe vs. Wade.

“So, while we sit and encourage girls to participate in STEM programs, create hobbies, learn skills, and be independent, let us acknowledge the contradiction by also telling them that they have no choices, no decisions, and no control over their own bodies.” - Dr. LaNail R. Plummer

August 2nd & 3rd and 7th and 8th : The Mandt Training

Our Education Team will lead a training for Early Childhood educators the first two weeks of August on building healthy relationships with children and families they serve.

August 10th : Onyx Therapy Group blogpost -

Summertime Fun, are you missing out?

We’d like to introduce rising senior Maya Cleveland to the Onyx Team as our new blog contributor where she will share thoughts and ideas from a teens perspective. Her first post talks about the idea of FOMO during the summer and a work-life balance.

August 17th: Grown Ass Women - Religion, Love, & Life:

Dr. Plummer and the women discuss the impact that religion has on us interpersonally and status-wise.

August 17: Broke Budgets and Self-Awareness

Read more on the connection between money and mental health!

August 22nd: Grown Ass Women - Marriage & Divorce

Dr. Plummer and the group talk all things marriage: the appropriate age for marriage, having kids, and the dealbreakers in divorce.

August 24th: Birthdays through a grief lens…or not?

It’s up to you to choose how you celebrate your birthday: try looking at the glass half full this time around the sun! In this blogpost, Dr. Plummer does exactly that and her perspective is always a great one!

Onyx Therapy Group - The Podcast

Interested in more ways to access Mental Health content from the Onyx team?! Well look no further than our very own podcast called Onyx Therapy Group - The Podcast. Available wherever you listen to podcasts, Onyx includes conversations from programming such as Spillin’ the Tea w/ Dr. P, Grown Ass Women, and Teen Talks.

Check out the full conversations here.

Grown Ass Women:

Grown Ass Women is Onyx Therapy Group’s YouTube panel, hosted by Dr. Plummer and featuring her group of best friends including Nikki Wood, Ayana Malone, Deana Kennedy, and Jonai Carr. With a mission to bring candid convos with real and raw opinions to the table, the women come together to discuss everything from marriage, religion, social status and more, asking key questions and holding each other accountable in the process.

Teen Talks:

Teen Talks is Onyx’s child-focused mental health series allowing teens between the ages of 15-17 years old, talk about what issues they face in their daily lives. Allowing for a safe and open space for teens to discuss a range of topics from friendship to choosing their colleges, and how to discuss mental health with friends and family.

Spillin’ the Tea with Dr. P

Created at the height of a post-pandemic year, Spillin’ The Tea with Dr. P. was Dr. Plummer’s first introduction into the virtual healing space, hosting one-on-one conversations with industry leaders, culture and style influencers, and change makers as they spill the tea on how mental health finds itself involved in everything from college decisions, incarceration, health + wellness, domestic violence and more.

What’s coming up?!

September 4th: Teen Talks - Back to School Edition!

September 11th Anniversary

September 18th: In honor of Dr. Plummer’s birthday and September being Self-Care Awareness Month, she will be taking part in this year’s DC Half Marathon. Advocating for movement and physical fitness to help with our mental health, Dr. Plummer will be running the relay portion of the event with her two best friends.

September 20th: Virtual Speaking Engagement with Oakland OAACC @ 4:30pm EST

It's more than talk: Learning and Incorporating Black Mental Health into Black Entrepreneurship

September 22nd & 23rd - Mandt Training with Education Team

Still trying to keep up with all things Onyx?! Well don’t forget to check out our YouTube channel for past episodes of “Spillin’ the Tea w/ Dr. P,” “Grown Ass Women,” and “Teen Talks.” And of course, for all the details on where Onyx has been featured, visit our Press Page on the website!

ONYX IS HIRING!

Take a look at the postings below and spread the word, we are looking to add to our team!

GET TO KNOW THE ONYX TEAM!

September 1st: Happiest of Birthdays to our forever Clinical Director Shanelle! Shanelle has been with Onyx since its inception in 2013 and has work so diligently and intentional, making sure that the work we do at Onyx reaches our community. She will be missed, but will always be a member of the Onyx family. We hope you you enjoy your day!

September 8th: Happy Birthday to our beloved CEO, Dr. LaNail Plummer! She is the driving force behind our mission of transformative healing and we hope that she has the best birthday!

September 12th: Happy Birthday to our Educational Consultant Joy!

September 18th: Happiest of birthdays to our Administrative Clinical Director, Chevon, we appreciate all that you do. Enjoy your day!

BE SURE TO FOLLOW US ONLINE @ONYXTHERAPYGROUP AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO STAY UP TO DATE ON ALL OF THE IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS ONYX IS A PART OF!

Contacts for Crisis

National Suicide Lifeline: 1-800-273-8355; or dial 988

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)

Mental Health Crisis Hotline (DC): 1-888-7WE-HELP

Mental Health Crisis Hotline (MD): 301-429-2185

Mental Health Crisis Hotline (PA): 1-888-796-8226

Follow us!

Based in Washington DC, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, Onyx Therapy Group is dedicated to cultivating and strengthening the community through mental health practices. With a focus on direct clinical work, professional development/training, and sourcing, Onyx Therapy Group incorporates the values of integrity, respect, loyalty, community, culture, and excellence. As an organization, Onyx Therapy Group has over 15 years in mental health work and 20 years of education and skill-based practice that has positively impacted individuals, educators, and organizations nationally. Onyx Therapy Group is a Black, Woman, Veteran-owned business that believes in and designs transformative healing