Have you ever been confronted with a situation where you felt like you had to be the one to say something? Maliek Blade found himself in that very place when he realized there was a mental and emotional health crisis hitting too close to home that he could no longer ignore. And it was that moment of realization that helped him prepare the way for his life’s path advocating for the “wholeness” of his brothers and destigmatizing the mental and emotional vocabulary that has been desperately needed for generations.

Guest Bio:

Maliek Blade, a compassionate author, and CEO of the Whole Brother Mission, is passionately dedicated to improving mental wellness for Black men and their families through a nationwide network of culturally competent mental health professionals. With a doctoral-level background in counseling, he brings expertise and empathy to the cause, driving initiatives that destigmatize mental health and enhance access to crucial support.

Maliek is also a lead contributor to The Whole Man Project, a book and video series provided by VOICES from Our Daily Bread Ministries. You can learn more about The Whole Man Project—and preorder the book—here!

Notes & Quotes:

• “We need to not allow our experiences with people that say they're representing God to frame how we see God. . .and that's not an indictment on God, but that's further evidence of the brokenness of people.” 
• “Wholeness is having the posture to pivot where necessary. The awareness that I may need to change certain aspects of myself, and then also the fortitude and ability to pour into the lives of others.”
• “Your mental and emotional health matter, but we have this soul element [and] spirit, [and] salvation is a huge piece.
• “You can have Jesus and a therapist the same way that you have Jesus and a primary care physician.”

Links Mentioned:

• FINAL TRANSCRIPT LINK
• Learn more about Maliek’s work with Whole Brother Mission.
• Check out Maliek’s book, Whole Brother, on Amazon.
• Visit the VOICES website to sign up for emails. Get new episodes sent straight to your email. 
• Tell us how much you love Where Ya From? by rating us five stars and leaving us a review. 
• Check out VOICES from Our Daily Bread Ministries
• Follow VOICES on Instagram.

Verses Mentioned:

• Isaiah 64:8
• Hebrews 11:1
• Colossians 1:28
• Philippians 4:8
• Proverbs 20:5
• Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
• Genesis 2:24

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