Until that time, I had worked in a number of clinical environments: partial hospital programs (PHP), in patient programs, at risk student clinics and a major mental health agency. I worked with clients experience severe mental, social emotional concerns. The work was fulfilling...and exhausting. The constant demand for "productivity" and constantly shifting priorities was beginning to get the best of me. And, in a lot of ways, I realized I couldn't give the best to the client's I served if I was too tired or emotionally spent to be present. At a point, I realized I needed to seek some professional counseling to work some things out. When searching for help, I began to notice the lack of variety in options. Many of the clinicians fit the stereotypical profile (minus the smoking pipe). I was astonished! And then I reflected on my training experiences through graduate school and remembered that often I was one of very few people of color. Then I considered the number of black and brown people who were being served, and realized the imbalance. The statistics began to make sense. An average of 17% of BIPOC people experience mental illness but are more likely to experience barriers to treatment including stigma associated with seeking help, over-pathologizing symptoms and experiences, and cultural incompetence. I wanted to be a part of the change, and Impact 4 Change was born. My vision for I4C is a place for BIPOC to engage in mental health treatment without fear of judgement, where seeking counseling doesn't mean you are weak or broken, where you don't have to take out a personal loan to get the assistance you seek. A place where we get the struggles that come with being a POC.  A place for more budding clinicians of color to gain valuable experience helping to close the disparity gap in mental health treatment. A place for you! Welcome to Impact 4 Change! We are here to listen; we are here to help.