BIPOC in Psychedelics (1/2)
By: Wave Health
Tags: Mental Health, Psychedelics, Bipoc, Psychedelic Therapy, Wellness

Today has marked the first World Pyschedelics Day, coinciding with what has been dubbed the current Psychedelic Renaissance.

You may have noticed a spike in psychedelic-related news coming into your ether, be it via mental health, wellness, finance, and even fashion. Despite psychedelics seeming like a trend, they are far from that. With or without this recent influx, we need not forget that psychedelics have been studied, used for healing, and have been opening minds for generations.

Now where do we come in? We are women of colour founders in the “Techedelics” sphere (if you didn’t already put it together, Tech + Psychedelics…yeah, we’re not 100% sure how we feel about that term yet either), and being in this space can often feel like a lonely journey. As the space rapidly grows, it has the ripe signs of taking a sharp right into the the land of cis, male, straight, and white; something we hope our mere presence helps deter, and something our business prioritizes to avoid.

In the recent months, lists like this one, have been shared, touting the names of individuals in the industry. One glance at this photo and you can’t help but whisper to yourself…sounds about white. To pull from the caption that Decriminalize Nature posted in regards to this article, “To the 100 on this list: congratulations, but stay humble friends. We all work for Spirit. So please check in with the inner self and ask this basic question: ‘how is what I’m doing directly benefitting the most vulnerable?’ Remember: If it’s not accessible to the poor, it is neither radical nor revolutionary.”

Another list was shared shortly after that seemed to improve on the former, but there is always room for evolution within this revolution. So, we’ve decided to share another one here that is completely BIPOC focused. We are breaking this list into 2 parts, so that you can have adequate time to indulge in all of the incredible works from these folks.

About this list:

This list consists of BIPOC individuals within the psychedelic space, at different levels of experience, working in different areas of the industry. This is Part 1 of 2. This is running and working, not exclusive or final. This list is not the be all end all, we understand that there are many more BIPOC in the industry doing incredible work. This is a list that is intended to grow and be constantly improved on. We understand that there are many BIPOC who are very interested in stepping into this space, but fear doing so due to the stigmas imposed on Black and Brown bodies in relation to drugs. For non-BIPOC, and even some privileged non-Black and/or Indigenous POC, this is something to take note of and remember, especially when building your own movements and businesses in this space: this industry has traditionally and historically been inequitable towards Black and Brown people. One question we ask ourselves: how are we working against that tradition and history, and reshaping the future? We also realize there are many BIPOC who have been working with these plant medicines in healing spaces for generations, but given point #2, on top of many other colonial and systemic factors, they have not been advertising their work. Even though you are not public, we honour and thank you for the space you’ve held for your communities, and for the healing you’ve facilitated. This list was formed via research and network. We understand our reach is limited, and in correlation, so is this list — particularly recognizing that this list is sparse in regards to queer, trans, non-binary, 2s, disabled, and neurodivergent folks. We are working to do better, and welcome suggestions and feedback, constantly looking forward to expanding this resource. This list is comprised of folks currently doing work in the industry, it does not include historical BIPOC in psychedelics who have passed, ex the great Maria Sabina (a list we are open to creating though if interest — let us know!). This list provides (in alphabetical order by first name) Names, Pronouns (if available), and work, with links where you can find more information on each person and their companies.

With all that being said, let us introduce you to these amazing humans:

Barinder Rasode

Co Founder, Havn Life

Co Founder & CEO, Grow Tech Labs

@barinderrasode LinkedIn

Belinda Eriacho

Founder, Kaalogii

Wisdom Carrier, Healer, International Speaker

@belindap.eriacho LinkedIn

Bia Labate

Founder & Executive Director, Chacruna Institute

Public Education & Culture specialist, MAPS

@labatebia Website LinkedIn

Carl Hart

Scientist & Educator in Behavioural Neuroscience & Neuropsychopharmacology

Chair of the Department of Psychology, Columbia University

@carlhart Website

Celina De Leon

Director, Circle of Sacred Nature

Founding Member, UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics

Member of the Board of Directors, Chacruna Institute

Charlotte James

Harm Reductionist & Psychedelic Explorer

Co Creator, The Ancestor Project

@createby.charlotte LinkedIn

Dr. Charles Flores

CEO, Vital Puma Integral Recovery for Addictions

Lead Integration Therapist, Kensho Wellbeing Center

Psychedelics & Addiction Research Fellow, Center for Psychedelic Therapies & Research

Professor of Chemical Dependancy Studies, California State University

Board Director, California Consortium of Addiction Programs & Professionals

LinkedIn

Danielle Herrera

Psychedelic Psychotherapist, Sage Institute

MDMA Assisted Psychotherapist, MAPS

Harm Reduction Psychotherapist, Harm Reduction Therapy Center

LinkedIn

Darren Le Baron

Educator, Researcher, & Event Organizer

Organic Horticulturalist and Food Enterprise Tutor

Mycologist in Residence, Somerset House

Member, London Psychedelic Society

@daren_le_baron Website

Dr. Darron T. Smith

Author, Scholar, Lecturer

Instructor, University of Memphis Department of Sociology

Mental Health Clinician, WonderMed

Writer, Huffington Post

Racial Equity & Access Committee, Chacruna Institute

@dr.darronsmith Twitter LinkedIn Wiki

Dawn D. Davis

Co-Editor, Journal of Native Sciences

Founding Member, Source Research Foundation

IGERT Fellow and ISTEM Scholar, University of Idaho

LinkedIn

Deran Young

President & CEO, Black Therapists Rock

@blacktherapistsrock LinkedIn

Dr. Diana Quinn

(she/her)

Healing Justice Practitioner

Naturopathic Doctor, Integrative Empowerment Group

Racial Equity & Access Committee, Chacruna Institute

LinkedIn Website Twitter

Frances Fu

(she/her)

DOPE Project Manager, National Harm Reduction Coalition

@franceshyfu LinkedIn

Ifetayo Harvey

(she/her)

Founder, People of Color Psychedelic Collective

@yallahs LinkedIn

Ismail Ali

Policy & Advocacy Counsel, MAPS

Council for the Protection of Sacred Plants, Chacruna Institute

LinkedIn

Jamilah George

Doctoral Candidate, University of Connecticut

Health Policy Research Scholar, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

MAPS-sponsored clinical drug trial examining the efficacy of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment-resistant PTSD among people of colour

Racial Equity & Access Committee, Chacruna Institute

LinkedIn

Jasmine Virdi

Psychedelic Educator & Writer

Writer, Cosmic Sister, Psychedelics Today, Chacruna Institute, Lucid News

PR, Synergetic Press

@jazz.virdi LinkedIn

Dr. Jeeshan Chowdhury

Founder & CEO, Journey Colab

@jeeshan LinkedIn

Kamya Buch

Founder, Psychedelic Society of India

@wanderingkamya

Kanyon CoyoteWoman Sayers-Roods

Co Founder & CEO, Kanyon Konsulting

Founder, Indian Canyon Two-Spirit Society

Cultural Director and COO, Costanoan Indian Research

@coyotewoman LinkedIn

Sensei Kevon Simpson

Diaspora Medicine Council Member, Integration Retreats

International Medicine Man, Entheogen Integration Circle

@medicinesensei LinkedIn Website

Kim Haxton

(kew/wii/she)

Co Director, World Psychedelics Day

Consultant & Associate, Elevate Inclusion Strategies

Co Founder & Program Developer, IndigenEYEZ

LinkedIn

Kufikiri Imara

Facilitator & Community Activist

Writer, Chacruna Institute

Outreach, Education, Access & Integration committee, Decriminalize Nature Oakland (DNO)