Philosophy — The Phoenix Empowered

Mission

The Phoenix Empowered uses storytelling and education to amplify the experiences of minoritized communities, facilitate an inclusive mental health conversation, and empower systemic change.

Mantra

We make room for creativity.

The Phoenix Empowered focuses on making sure that those who are so often left out of the mental health conversation have a place for storytelling, education, and empowerment. This is a place to share your story, how you see fit.

May we be inspired.

The Phoenix Empowered hopes to provide moments of reflection during the darker moments in life, through storytelling, interactive consultation, and innovative advocacy.

We make room for innovation.

At the Phoenix Empowered, we believe that we must evolve mental health practice to acknowledge and address identity-based stressors. We must be bold and introduce new tools into our toolkits like storytelling, community engagement, and activism. The Phoenix Empowered will facilitate this innovation through art, education, and empowerment.

May we be committed to equity.

We know that one size does not fit all when it comes to mental health care. Through advocacy work, empowerment, policy engagement, and the sharing of stories, we are determined to make sure that everyone can access the personalized care they need.

We make room for dreams.

At the Phoenix Empowered, we believe that people are stronger than the societal systems that fight to keep them down. We believe that when they are empowered and treated equitably, an individual can achieve anything they dream of; mental health care must be equipped to encourage hope.

May we believe global healing is possible.

The Phoenix Empowered believes that stories unite us. It is our hope that through advocacy work and developing inclusive tools that we can help develop mental health care that embodies our diverse global community. Communities all over the globe experience violence, inequity, and lack of culturally-attuned care. By sharing our stories, we can better understand one another and create educational material toward greater societal change.

We are catalysts for change.

The Phoenix Empowered knows that in order for people to rise, they must first be empowered. We all hold within us the power to create change, with our words, with our art, and with the way we treat others. Rise with us!

Vision

We are committed to evolving the global mental health conversation so that minoritized communities are made visible, empowered, and have access to equitable mental health care that acknowledges their unique identity-based experiences.

José R. Rosario

Founder & CEO of The Phoenix Empowered
José R. Rosario is a speaker, researcher, clinician, and above all, an advocate. As a member of many diverse identity groups, José recognizes that common experiences bring people together and that taking stock of who we are gives us power. José wants to inspire others to acknowledge their identities, share their stories and empower those who are underrepresented to rise. As a mental health professional, José understands that this empowerment, and the creation of a space to be vulnerable, can lead to individual and group growth, awakening agents for change. José is a Clinical Psychology Ph.D. student at Clark University studying the factors associated with cultural trauma and healing within minoritized communities. From this passion, José launched The Phoenix Empowered, an organization focused on mental health disparities in minoritized groups. In addition, he is an Expressive Arts Facilitator through the PeaceLove Studios.
Speaker • Author • Advocate
Cameron Cole

Vice President of Engagement
Cameron started with TPE in March 2019 as an intern. He now spearheads TPE’s work with community partners to achieve accessible and widespread mental health work. Cameron is a graduate from Rhode Island College with a B.A. in Psychology, and a B.S. in Addiction Studies. He has returned to his alma mater to pursue a Masters of Social Work. Cameron is a queer man seeking graduate training in counseling and policy work, to one day be a clinician and advocate for queer and trans* folks. His passion for mental health work drives him to seek change and end the stigmas that people with mental illness endure.