CSUN On Point

Adriana Alejandre is a Latinx therapist working with communities to meet their mental health needs, and to assist them specifically during the time of the coronavirus pandemic.

She started Latinx, a directory and podcast, with relatable and bilingual therapists and other mental health resources especially for the Latinx community.

Alejandre said there can be stigmas against therapy in the Latinx community, and her organization works to stop those.

“Minorities overall do have more stressors, because of the collectivist nature of our culture,” she said. The coronavirus and the overall political climate have also made other people hostile, even racist, to minority communities, which adds to the anxiety. “The darker some people are, the meaner society can get during this pandemic,” she said.

Starting next week, amid the COVID-19 lockdown, she is offering pro bono sessions specifically for farm workers, janitorial and maintenance crews. She said many of these people are forgotten, even though, just like first responders, these workers are putting their lives at risk on a daily basis.“I decided to do something for them, so they can have access to mental health resources,” she said. “There is a rise of depression and anxiety among the Latin community due to the coronavirus, and the uncertainty of the future, and applying for unemployment. When a website is only in English, it creates a great deal of anxiety for this community.” 

After she originally launched the site in 2018, she heard from hundreds of people all across the country who were searching for a Latinx therapist. The resources to reach the needs of her clients took nearly six months to organize.

She is working to recruit around 100 therapists nationwide, and her goal is nearly complete. She plans to put out a link to the application on her instagram, with a referral list to mental health professionals in each state.

But she is worried about the strain on the therapists themselves, too. “There is a limit to a number of sessions, and the number of clients they can bring in for these sessions,” she said. Each therapist is able to set an expiration date for their services.

Two other organizations offering therapy during this stressful time, especially to young people, are Strength United, located in Santa Clarita, Northridge and Van Nuys, and Open Path, which offers a one-time, lifetime membership fee of $60.

Alejandre says she will evaluate the current climate, and consider that in making her decisions for her future campaigns. The virus will end eventually, and the Latin community may still need access to treatment.

“Our next campaign is likely for undocumented folks,” Alejandre said.

Producer: Karina Gutierrez

Video Editor: Cristal Morales Rodriguez

Reporters: Wiam Dahbi, Nicholas Gargiulo, Karina Gutierrez, Ashley Hawn, Cristal Morales Rodriguez and Christian Pineda

Self expression through fashion is not a new concept, but Harajuku enthusiasts have taken the style of J-fashion a step further than self expression, creating a community in which they feel protected and inspired.

Once a month Harajuku fashion enthusiasts parade along 1st street in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo, in bright colors and bold patterns for what is called Harajuku Day. Some participants wear dresses like those that might be seen on old fashioned dolls, while others choose a more gothic-influenced look.

“Just being around other creatives, and being in a space that is very positive, gives you room to grow,” said co-organizer of the Valley Tea and Cake Society, Theodore Danielle Doncaster.

In the late 1970s, Tokyo’s Harajuku District became a center for young people’s fashion retail. FRUiTS Magazine, founded in 1997, became a platform for those who wanted to express themselves through their wardrobe. But more than 20 years later, this form of self expression is not only for individuals, but also for bringing a diverse group together to build a positive and uplifting community.

“The driving force of going out and putting everything together is community,” Harajuku Day Organizer Monique Morentin-Guzman said. “You want to be able to feel like yourself around other people.” She said Harajuku Day is all about expression through fashion, and about putting on this style of clothing, as a kind of ‘armor for the soul’.

Harajuku Day participants, and even those called “Harajuku Lifestylers,” who choose to dress this way daily, said they feel it is a protection from the negative aspects of society, and a chance to express their ideal self. They said Harajuku fashion can also be seen as a platform for people to rebel against fashion norms, especially those defining gender norms.

“The idea of Harajuku fashion is very punk rock,” Doncaster said. “It came out of a need to rebel against society’s expectations, especially for women.”

The Japanese Fashion meet-up in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo started in 2015, and has become a safe haven for those who desire to go out in fully coordinated outfits and be a part of a positive environment. “It is a good, friendly, welcoming, and wholesome environment,” regular participant Jasmine Rose said.

Some misconceptions still surround Harajuku Day enthusiasts. Participants said they are often asked whether  they have jobs, and how they can take part in such a bizarre past time. Participants said they respond that they do have normal jobs, and normal lives, and that this is how they express themselves. “I feel like the expression of this is my soul,” Doncaster said. ” I am wearing it as armor. It is a way of embracing your ideal self.”

Harajuku Day fashion is becoming a popular way to express one’s personal style, and Harajuku fashion is becoming more normalized in American culture. 

“It’s a hobby and it’s a lifestyle,” Morentin-Guzman said.

 
Moderator: Nicholas Gargiulo

Producer: Christian Pineda

Anchor: Cristal Morales Rodriguez

Social Media Editor: Ashley Hawn

Reporters: Wiam Dahbi, Nicholas Gargiulo, Ashley Hawn, Karina Gutierrez, Cristal Morales Rodriguez and Christian Pineda