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MHALA President and CEO Dr. Christina Miller wrote about the organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in the March 27, 2023, issue of the Los Angeles Business Journal (LABJ). MHALA was a nominee in this year’s LABJ DEI Awards.

Mental Health America of Los Angeles (MHALA) is one of Los Angeles County’s largest and most comprehensive social service agencies. We provide integrated mental health, medical care, employment, housing, wellness, and education services to adults and transition-age youth, with a special program for Veterans.

Headquartered in Long Beach, we are located in 24 sites across LA County. MHALA is honored to be nominated for the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Diversity, Equity + Inclusion (DEI) awards. This honor is important to us because DEI is at the core of who we are as an agency and what we are trying to do today.

More than 72% of the individuals we serve, or “members,” are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). About 77% of MHALA’s staff are now BIPOC and LGBTQ+. Many of our staff also have “lived experience,” either through their own experiences or through their families, including homelessness, poverty, substance use, or mental or physical health challenges.

Our staff and leadership diversity has a profoundly positive impact on the people that we serve. The broad experiences and cultural backgrounds of our staff help them in understanding and responding to our members.

Read the rest of the article here.