Dear Friends of Irvington Counseling Collective,

Pride Month reminds us of the power of living in alignment with who we are—and the courage it takes to do so in a world that has not always made room for that truth. It is a collective call to ourselves and our allies to continue building a world where expression, community care, relational safety, and authenticity are sustainable and shared.

In that spirit, I often find myself returning to the words of Lilla Watson, Aboriginal activist and artist:

“If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you are here because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”

Let us work together. May our efforts be grounded in the knowing that collective liberation is not a metaphor; it is a practice. One that begins in relationship, deepens in loving accountability, and blooms through imagining the world we long to co-create.

As we carry this work forward, it is essential that we attune to ourselves so that we can truly attune to our friends, neighbors, and strangers. To the breath. To the moment. Thich Nhat Hanh offers this gentle practice as a guide to presence—one introduced to me by my loving partner and ICC co-founder, Michael: (Inhaling) “I have arrived.” (Exhaling) “I am home.”

Let this be a reminder that presence and self-compassion are themselves pathways toward meaningful change.

Finally, we offer a heartfelt and bittersweet farewell to a beautiful member of our community: Hannah Bishop, LSW—beloved wearer of many hats, who turns everything she touches into something more golden, and a deeply attuned therapist. Hannah will be moving on next month to bring her incredible skill and spirit to school-based work with some very lucky kids. Hannah, we are endlessly grateful for your presence, your care, and the unique magic you brought to our team. You will be deeply missed, and we are cheering you on as you continue to grow into all that you are becoming.

With pride and gratitude,

MAY IMPACT

Last month, we served 383 clients and provided 775 sessions. We also subsidized $4,247 in client sessions, with more than half ($2,180) going to Black, Brown, Indigenous, Trans, and Nonbinary clients.

WHAT WE NEED

As economic hardship deepens and Indiana’s healthcare system continues to leave so many behind, we’re seeing more people pushed out of coverage and unable to afford the care they need. The stakes are high, and the gaps are growing. At ICC, we remain committed to meeting this reality with care, mutual aid, and community support—but we can’t do it alone. Your support helps us stand in that gap.

Every contribution directly sustains sliding-scale sessions, mutual aid funds, and culturally attuned care for people who might otherwise go without. Together, we can help ensure that quality mental health support isn’t a privilege, but a human right — no matter what barriers the system puts in the way.

$45 = One therapy session

$200 = One month of therapy sessions

$500 = One mental wellness mini-grant

$1000 = One year of therapy sessions

SAVE THE DATE: HEELS & HEALING

We’re so excited to announce that Heels & Healing will be back for year two!

Join us at Downtown Olly’s on August 23rd for a night of fun & fundraising, with dazzling performances, a silent auction featuring baskets from Guide & Anchor, Zodiac Vintage, Alley Cat Ceramics, North Mass Boulder, King Dough, Breathe Studio, and so much more!

Click the button below to be notified when tickets drop in July. We can’t wait to see you there.

Interested in donating a silent auction item or sponsoring our event? Reach out to fundraising@irvingtoncounseling.org or reply directly to this email for more information!

BOARD MEMBERS WANTED

We’re looking for thoughtful, values-aligned folks to help guide Irvington Counseling Collective’s growth as part of our Board of Directors. Our Board plays a vital role in shaping the future of our mission to make access to mental health support more equitable.

If you care about collective care, mutual aid, and affirming mental health support, we’d love to hear from you. No prior board experience is required—just a commitment to showing up with intention and perspective. Fill out our short interest form below to learn more about what’s involved. We’d be honored to connect!

1. How does your work with ICC align with your values?

I have long been an advocate of building more/stronger mutual aid networks, and decolonizing healthcare in general. I appreciate ICC's desire to make mental healthcare support more available to the folks who traditionally have a hard time finding and accessing care that's designed with them in mind. 

2. Which artists, activists, or authors have deeply influenced your work?

I am a huge fan of adrienne maree brown. I may have geeked out a little when I saw that ICC had merch featuring AMB quotes and philosophies! My own mental wellbeing has also been greatly influenced by Brene Brown and Glennon Doyle, and my approach to mutual aid and community work is built primarily on the work of Dean Spade. 

3. How do you care for yourself?

Self care has always been challenging for me, but I'm finding that my most helpful strategies are being intentional about scheduling time for REST, and setting good boundaries for myself, even if that means saying "no" to something I really want to do. In the inevitable times when I still find myself overcommitted, I make sure to ask for help from my support system, and to schedule a period of rest as soon as I possibly can. It helps me get through the craziness when I know I have a break coming, and when I have friends and family looking out for me during stressful periods.

4. What are your hopes and dreams for the future of this organization?

I hope to see (and help!) ICC grow in a sustainable way. The demand for what we offer will only continue to increase, but we can't meet that demand if our team feels overworked OR undersupported. My dream is that we can find an ideal life/work balance for clinical staff, admin, and board that still allows us to expand our impact and provide great support for the folks we serve. I think if we can establish a strong network of care and support within the organization, it will help us extend that same care and support to our community without burning out. 

5. Do you have any resources you'd like to share with our readers?

Community Compass - a fantastic app that can help you find food pantries or food box delivery in Indianapolis!

SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHT

A massive thanks this month to the Black Hats of Historic Irvington, who worked for months in advance, and hours outside on the hottest weekend of the summer to raise funds for ICC! We had a blast at the Freakness Stakes and hope y’all did to.

You can help the Black Hats fundraise by following their social media for new opportunities to contribute—meet us for Dole Whip at Smash’d Burger on Tuesday, July 14th and a portion of proceeds will come to ICC!

WHAT WE’RE INTO THIS MONTH

🏳️‍⚧️ MJ was so excited to see Alok Vaid-Menon (of Beyond the Gender Binary fame) when they were in Indy this past month, and can’t stop thinking about it! Check out Alok’s writing and comedy.

🪷 Lauren is reading The Only Dance There Is by Ram Dass.

🌳 Hannah is talking to everyone they know about Roz McLean’s Together a Forest, a children’s book that uses nature to show how vital our differences are in building an interdependent community.

🎧 Mike is listening to the posthumous rerelease of Trans hyperpop pioneer SOPHIE’s early career singles.

⚡️ Iggy is listening to punk and metal by Queer artists including Judas Priest, Against Me!, Cynic, Nervous Gender, and MDC.

🥲 Hannah is also feeling sad about putting together their last newsletter, but excited for what their next chapter holds! Thanks for spending time with me, y’all!