We recently connected with Deme Fortson and have shared our conversation below.
Deme, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
It’s not an ideal situation but it happens more often than not being a marginalized person in society. Continuously taking care of my wellbeing helps, as in these situations, your mental health and wellbeing comes first. I’ve learned you should not force yourself to sit through any situation that is rigid, unwelcoming, harmful, or hateful. When I find myself in a room where I feel the atmosphere is supportive and curious, I lean on my unique personal experience. The first thing I do is actually acknowledge this out loud, even if it makes people a little uncomfortable. I remind myself it’s just a fact, and that nothing is taboo about it. But, I also remember it is an important fact that can influence the way I am treated, and how I am perceived. So acknowledging it, at least in my experience, provides another level of safety, as stating the obvious increases awareness from everyone, and deters unwanted behavior. Internally, I continue to ground myself and check in with myself during these situations, reminding myself that I don’t have to prove anything to anyone, that I deserve to be in that room, etc. I have these affirmations ready to go beforehand, so I can easily access them in my mind. And lastly, these situations can weigh a person down, even without us realizing. So to stay positive and upbeat, I think about all the other black and brown role models who were the “firsts”. The first African American to go to space, the first African American to win an olympic medal, the first African American to win an Oscar, the first African American to become First Lady.. And I think about all of the challenges they went through and how they persevered and always spoke their truth. And I think about how seeing and reading about them inspires me, and how I am now in a unique position to do the same.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m a neuroscientist by training. Currently in my 5th year of my PhD at Columbia University. I’ve also obtained a Masters of Arts and a Masters of Philosophy from Columbia, and a Masters of science from University of Maryland. My current research focus is very mechanistic, focusing on our visual system (and yes our eyes are a part of our brain!!) and investigating mechanisms of action that cause hereditary blindness. Prior to my thesis project, I was focused on understanding the genes and proteins associated with mental health conditions and trauma.
Because of this background and seeing firsthand the impact of mental health in my community, I wanted to get out of the lab and make a tangible difference. This is how my brand came along called Mendu Wellbeing. Mendu was co-Founded with my business partner Regina Zheng. Regina is a therapist by training and our goal with Mendu is to provide a safe and inclusive space for marginalized individuals to process their trauma. Unfortunately, being a marginalized person in this world comes with a wide set of challenges. These challenges are unique as they are chronic and persist throughout a lifetime. Not only that, but generational trauma from previous generations play a large role, compounding on the already detrimental effects that result from being exposed to acute and chronic traumatic events. Therefore, we have curated a community focused on healing from what we identify as complex PTSD and PTSD. Our primary mode of healing is journaling. Journaling is a powerful tool that can be used in conjunction with therapy and other mental health treatments, to improve mental health symptoms. We started Mendu by releasing an audio journaling app to our community, which contains audio series that provide journaling prompts on specific topics and situations. From there, we have grown a robust community and are currently working on releasing the next version of our app, by the end of the summer!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Communication skills. I am still learning this, but the ability to communicate clearly is how you get others passionate about your business and brand, how you land deals, get grants, facilitate teams. I’ve learned communication is part of the backbone of entrepreneurship.
Active listening. We all can learn something from everyone. Listening to my community (and peers) helped me make the adjustments needed to keep your brand and business relevant and successful.
Technical skills and learning. This is a debated one but for me, what has been impactful for me is diving deep into the skills and knowledge relevant for my business and constantly be “upgrading” these skills. For example, I knew journaling improved mental health but specifically how? Learning what research studies, reading books, etc. that were relevant helped keep me up to date on how to best curate my work for benefit of our community.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Yes I am looking! I would love to synergize with other businesses and brands that are dedicated to bettering mental health for all. I’m especially interested in collaborating with folks who are passionate about building culturally competent resources, creating safe spaces and using storytelling, tech, or community engagement to uplift underrepresented voices.
Whether you’re working in media, mental health, education, wellness products, or tech, we are open to meaningful collaborations that prioritize impact, accessibility, and authenticity.
If this speaks to you, please reach out! You can reach me via email at mymendu@gmail.com, and you can keep up to date with us by visiting our website, mymendu.com!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mymendu.com
- Instagram: @mymendu
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mymendu/
Image Credits
higherculturemedia (multiple people)
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
