Meet our Founder

Hello to all of you out there reading this! My name is Domonique Henderson (she/her/hers) and I am a Compton, California native. I have a BS in Psychology from Howard University, MSW from Baylor University, and currently a PhD candidate at UCLA. Please know that I am filled with so much gratitude that you are not only visiting our site, but interested in our amazing CRWND family! As you enter or continue your journey, I hope you allow CRWND to play a role in nourishing your growth and helping you reach your goals. 

For those who are unfamiliar with my story, I was born and raised in Compton with one parent physically present at home, my mother. She often played the strong Black woman role and over time, I saw how taking care of everyone and everything all the time made her exhausted and overwhelmed. All of these things took a tole on her and created significant stress. Even as I attended different universities in pursuit of my career, I found myself doing the same thing as my mom. Taking care of everyone and everything. For someone trying desperately hard to be successful as a first generation college graduate, make their family proud, take care of their family, and bring resources back to their community, being strong all the time was hard. Now, as a mental health professional, I often wonder how things may have been different for my mom and I if mental health was normalized in the Black community or in my family, if my mom had the tools to recognize when to ask for help, and the resources to seek help. Could we have ended our old unhealthy habits sooner? Don't get me wrong, being a strong Black woman and resilient are beautiful traits to have. However, sometimes it can be exhausting too. So how do we teach Black girls tools to achieve their goals, balance responsibilities, and feel good while doing it without jeopardizing their wellbeing as they grow into adults?

As a Black woman, it is important to me that I support and play my part in helping others in their journey to reach their dreams while being the healthiest version of themselves. I am a firm believer that we are all lifetime learners and can gain insight on how to become better individuals through the guidance of mentorship and patience with self. I began this organization shortly after hosting a presentation about the various ways that Black girls are impacted by trauma. Describing the ways that trauma influences the mental health of Black girls helped me realize how I have been effected by trauma, along with how I wanted to move forward by leading a healthier life. So many of us want to do it all and be strong all the time, but sometimes we need to be supported as well. I believe it is essential to teach youth how to aim for their dreams without losing themselves or adopting habits that will harm their future mental health. As Lauryn Hill said, "How you gon' win when you ain't right within'?" We have to break unhealthy cycles and create new ones that are healthy and sustainable for our community. It only makes sense for me to begin that journey in the city that raised me, Compton, California.

Again, thank you for your interest in CRWND and I hope everyday you choose to lead with love. For generations of youth that follow us, I hope CRWND opens doors for you and you open doors for others.

With So Much Love,

Domonique