Part III: Healing Thru Hip Hop
September 15, 2026
In this video, Shalet shares the personal origins of Healing Thru Hip Hop and how her lifelong connection to music evolved into a therapeutic practice.
NYS TINRC Storytellers are members of our community who have offered to share their personal narratives, perspectives, and insights on trauma, resilience, and healing.
The NYS TINRC community uplifts, inspires, and supports each other. The power of storytelling is important, and it has helped us connect within our network meaningfully.
Our Storytellers creatively convey their experiences to our audience across various mediums, inspiring and empowering us to do the same in our own communities across New York State.
Shalet “Shaa” Laing is a clinical social work intern and Master of Social Work candidate at the University at Albany.
In this video, Shalet shares the personal origins of Healing Thru Hip Hop and how her lifelong connection to music evolved into a therapeutic practice.
Shalet “Shaa” Laing is a clinical social work intern and Master of Social Work candidate at the University at Albany.
In this video, Shalet shares the personal origins of Healing Thru Hip Hop and how her lifelong connection to music evolved into a therapeutic practice.
Storytellers in Residence will partner with the NYS TINRC to share influential stories with the network, including those about trauma-informed practice, resilience, and well-being and offer insights on what has guided and inspired their journey.
Storytellers can expect to share and collaborate with the NYS TINRC network through a variety of online and in-person platforms, including:
NYS TINRC strives to amplify and uplift each storyteller’s work, share their journey, and grow the network through our community.
The NYS TINRC is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all participants in the Storytellers in Residence initiative. To protect participants’ privacy, confidentiality, and emotional well-being throughout their involvement in the program, the network will respect any set boundaries. Participants can share as much as they feel comfortable.
The NYS TINRC honors and respects the stories shared by participants in the Storytellers in Residence initiative. Participants’ stories are not exploited or misrepresented in any way. Participants will retain ownership of their stories and have the final say in how they are shared and used within the program. Any use of participant stories outside of the program will require explicit consent from the participant.
Participants will have access to resources and support services to help them navigate any challenges or concerns that may arise during the program. Additionally, the NYS TINRC will advocate for participants’ rights and dignity, ensuring that their voices are heard and respected throughout their involvement in the program.
Yes! In addition to being featured on NYS TINRC’s platforms for 3-6 months, storytellers will receive a monthly stipend with an hourly rate of $100 for the agreed-upon deliverables.
Shalet “Shaa” Laing is a clinical social work intern and Master of Social Work candidate at the University at Albany. She provides trauma-informed, culturally responsive care to youth and families, integrating evidence-based interventions with creative and community-centered approaches. As the creator of Healing Thru Hip Hop, she uses music, lyricism, and self-expression to promote healing, emotional growth, and resilience. Shalet is passionate about advancing equitable mental health practices that honor culture, creativity, and lived experience. Her professional interests include trauma-informed care, prevention services, and creative arts therapy.
Siera Janaé is a remarkably creative visionary and storyteller committed to helping people believe in their own power, competence, and value—in life, work, and leadership.
Her mission is to guide individuals and organizations beyond unhealed pain and toward the healing properties of grief, so they can live vibrantly, work purposefully, and lead with authenticity. As the Founder of The LIGHTER Society, Siera transforms narratives of trauma and loss into pathways of resilience, courage, and innovation. She encourages leaders and organizations to leave behind outdated practices and embrace more compassionate, trauma-informed, and grief-responsive approaches to life and leadership. Her work is deeply informed by her upbringing in New York City and her lived experiences as the daughter of parents who each became disabled during her childhood. In high school, she stepped into the role of caregiver for her mother until her passing in 2013. She navigated caregiving between South Carolina and New York, moving through periods of instability that taught her the importance of resilience, community, and creating spaces of belonging. Her father, who lived with disability until his death in 2025, also shaped her understanding of loss, resilience, and identity. These early experiences of caregiving and survival in vibrant yet challenging environments continue to infl uence her storytelling and her commitment to building communities of healing and empowerment. She holds fast to the belief that even the darkest chapters can be reframed into sources of hope, courage, innovation, and light.
Siera graduated magna cum laude with a degree in business and communications from CUNY and is set to complete her Master of Arts in Trauma-Informed Leadership at Dominican University next year. She is also a certified From Grief to Gratitude Coach, NASM-certifi ed Personal Trainer, and ACE-certifi ed Group Fitness Instructor.
Currently based in New York City with her Goldendoodle, Paxton, Siera fi nds grounding in self-care, time in nature, and creative expression—through dance, painting, singing, and content creation—all of which fuel her storytelling and her mission to inspire and uplift others.
Sam Floyd is a poet who explores the quiet truths that shape us — the fractures, the resilience, and the questions we carry. Sam’s work is about a deep commitment to meaning‑making, using language to illuminate interior worlds and invite reflection. Through poetry and creative practice, Sam supports others in finding their own voice and sense of meaning through his work, facilitating his monthly event, Recovery Stories in Buffalo, New York. At Roswell’s Outreach and Engagement Center supporting those in recovery from trauma and other challenges.
Sam is a board member of the non-profit education training center, and in collaboration with other art-focused non-profits, Community Canvases and Kind Fools. Sam draws a line between the challenges that we deal with, titled adverse childhood experiences, and his own post traumatic growth. How we grow through what we go through, and how we can inspire others with our stories.
Sam is a New York State-certified peer professional who also organizes and promotes a hundred thousand poets for change, a global event for the poetry community in his hometown.
Drawing from his own mental health challenges, family trauma, and displacement, Sam brings a perspective that is both vulnerable and fiercely compassionate. His lived history informs; his artistic approach and his work alongside others, offering a grounded presence that honors complexity and encourages authentic expression.
Sam’s practice, whether through writing, facilitation, or collaborative projects, creates spaces where story, emotion, and imagination can coexist — and where individuals can feel seen, heard, and empowered.
In my peer support work, I bring compassion, authenticity, and a commitment to shared humanity. I walk alongside individuals navigating their own mental health journeys, offering presence rather than prescriptions, and creating environments where people can explore their experiences without judgment. My lived experience is not a limitation but a source of insight — a bridge that helps me connect with others in ways that are grounded, empathetic, and real.
Throughout all my roles, I hold onto one belief: that meaning is something we create together. Whether through a poem, a conversation, or a moment of mutual recognition, I strive to cultivate spaces where people feel empowered to rewrite their narratives and reclaim their sense of possibility.
Sam is a proud father to his four children, Sienna, Naomi, and Gabriel, as well as his beloved son Nic. Sam continues to strive to be the best parent he can be to his children. While aspiring to leave a beautiful legacy for them to build from.
Donita “Nita” Munn is a passionate advocate, recovery coach, and community leader from Buffalo, New York. Drawing on her lived experience as a former teen mom and survivor of addiction and trauma, Donita has transformed her story into a powerful tool for healing and empowerment. She is the founder of Milly’s House, a compassionate community on Buffalo’s East Side that provides safe, supportive housing for women rebuilding their lives after hardship.
Through her coaching practice, Munn The Word Coaching Center, she offers personal development, recovery coaching, and trauma-informed support to help individuals reclaim confidence and purpose. She also owns Curves & Confidence Boutique, blending fashion with self-esteem and empowerment initiatives for women.
Currently a Mental Health and Substance Use student at Erie Community College, Donita continues to expand her advocacy through community partnerships with organizations such as Roswell Park, the University at Buffalo, and local faith-based groups. As a Storyteller in Residence, she uses her voice to bring awareness to resilience, healing, and the power of shared stories in transforming communities.
Jay is a credentialed Youth Peer Advocate and Certified Peer Specialist. He currently works as a Youth Workforce Development Coordinator at Families Together in New York State. He has a Masters Degree in Social & Public Policy and an Advanced Certificate in Child & Family Advocacy from Empire State University. Jay has supported youth and adults alike as a peer in various settings including a residential mental health facility for teens, a community based mental health program for children and youth, a clinic setting for adults, and a peer respite house for adults. He has presented Technical Assistance and Trainings for other Youth Peer Advocates, Supervisors of Youth Peer Advocates, and clinicians on topics such as Neurodivergence, Gender Diverse Youth, and LGBTQ+ Inclusivity for Supervisors. He has worked on projects such as volunteering as a literacy tutor for immigrants with limited English proficiency, a proxy caller for non-verbal autistic individuals, a blog writer for an anti-violence non-profit, and a volunteer facilitator for a peer support group focusing on Transgender Self-Love at a peer support non-profit serving the US and Canada. He is also a drag performer who uses his performances and funds collected through tips provided during shows to draw attention to and support anti-violence efforts.
Phoenix has dedicated more than 30 years to advancing pathways of hope, healing, and resilience across communities in Ulster County and the Mid-Hudson Region. As a community educator, organizer, and coalition leader, he has managed federal substance abuse prevention grants, led local and regional collaborative initiatives, and developed innovative programs that promote awareness, well-being, social connection, and trauma-informed approaches to care. He continues to work alongside a broad network of colleagues and partner organizations to strengthen cross-sector strategies that support individuals, families, and communities.
In addition to his community leadership, Phoenix is a passionate StoryTeller and StoryTeacher who weaves story with truth to foster healing, connection, understanding, and meaningful change.
Angela M. Colón‑Rentas is a New York State–certified Peer Specialist, Youth Peer alumni, Skillbuilder, and credentialed Family Peer Advocate. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Rochester, New York, she brings tenure, having more than nine years of professional experience in the mental health field. Informed and guided by lived experience within the mental health and juvenile justice system, Angela has served as Storyteller in Residence for the New York State Trauma Informed Network and Research Center and is a contributor to the Mad in America Journal.
Member of the Monroe County’s S.W.A.T. (Spreading Wellness Around Town) Youth Council, at 15 years old she became the winner of a national art poster contest for the Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health. Displayed across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Guam. It was chosen to amplify children’s mental health during mental health week 2008. As a credentialed Youth Peer Advocate, her work has been recognized by New York State’s Office of Mental Health with the 2022 “What’s Great in Our State” Youth/Young Adult Award.
Committed to advancing peer advocacy, Angela M. Colón‑Rentas partners with grassroots and established organizations to reduce stigma and address disparities in systems of care, particularly within underserved communities. She has served as a consultant and lead coach for BIPOC PEEEEEEK’s Healing Together: Family Peer Advocate Workforce Collaborative and now leads the Partners in Community Development: Youth Peer Advocate Workforce Collaborative in both Rochester, and Western, New York. Where she has trained and supported parents, youth, and caregivers through the Peer Advocate credentialing process and champions the Peer Profession career pathway.
Angela is also a member of the University of Rochester, E.A.C.H. Youth and Parent Advisory Board and is a VIP (Very Invested Parent) for The Children’s Agenda. In these spaces, as a parent, and always a peer advocate she continues advocating for mental health support, equity, and Peer Support Services within schools and across community-based settings.
An accomplished artist, she integrates advocacy and creativity through her distinctive Mirror‑Writing‑Art practice and brand SINBoundaries ARTWORK. Continuing the legacy of that 15-year-old girl within the mental health field and juvenile justice system, she uses her art to inspire reflection, hope, and dialogue around mental wellness and community. As a storyteller, she is the author of the book SCARS TO CREDENTIALS (My Life is Lived Experience). An inspiring book of resilience, awareness, and hope: for youth, peers, professionals, and communities.
Vincent I. French, MAT, CAS, is a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion with a deep commitment to community empowerment and educational reform. Born in Stoughton, Massachusetts, Vincent grew up in foster care before being adopted in 1988 from Brockton, Massachusetts, to Rochester, New York, where he was raised on the North East Side of the city. His personal experiences fuel his drive to create inclusive environments for all.
As the Diversity Coordinator for the Monroe County Public Defender’s Office, Vincent oversees the office’s internship program and works to build inclusive practices within the justice system. His leadership extends beyond his office, as he actively bridges connections between the community and legal resources.
Vincent’s impact in education is significant. He served as the inaugural Coordinator of Equity and Inclusivity for the Pittsford Central School District, where he led efforts to create a more equitable learning environment. In addition, Vincent was a key figure in the Regional Equity Network (REN), focusing on advancing equity initiatives throughout Upstate New York.
A strong advocate for mentorship and alumni engagement, Vincent is the Co-Founder and President of the Edison Tech Alumni Association, where he connects and supports former students in their professional and personal growth. He is also a Founding Board Member and Treasurer of the Upstate New York Affiliate of Black School Educators (Upstate NYBSE), where he champions educational equity and access for all students, particularly in underserved communities.
Beyond his professional roles, Vincent is a storyteller, public speaker, and mentor who uses his experiences to inspire and uplift others. His work is driven by a passion for creating spaces where all voices are heard, valued, and empowered.
Mona Lisa McEachin is a Peer Leader, storyteller, and advocate whose life is rooted in resilience, faith, and the transformative power of lived experience. As a woman in long-term recovery, Mona Lisa brings over 17 years of personal healing into her work, using her journey not only as testimony but as a bridge to connection, understanding, and hope.
Serving as a Senior Family Peer Navigator and Peer Workforce Leader in Western New York, Mona Lisa is deeply committed to uplifting individuals, families, and communities navigating mental health, substance use, and systemic barriers. Her work is grounded in peer values, mutuality, authenticity, and walking alongside others with compassion and dignity.
Mona Lisa’s story is one of redemption and restoration. After overcoming addiction and life challenges that once separated her from her role as a mother, she made a life-changing decision to step into motherhood for her grandson; an act that became a turning point in her recovery. Today, she is a present, loving mother and grandmother, creating a legacy of healing that her children and grandchildren have only experienced through her strength and sobriety.
As a storyteller, Mona Lisa uses her voice to disrupt stigma, inspire transformation, and remind others that recovery is possible. Whether she is speaking in community spaces, faith-based settings, or professional arenas, she brings a message that is both powerful and deeply human: that our stories matter, and when shared, they can save lives.
Her work extends beyond storytelling into leadership, workforce development, and advocacy; where she champions the value of lived and living experience as essential to systems of change. Mona Lisa believes that healing happens in connection, and she intentionally creates spaces where individuals feel seen, heard, and empowered to reclaim their narratives.
At the heart of everything she does is one guiding belief:
“We don’t just overcome our stories; we use them to light the way for others.” 💚
Naishah is a mother, writer, poet, and advocate who uses her lived experience to uplift and guide others navigating complex systems. Through storytelling and poetry, she shares personal narratives that foster understanding, resilience, and empowerment. Her work centers on turning experience into insight, helping others find voice, direction, and hope through the power of story.