In this special episode of Unheard Conversations, we meet founding Elements House member Sajata Epps, a creative entrepreneur, artist, horticulturist, educator, and longtime advocate for the clubhouse model.

Sajata brings a remarkable range of knowledge and experience to her work. She has a deep understanding of clubhouse history and standards, including the importance of Transitional Employment in helping members build skills, confidence, independence, and opportunities in the workplace.

Sajata also runs her own design studio, with a focus on pattern-making, fashion, and fiber arts. She is an expert in gardening and horticulture and manages an urban garden in the Bronx. Through her work in mental health, she also leads art workshops for adults living with mental health conditions, generously sharing her knowledge and creative skills with others.

In the first half of the episode, Sajata sits down with Elements House staff member Doug Latino to talk about her wide-ranging experiences, and in the second half, Sajata and Christian Monzon have a a conversation about the clubhouse model, what it means to members, and Elements House's growing focus on building its Transitional Employment Unit.

Unheard Conversations is produced in the Music & Podcast Studio at Elements House.

Production assistance comes from Marcus Hasson, Khristian Schumbert, Phoenix Coffee, Kadija Still, Ronald Hill, Leroy Wells, and Doug Latino.

Theme music is by Marcus Hasson.
Show art photography is by Larry Griffin.
Design by Destiny Figueroa.
Open-source transition beats are by BombinSound on Pixabay.

Find Elements House at NYDIS.org/ElementsHouse.

Follow us on Instagram: @_elementshouse_les

In this episode of Unheard Conversations, Elements House member Khristian Schumpert sits down with staff member Doug Latino to share his remarkable story of resilience and determination.

Khristian talks about growing up in the New York City foster system, being adopted by a supportive and loving mother, and spending 10 years in a residential mental health center. After aging out of the system, he experienced more than two years of being unhoused.

Despite these challenges, Khristian has maintained a positive outlook, including finding ways to give back to his community by volunteering. He is an active member of the Elements House clubhouse, where he devotes his time to both the Administration Unit and the Music & Podcast Units.

Khristian’s story offers a powerful perspective on resilience, recovery, and the importance of maintaining a positive outlook through life’s challenges.

Unheard Conversations is produced in the Music & Podcast Studio at Elements House, a clubhouse community on New York City’s Lower East Side and a program of New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS).

Production assistance came from Marcus Hasson, Khristian Schumbert, Phoenix Coffee, Kadija Still, Ronald Hill, Leroy Wells, and Doug Latino. The Unheard Conversations theme music is by Marcus Hasson. Show art photography is by Larry Griffin, with design by Destiny Figueroa. The open-source transition beats in this episode are from BombinSound on Pixabay.

Find us at NYDIS.org/ElementsHouse and follow us on Instagram at @_elementshouse_les.

Khristian also mentioned fellow NYC clubhouses, @LanternHouseClubhouse and the BCS clubhouse @wearebcs.

In this special episode of Unheard Conversations, Elements House clubhouse member Robert Little shares his harrowing story of surviving a drive-by shooting in a conversation with staff member Jeff Tineo. Robert reflects on survival, recovery, the changes that followed, and the wisdom he gained from his experience.

Following Robert’s conversation, we hear from his mother, Laura Bentley, a staff member at Elements House. Laura speaks as both a mother and a member of the Elements House community about the fear and heartbreak that gun violence can bring to families.

Laura also acknowledges Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s focus on community safety and gun violence prevention and expresses hope that this work continues to receive attention and support in the years ahead.

To learn more about the Mayor’s Office of Community Safety, visit the NYC Mayor’s Office of Community Safety at nyc.gov/summersafety.

Production Support: Marcus Hassan, Khristian Schumbert, Phoenix Coffee, Kadija Still, Ronald Hill, Leroy Wells, and Doug Latino. Show art photography is by Larry Griffin, and design is by Destiny Figaroa. Transition beats are by @Rumblefield (IG) Hayden King is the host.

Unheard Conversations is produced by the Music & Podcast Unit at Elements House, a clubhouse community on New York City’s Lower East Side that is a program of nydis.org.

Instagram:

@_elementshouse_les

@nydisnet