Interview with Valerie Cunningham
Files
Download Valerie Cunningham Interview Transcript (238 KB)
Loading...
Interviewers
JB Brown
Description
This is an interview with the founder and CEO of The Synergy Health Center Valerie Cunningham recorded on January 22, 2025. Ms. Cunningham was interviewed by JB Brown as a part of SHARE's “Standing on Her Shoulders” oral history project. During the interview Ms. Cunningham discusses the following topics:
-
Her childhood in Kalamazoo;
-
Her mother as her main inspiration;
-
Her experience as a Black Woman at a PWI;
-
Pivoting from business to social work;
-
Being a busy mother while pursuing her MSW;
-
Founding the Synergy Health Center;
-
Defining and expanding her vision;
-
How she overcame hurdles in the development of her business;
-
Researching race disparities in mental health;
-
Developing the Black Wellness Network;
-
The importance of cultural awareness and sensitivity in providing services;
-
Her company’s strategies for breaking the stigma around Black mental health;
-
Her thoughts on being a Strong Black Woman;
-
Maintaining her work-life balance;
-
Youth outreach;
-
The future of Black mental health support;
-
Advice to her younger self, and;
-
The importance of archiving Black stories and voices.
Date of Interview
1-22-2025
Location of Interview
Kalamazoo, Mi
Series
Standing on Her Shoulders
Keywords
Oral History, Kalamazoo, Michigan, Business, Black Mental Health, Western Michigan University
Disciplines
Oral History | Social Work
Language
ENG
Document Type
Interview
Recommended Citation
Cunningham, Valerie, "Interview with Valerie Cunningham" (2025). Standing on Her Shoulders. 4.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/standing-on-her-shoulders/4
Length of video
55:02
Length of video log
15 pages
Notes
The Society for History and Racial Equity’s oral history archive is made possible through Western Michigan University’s Presidential Innovation Professorship program. All collection materials and copyright are owned by SHARE; Western Michigan University Libraries provide stewardship and digital access. Content is for educational purposes only and non-reproducible. If cited or linked, please do so through ScholarWorks with appropriate attribution. Please direct any questions to scholarworks@wmich.edu.