EPISODE 19: Taking the Black Perspective & Experience Into Account with Atiim Boykin
In this episode of The Connected Way, I connect with Atiim Boykin, a clinician, artist, and community advocate, about how major election issues impact black people, his journey from Oakland to Portland, his work in social equity and reentry, and his candidacy for City Council, blending creativity and leadership to inspire change.
TUNE IN TO EPISODE 19 TO HEAR:
Atiim’s work as a forensic intensive case manager, supporting individuals with mental health challenges as they transition from incarceration back into the community.
His role in Kamala Harris’s “Back on Track” program and co-founding San Francisco’s Young Adult Court, an initiative aimed at offering restorative justice and rehabilitation for 18-25-year-olds in the criminal justice system.
Insights into growing up in Oakland during the rise of the Black Power Movement and how it shaped Atiim’s understanding of racial equity, inspiring his career in activism and therapeutic support for marginalized communities.
The significance of representation in leadership and helping constituents to feel seen and heard, particularly in his run for Portland City Council, where he aims to be a voice for underrepresented communities and all communities.
Atiim’s creative endeavors in music, art, and storytelling as powerful tools for healing and community building.
ABOUT OUR GUEST: Atiim Boykin is a clinician, case-manager, storyteller, musician, songwriter, painter and spoken word poet. As a student of and leader in these roles, I've spent more than 20 years working with non-profits, government agencies, and schools focused on providing equity, access, and inclusion to stabilization and growth resources via educational and therapeutic supports.
Barrier removal is central to Atiim’s career. Anything he does professionally or creatively promotes community health, renewal, and resilience.
In terms of Employment: He currently works for the Department of Health & Human Services as a Forensic Intensive Case Manager in all of Cumberland County. He supports returning citizens with re-entry coming from state prison, county jails, or participating in community supervision through probation. Everyone he serves has a significant mental health diagnosis and other barriers to stabilization in the community at large. He facilitate community linkages and connections within 90 days of release and follow some cases longer term when individuals are chronically mentally ill and homeless.
A highlight to he career: He served as a staff therapist in Kamala Harris’s Back on Track program, which then led to him being the co-founder and director of clinical case-management for the Young Adult Court in San Francisco. This was a ‘first of its kind’ collaborative court serving criminal justice-involved 18-25 yo. young adults. With programming based on the developing prefrontal cortex, YAC extends opportunities for restitution and restorative justice through highly engaging therapeutic supports, community linkages, and job training.
Deeply involved in the arts, Since 2001, Atiim has owned and operated Ridah Ridah Entertainment as an umbrella for all of my creative endeavors, an audio & lighting design co., voice-overs, paintings and a record label producing personal music and multi-media projects. He’s worked as an electrician and rigger for private and public shows helping create lighting and sound environments for both public and private parties, weddings, corporate events, and grass roots community events. While living in Oakland, CA, he produced grass roots community multi-media events as A Thousand WordZ. Bringing community together raising money and awareness for global and local causes.
Originally from Oakland, CA, Atiim lived in the Bay Area until moving to Maine in 2018. He lives in the West End with his wife and daughter. In addition to everything I just listed, he is very involved in the community.
Atiim is now running for Portland, Maine City Council, District 2. I think he is a great choice for District 2. He wants to hear the voices of his constituents and advocate for your needs and desires. He and I spoke about his desires and one of the things he plans to do is actually connect with his constituents - setting up quarterly town hall meetings to connect and hear from them. I love that. I think Atiim is a great guy and he will be a great City Councilor when he’s elected.
RESOURCES:
Atiim Boykin’s Campaign Page to learn more about him
Watch The 13th Documentary Ava DuVernay's examination of the U.S. prison system looks at how the country's history of racial inequality drives the high rate of incarceration in America.
Learn about the Working Families Party that Devin mentions in the show
ARTICLE: Growing Racial Disparities in Voter Turnout, 2008–2022
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