In this heart-opening episode of Eboni Queens of New Hampshire, co-hosts Stephanie Hawkins, Devona Warner, and Brenda Lett are joined by Jaylee (Jay) Suarez—Family Engagement Program Specialist with New Hampshire’s Division for Children, Youth and Families—for a powerful and deeply human conversation about identity, fatherhood, mental health, and systems transformation.

Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Brooklyn, Jay brings a wealth of lived experience to his work in child welfare and juvenile justice. As a proud Afro-Dominican man, he shares how his upbringing in poverty, experience with colorism, and journey toward self-acceptance shape the compassion and authenticity he brings to serving families across New Hampshire.

From racial slurs on the job to raising a biracial daughter in a predominantly white state, Jay doesn’t hold back in sharing how racism, resilience, and representation impact both his personal life and professional mission. His story is one of cultural pride, radical empathy, and creating change from the inside out.

In this episode, we explore:

• How Jay’s Dominican and Brooklyn roots shaped his passion for community care

• The intergenerational impact of poverty—and how his grandmother modeled selfless leadership

• Colorism in Dominican culture and its lasting psychological effects

• The emotional toll of racism while working for the state—and why protecting his peace is a form of resistance

• The link between mental health, representation, and showing up fully as yourself

• The importance of father engagement and Jay’s personal mission to uplift marginalized dads

• How the state is working to include lived experience in reforming child welfare

• What “meeting people where they are” truly looks like in social work and life

Mentioned:

• NH Division for Children, Youth & Families (DCYF)

• Father Engagement Action Team

• Juvenile Justice Reform Commission

• Better Together program

• Respect and Engagement Action Team

• New Hampshire Black Women’s Health Project

🔗 Connect with Jay Suarez:

📧 Email: [email protected]

📱 1-603-931-9065

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this episode—because mental health and anti-racism aren’t just talking points—they’re lifelines.

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This podcast is hosted by Brenda Lett, Stephanie Hawkins and Devona Warner. The mission of Eboni Queens of New Hampshire podcast is to focus and bring awareness to mental health and racism. The podcast will be a steppingstone to have voices heard from a raw and authentic viewpoint. The hope and goal are to educate those who may have a misperception of racism and start conversations regarding mental health and racism within the African Descendant communities. Learn more about them by emailing them at [email protected] or follow them at https://nhblackwomenhealth.org/.

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Have you been moved by what you heard in this week's episode of Eboni Queens of New Hampshire? If so, these ladies invite you to leave an honest review of how this episode impacted you. Also, share this podcast with a friend. It may just be the thing they needed to hear today!

The Eboni Queens of New Hampshire intro, outro and transition music is named The Disco Frog by Rymdklang and was found on Epidemic Sounds.

Crackers In Soup is the podcast producer for this episode.