Meet Shontrice(Miss Slay) Slayton | Mentally Cultured’s Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shontrice(Miss Slay) Slayton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shontrice(Miss Slay), we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I was inspired to create Mentally Cultured by my personal journey and the realization that my family and others needed the right tools to address issues like depression and alcoholism. This mission was assigned to me by God. I’ve always had a gift for listening and offering empathetic advice. My own experiences with trauma prompted me to consider myself as well and become a vessel for others. In 2019, I founded MC after working in various roles at Youth Villages and pursuing my Master’s in school counseling. MC is now a faith-based Wellness Community dedicated to healing trauma and promoting wellness among African-American families.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
MC offers comprehensive trauma recovery with a focus on the whole individual. As a lifestyle consultant, I draw from my faith and then from my expertise as a Licensed Educator, Professional School Counselor, Certified Wellness and education Advocate, and a passion for the arts and personal fashion. Our three tiers target personal, social, and lifestyle wellness, with specific programs and goals.

•Personal Wellness Tier: Focuses on individual well-being with Intentional Wellness (IW) Sessions and Culturally Responsive Educator Seminars for educators.

•Social Wellness Tier: Provides safe spaces for healing and community sharing through our podcast, “Me and The Homies Been Talkin,” Wellness & Friends Event/Brunch, and Mentally Fueled Playlist.

•Lifestyle Wellness Tier: Emphasizes how daily presence shapes our world and self-perception, featuring Positive Apparel (Smile Memphis) and Vendoring & Pop-Ups initiatives.

At this exact moment, I am being called to pivot and reframe certain elements of MC. This has been interesting and uncomfortable all at the same time due to my mind being set on how I wanted the outcomes for certain outreach to look. I can say I am excited to stretch our brand and add new elements to support nurturing our inner child within our community, which will lead to transforming our lives. As I tell my kiddos the choices we make today determine our tomorrow. My advice to anyone who is called to pivot, remember your why, practice discernment and lean on your team, while enjoying the process. Hallelujah Amen lol!

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shontrice (Miss Slay) Slayton.

Hi Shontrice, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hello everyone I am Ms. Slay, founder of Mentally Cultured! Community and healing trauma through our modern resources is the premise of what Mentally Cultured is built around and for. We specialize in trauma repair for African American families in the form of personal, social, and lifestyle wellness.

When I was given this assignment by God to soften the wounds of those who have encountered mental warfare without an outlet, it made so much sense but was heavy (and still is!). I have a gift of being a listening ear while offering empathetic sound advice as well as possible next steps. Even as a child, I witnessed and identified within my own family that the disparities of depression and alcoholism could have been prevented if they had access to the right tools, tools that would help renew their minds and their strengths. I too had to face certain trauma that I had experienced and realized that in order to be a vessel for others I had to consider myself as well. This was tough for me because I had to face things that I chose to bury until I couldn’t. As of today my family is MC’s biggest supporter and we have all evolved into the people we have always deserved to be(which is still a process of course). Without them, there is no Ms. Slay or Mentally Cultured (MC). All glory to God!

To be exact, in 2019 the clear vision of MC was founded. I have worked with kids all my life and even continued being a mentor for Big Brothers and Big Sisters during undergrad. Youth Villages, which is a multidimensional rehabilitation center for youth to receive the support they need to reintegrate back into society, was a good fit to start my career as an educator. I had been at Youth Villages for about 4 years at this point and began pursuing my Masters in school counseling at Capella University. I had worked in multiple roles at this organization and my last position was as an Administrative Assistant. I began to experience burnout as an educator in the rehabilitation space so I applied for a different location & role. What started as an idea has now taken root and blossomed into Mentally Cultured, a modern-day wellness community focused on healing trauma and promoting personal, social, and lifestyle wellness among African American families.

The Administrative Assistant position allowed me the space to hone my skills in being organized & creating systems while cultivating the essence of MC. I would engage in lifestyle consultant training through conversations with my beautiful colleagues while also promoting MC’s clothing brand “Smile Memphis” (THEE Brand That Inspires). Then I transitioned to Oakland, CA in November 2020 right when the pandemic hit for a better job opportunity, which offered me the opportunity to broaden MC’s resources making MC a bicoastal wellness community, with even more leverage. My friend and I literally drove cross country for three days and mind you I had just started my business and was making great connections in the M, which I still have to this day. The beauty in trusting the process is that you allow yourself to take chances and expose yourself to more on-brand opportunities.

What does it mean to be mentally cultured? To walk in your truth with confidence and to strive to continue to grow within your holistic wellness through seeking out the tools for your journey. MC began as a visual representation through our sister brand Smile Memphis which offers positive apparel through affirmation buttons and notorious “Money Green” crossbody bags. Our most popular button is “ It Takes Courage To Love” plus sweatshirts and t-shirts with the encouraging slogan “Smile Memphis”. We are currently trying out new designs and apparel, which is super exciting. Our organization as of today has held multiple wellness events that unpack the importance of wellness being a part of one’s daily routine while unlocking the power each person innately possesses to make themselves a priority in their journey. Each participant walks away feeling seen and empowered. The premise of each encounter with our community is to Empathize, Educate, Empower, and Evolve. We instill the confidence to aid in one being Mentally Cultured.

The lives MC has been able to impact and support are our biggest joy & blessing. When we volunteer we make sure to take our affirmation buttons with us to pass out. One thing that has continually put a smile on our face & also our community is when we ask, “What is something you love about yourself?” Most people are taken aback at first, but then their face lights up when they realize how powerful they really are and begin to share what they love about themselves. At our Brunchwell event in Memphis, we had a gratitude wall, where family and friends shared something they appreciated about themselves. This was a nice start to our event and getting everyone in the headspace to receive the upcoming dialogue. Since being in Oakland, MC has organized a wellness event “Wellness & Friends”, and been featured on the news to discuss our mission and our partnership with “Black Girls in Blazers”. We see each opportunity as an opportunity.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Investing in yourself and your vision does come with a hefty price & sometimes you may be asked to cut back on everything to pursue your passion. For me, it has always been a no-brainer. I have cried, prayed, and prioritized. I just recently invested in a free personal financial advisor and it has been a breath of fresh air, alongside having the guidance of MC’s Accountant.

As a business owner that is striving to cover a lot of territories, I have found it to be rather impactful to encompass the skill of outsourcing and also the balance of autonomy. A clear vision of your mission allows you to compose a team with versatile strengths to assist along the way. There have been days that I have been overwhelmed but then I would hop on a call with one of my sisters/ teammates and we always unpack the current situation through a solution-focused lens. My goal with MC’s team was to partner with the most innovative black women bosses that I knew and merge our greatness. I am thankful to know many of these women who I also call friends.

I want others to know that Mentally Cultured belongs to God and we are simply a vessel to bring change to those who have been harmed and searching for a way to appropriately heal through their faith.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take my friends to historical monuments like FISK, Meharry, TSU, and my family and best friends’ homes for a good meal, then ask what’s happening in the city as I’m from Memphisssssss lol yet honored to have roots in Nashville. I love exploring and learning, so definitely some museums and exhibits.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
MC’s mission is to be a cornerstone for holistic trauma recovery, challenging stigmas, and partnering with organizations like Black Girls In Blazers, Alameda County, Golden State Prep, and Solid Grounds to create transformative events. At Mentally Cultured, we value the power of collaboration, which enhances mental health and self-esteem. We partner with local sponsors and kindred organizations, such as Alameda County, Black Girls In Blazers, Golden State Prep, and Solid Grounds, to create impactful collaborations.

God and my family are at the root of all this and are the real MVPs, forever grateful. As I reach my community, I continue to reach in to nurture my inner child to transform my life ( MC’s Mission)!

Website: https://linktr.ee/mentallycultured

Instagram: @mentallycultured

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClU6IxYEiSd217u3Cqw4rjg

Image Credits
Regina Bowen Taylor Nanz of Solid Grounds