Meet Dee-Andre Ferguson: Social Worker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dee-Andre Ferguson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dee-Andre, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My thought process behind starting my own business? Well, one of the first thoughts that came to my head when I started my own business was the idea there are very few black men in the mental health field. I wanted black men and women to have an open space to speak about their struggles in a system that was not created for US with someone who looks like them and understand their struggle.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Mental growth is not just my work or a business, mental growth is a family. Being a black man who provide consultations for individuals and families about mental health is unique because like I said before, there’s not many black men in the mental health field especially as a social worker. I got to where I am today by trial and error, it was not easy at all. There were those days that things were so rough that I wanted to give in and put myself business to the side. I kept going because I know that failure and let know is like the condiment that give success its flavor. I have overcame so many challenges in my career. With my career you are being trusted to make the right decisions that may impact someone’s life forever. When I prepare for my speeches at schools and companies it takes days to get ready because every crowd is different and you have to break the concepts down to where anyone can understand what you are saying. The one thing that I have learned through this process is to 1. never give up because you don’t know who might be watching and 2. if you have an idea it doesn’t matter how small that idea might impact your community in a way you have not imagine. I want the world to trust mental health and trust your black social workers and believe that they have your best interest at heart.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, if my friends are visiting the area I would make sure they have a good taste of Atlanta but because I am Jamaican I have to bring them to my favorite Jamaican spots. So we would go to Waffle House, the aquarium, Stone Mountain, World of Coca Cola and obviously to see my alma mater Morehouse College. I would also make sure that they stop by Mangos Caribbean restaurant and right beside Mangos is my go to spot to party and that is the royal peacock. There’s so much to do in Atlanta but for me these places has shaped my Atlanta experience to be what it is now. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Yes, there are 3 people and a group of brothers who has supported me through everything. God, my mother and my fiancé, also a group of individuals I call family and thats my Danbsy Hall Souljaz.

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