By Katie Vaughn | Photography by Hillary Schave
As a professional opera singer, Prenicia Clifton has shared the stage with Plácido Domingo and was the first African American to sing solely in Mandarin in a Chinese opera house. Yet her work supporting the mental wellbeing of young people, especially those from underserved communities, may be her greatest achievement.
With a background in music as well as youth protection and compliance, Clifton founded Seein’ is Believin’ to provide culturally-focused programming to promote mental health and resilience in children and teenagers. In addition to educating communities and organizations, her nonprofit has served nearly 1,000 Dane County youth through cooking classes and this year she’ll host youth mental health retreats. Both initiatives teach teens practical life skills and tools for taking care of their mental health while also fostering community and feelings of empowerment.
Also coming up this year is the release of “The Brain’s Superheroes,” a children’s book series Clifton created to help students understand mental health challenges and build resilience. She sees the books — which feature predominately Black and brown characters — as a tool that youth can use to support their mental health when a therapist is not immediately available.
Another project on the horizon is “Young, Black, Disabled, and Fcked!*,” a podcast in which Clifton will explore her personal journey of navigating the medical system as a Black woman with chronic pain and invisible diseases, including fibromyalgia and ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory disease that affects the spine and can cause vertebrae to fuse.
“Living with chronic pain and mobility challenges presents daily struggles — some days, I can’t get out of bed due to pain, and at times, my legs give out unexpectedly,” she says. “Despite these moments, I know that my purpose is greater than my pain and I am committed to thriving despite the challenges I face.”
WHAT’S A PERSONAL GOAL FOR YOU THIS YEAR?
“I’m prioritizing balance, self-care and mental health. I want to show others that even when life feels unfair and overwhelming, it’s possible to live fruitfully. ”
