BQAC Presents The Evening Brew with Arcus Behavioral Health

BQAC Presents The Evening Brew

The Evening Brew is a monthly zoom program that covers the latest news and everything else intersectional that is happening with our community Partners. Join us on zoom in the comfort of your own home. Witty, informative and everything you need to recap your month. The breath of coverage over many topics across LGBTQ Plus that matters to our BI and Queer community.
Even cheeky references to pop culture is unrevealed. See you there!

Hosted By Hugo. This month, on October 10th, a few days after our event occurs on October 6th from 7-9pm is World Mental Health Day. We will have representatives from Arcus Behavioral Health explain why Mental Health is so important and what they do for our community.

You can find more about Arcus Behavioral Health here:
https://www.arcusbehavioralhealth.com/about

Arcus Behavioral Health and Wellness (Arcus) is a 501(c)(3) community mental health agency established in 2017 and incorporated in 2018 as a non-profit agency. We provide the following:

· Counseling/psychotherapy (for individuals, couples, and families)
· Psychological testing for diagnosis and psychiatry referral
· Community education
· Mental health support programs for individuals, couples, families, and groups

We provide services in-person and via telehealth for clients within the state of Illinois and prioritize
community partnership among vulnerable communities in the Chicago Metropolitan Area. We provide services to children above the age of five.

Arcus’ mission is to bridge the gap in mental health care for underinsured or uninsured individuals and families, especially LGBTQ+, ethnic/cultural, and immigrant minorities. Our approach includes providing high-quality, LGBTQ-affirming services while covering the cost of therapy to fairly compensate our clinicians. Our goal is to promote community mental health care through counseling, psychotherapy, and education. We aim to reduce the stigma of mental health care by equally focusing on enhancing the well-being and quality of life of our clients as well as addressing pathology. Our therapeutic models are positivist in nature, enhancing well-being, and addressing individuals as whole people, and prioritize identity affirming, culturally appropriate, and trauma-informed care in English and Spanish.

Meet Our Guests from Arcus with a quick blurb about them below:

Anthony Guerrero Short,,MPH MS
(they/them/elle)
Director of Development
Hello! I am the Director of Development at Arcus, in charge of our external relations, community partnerships, fundraising initiatives, and program growth and strategy. I have experience in various areas of health, including health communications, public health program management, health research, public policy and advocacy, community mobilization and engagement, and fundraising and development. I have a Master's degree in Public Health from University of Illinois at Chicago (2024), a Master's in Health Communication (2018) and a Bachelor's in Psychology (2014), both from Northwestern University. I am originally from Mexico City, and have been in the Chicagoland area since 2010. Having been raised across two countries and cultures, I am always present to the experience that culture has in determining your health and wellbeing. I am passionate about the health and wellbeing of Latine, LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities and am a fierce advocate for health equity, with specific attention to mental health, sexual and reproductive health, and access to safety network social services. I bring my lived experience as a Latine, bicultural, queer, and Trans person and someone living with neurodivergence and mental health conditions, to the work I do every day to improve the lives of people seeking safe, affordable, supportive, and equitable health services.

Brandon Brito
(He/Him/El)
Clinical Intern

Hi, I'm Brandon. I am a Clinical Intern completing my Master of Arts in Counselor Education: Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Northeastern Illinois University, and I hold a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Northern Illinois University. As a pre-licensed counselor with intersecting identities–gay, Latino, neurodivergent (ADHD), and first-generation college graduate—I know how important it is to have a space where your story is respected, and your identity is honored. I believe everyone deserves and can benefit from therapy, and that within each of us is the resilience to meet life’s challenges with compassion and self-acceptance. If you often find yourself over-apologizing, overthinking texts, or replaying conversations in your head, therapy can be a place to shift those cycles. I lean away from pathologizing and instead emphasize strengths, while also acknowledging the real impact that systems of oppression and cultural narratives can have on mental health. Together, we’ll work toward building clarity, confidence, and a stronger sense of self-acceptance with the belief that healing is possible and that it does get better. My approach is relational, which means the focus is on our connection and what feels most supportive for you. Each session is shaped around your needs, whether that’s noticing patterns, making sense of what you’re going through, or finding new ways forward. I want therapy to feel like a space where you can show up fully as yourself, feel understood, and discover more about yourself along the way.

Estefania Navarrete-Aguilar
(She/Her/Ella)
Clinical Intern

Hello, I’m Estefania, a bilingual clinical intern (English/Spanish). I’m currently obtaining my Master’s in Counseling Psychology at The Chicago School with a concentration in Latinx Mental Health. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I’m a Latina queer woman of color and proud to be first-generation. I am looking to provide services to adolescents, adults, couples, and families. I strive to take a holistic and trauma-informed approach. This will be a collaborative therapeutic relationship, where we will work together to understand what is going on internally while recognizing and acknowledging how systemic factors are affecting your well-being. While I can never walk directly in your shoes, I can assure you that I will always lead with empathy, compassion, and understanding. I am here to meet you where you are and let you lead to where you want to be. I hope to create a sanctuary space where you can feel seen, heard, empowered, and nurtured in this healing journey. I have a particular passion in working with marginalized communities and adolescents and aim to offer support and help in taking charge of your own story.

See You There!

BQAC Main is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: BQAC Presents Evening Brew
Time: October 6,2025 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85652228680?pwd=wD5DLlFO8wm2cLjODBG9HBfRvxpOya.1

Meeting ID: 856 5222 8680
Passcode: 376583

---

One tap mobile
+13092053325,,85652228680#,,,,*376583# US
+13126266799,,85652228680#,,,,*376583# US (Chicago)

Join instructions
https://us02web.zoom.us/meetings/85652228680/invitations?signature=tiwste2BCH5zXZAPUxfALBfaPFmLiFN1Km9DK2mzrt0