May is mental health awareness and actress Taraji P. Henson wants to encourage the African American community that it is okay to speak about mental health. Thursday the Empire star announced her foundation, the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, which is named after her late father will host a two- day mental health summit.
The Can We Talk? Conference and Benefit Dinner will take place on June 7-9 in Washington D.C. According to the website, the conference will provide an opportunity to exchange ideas around normalizing the conversation of mental illness in the African-American community. Therapists, community organizations, thought leaders, influencers and policymakers will come together to collectively identify national trends that have been barriers to mental health treatment in the black community, discuss strategies to end mental health stigma, and seek pathways to combine resources in order to support those who need help.
Keynote speakers include Taraji P. Henson who has been open about her mental health and one-third of the world’s most dangerous morning show, The Breakfast Club, Charlamagne tha God.
The Boris Lawrence Foundation was founded in 2018 with a mission of to providing support and bring awareness to mental health issues that plague our community. We partner with other nonprofit organizations who offer programs that educate, celebrate, and make visible the positive impact of mental health and wellness.
To register for the conference, click here
