I’RAISE Girls & Boys International partners with the YMCA of Metro Atlanta to address Black trauma and mental health in youth
I’RAISE Girls and Boys International will host Unapologetically Black, a free event celebrating the art, music, and fashion of the Black diaspora. The event will also provide a space where Black youth can find peer support and learn how to advocate for their own and others’ mental health.
The event will take place on February 28, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at The Villages at Carver Family YMCA in Atlanta.
Attendees can expect artistic performances, workshops focusing on Black pride and excellence, a panel discussion, and refreshments.
“Black youth will be able to learn about their heritage in a way that makes them feel good, that builds confidence, that inspires a positive sense of self,” says Shanequa Moore, Chief Executive Officer and founder of I’RAISE.
She says, “One of the challenges that Black young people face is a poor sense of self, or not knowing who they are because of the stereotypes that are perpetrated and limit our Black youth, but we are taking those limits off.”
For 10 years, I’RAISE has empowered young people through programs, such as See Her Be Her, a coaching program for Black girls, tutoring, mentoring, career and college prep, entrepreneurship classes, an after-school program, and school mental health services.
When the organization began, it served 40 girls through a mentoring program. Today, 10 years later, the organization has served over 10,000 youth and families through a wider range of programs.
“We are going to pour into our young people through this Black heritage event. We want you to be a part of it,” says Moore.
For information about tickets and volunteering as a performer or to lead a workshop, visit iraiseinc.org/events.
I’RAISE Girls and Boys International Corporation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to supporting youth holistically. It offers mental health, art, and educational programs for kids, teens, and families in under-resourced schools and communities. Learn more at www.iraiseinc.org.
