BAKER FELLOWSHIP SEMINAR PRESENTATION Julius Boatwright MSW LSW

BAKER FELLOWSHIP SEMINAR PRESENTATION Julius Boatwright, MSW, LSW Founder, CEO

MY STORY • ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND SUICIDAL THOUGHTS • OUR BROKEN MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM • MY BEST FRIEND'S SUICIDE

MISSION TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN BLACK PEOPLE AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT THROUGH EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND AWARENESS.

THE VISION TO EXPOSE EVERY BLACK ADULT IN THE CITY TO A MENTAL HEALTH EXPERIENCE THAT IMPROVES THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE BY 2030.

FOCUS FOR TODAY: BEAMS TO BRIDGES PROGRAM

BEAMS TO BRIDGES A NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED, 9 MONTH TRAINING PROGRAM FOR A COHORT OF BLACK PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT TOPICS SUCH AS ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND SUICIDE PREVENTION. THIS EXPERIENCE ALSO PROVIDES PARTICIPANTS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND COMPETENCIES NEEDED TO SERVE AS COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS IN THEIR

ST 1 SOCIAL DETERMINANT ADDRESSED: HEALTH SYSTEMS OUR BEAMS TO BRIDGES PROGRAM GIVES COHORT MEMBERS FROM THE HILLTOP WEEKLY OPPORTUNITIES TO RECEIVE MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING AND SUPPORT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

2 ND SOCIAL DETERMINANT ADDRESSED: SOCIAL EXCLUSION OUR BEAMS TO BRIDGES PROGRAM GIVES COHORT MEMBERS FROM THE HILLTOP WEEKLY OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE INTIMATE MENTAL HEALTH STORIES WITH THEIR PEERS IN A SUPPORTIVE, PEOPLECENTERED ENVIRONMENT.

3 rd SOCIAL DETERMINANT ISSUE ADDRESSED: EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS OUR BEAMS TO BRIDGES PROGRAM PROVIDES COHORT MEMBERS FROM THE HILLTOP WITH WEEKLY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STIPENDS, FUNDS TO HELP SUPPORT EMERGENCY FINANCIAL NEEDS, AND FUNDING TO OFFSET COSTS RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION (BUS PASSES AND/OR GAS CARDS).

BEAMS TO BRIDGES: BLACK MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY CONVERSATION

JULIUS A. BOATWRIGHT, MSW, LSW EMAIL: JULIUS@STEELSMILINGPGH. ORG CELL: (412)-251 -7793 WEBSITE: WWW. STEELSMILINGPGH. ORG @Steel. Smiling. PGH @steelsmilingpgh @Steel. Smiling. PGH

THANK YOU!

Latino Community Center Rosamaria Cristello Executive Director Rcristello@latinocommunitycenter. org