Darkness Rising Mental Health Workshop Series https://grants.dudleytdoughertyfoundation.org/proposals-2020/darkness-rising-mental-health-workshop-series https://grants.dudleytdoughertyfoundation.org/@@site-logo/sitelogo-75x75.png

Darkness Rising Mental Health Workshop Series

Additional Information
Used for	With funding from the Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation, we will produce our Wellness Workshop series for one year: 12 wellness workshops, 1 per month. Funding will be used to pay our mental health partners, providers, instructors, and workshop facilitators, provide supplies, space as needed (post-covid), and overhead for the organization’s operating expenses. Darkness RISING Wellness Workshops are community gatherings to provide mental health support.
Benefits	Based on our previous in-person and virtual wellness workshops, we expect for participants in the Brooklyn area and all around the world to receive mental health education, direct support and resources. Participants will be able to have questions answered by mental health providers and wellness professionals. As these workshops encourage mental health treatment, long-term impacts are expected to be seen when workshop participants engage further in ongoing mental health treatment.
Proposal Description	Darkness RISING Wellness Workshops provide a space for the community to gather and seek healing through various avenues. Darkness RISING provides Black mental health providers, educators and advocates to support our community as we connect, learn, share, and discuss myths and challenges related to mental health while centering the Black community. In these wellness workshops, we focus on social justice issues, mental health education, resource support, and more. Past Darkness RISING Wellness Workshops include: - Guided Meditation - Darkness RISING Fitness Day - Men’s Wellness - Fellas, Ya’ll Alright? - Black Men’s Mental Health - Get Light, Sis - Black Women’s Mental Health - Covid + Mental Health - Adult Coloring Night - Afro-Cardio Jam - Mental health forums with Mental Health Providers - Mental health panels with Mental Health Providers ABOUT DARKNESS RISING PROJECT Darkness RISING Project is a 501(c)3 mental health awareness nonprofit composed of Black artists from the Broadway community and mental health professionals of color. We sing inspirational music from pop, musical theatre, R&B, and gospel genres. Our goal is to bring awareness, inspire conversation and combat the stigmatization of mental health, primarily but not exclusively in communities of color. Along with music presented in live shows and via our Music & Mental Health Video Series, Darkness RISING offers free community wellness workshops, access to mental health education, as well as connecting participants with valuable resources often unavailable to vulnerable communities. Our performers have been in Broadway musicals such as ALADDIN, THE LION KING, BEAUTIFUL, MOTOWN, BOOK OF MORMON, FROZEN, MEMPHIS, DREAMGIRLS, THE COLOR PURPLE and more. WORKSHOP BREAKDOWN 2 Hour Direct Engagement with Participants (Virtual during Covid, In-person post-Covid) Facilitated by Darkness RISING, our mental health partners, Broadway artists and wellness instructors, our wellness workshops provide direct and engaging interaction with the participants by leading activities such as Mental Health Mythbusters, and asking specific questions for engagement. This fosters a fun, safe space for all participants and encourages them to speak candidly about mental health. Participants will break off into smaller groups via breakout rooms. Facilitated by trained mental health professionals and Darkness RISING members, participants will be able to interact, and if comfortable, share stories about their mental health journey. Facilitators will discuss the stigma associated with mental health, provide guidance, and offer resources for those in need. A writing option will be available for participants not yet ready to share vocally. Workshop participants will learn about each workshop via social media marketing, ad marketing, newsletters, Eventbrite invitations, and word of mouth. Participants will register via Eventbrite, which provides us the opportunity to send further mental health resources via email. Our target audience for wellness workshops includes women, men and gender non-conforming people ages 18-60. We find that our yoga and fitness workshops usually bring in participants ages 30-60, and our mental health panels and forums often reach participants ages 18-40. Although the majority of workshop participants are identified as BIPOC, all are welcome to attend. SAMPLE WORKSHOP OUTLINE Introduction Grounding/Meditation Mental Health Partner 1 speaks Mental Health Partner 2 speaks Breakout rooms Q&A Closing OUTCOME AND ENGAGEMENT We expect to reach participants through these wellness workshops via direct engagement during mental health breakout sessions with our licensed mental health providers and facilitators. Participants will have direct access to a mental health educator of color, and will be provided with resources, tools and the opportunity to address any concerns. We expect participants to feel safe in this space, learn about and understand the resources available to them, and walk away with increased knowledge about addressing their own mental wellness. During Covid, we will be providing virtual workshops, which removes the geographical barrier to participate, and ultimately reaches a wider audience. Through virtual wellness workshops, we are able to reach participants around the world and provide them with necessary mental health support, especially during a difficult time. The first step in seeking help is talking about the issue. The workshop’s success is measured by audience engagement and shared experiences. Long-term impacts are expected to be seen when workshop participants engage further in ongoing mental health treatment. Participants find peace through the community support and mental health education in these workshops FUNDING Funds will be used to produce the Darkness RISING wellness workshop series: - Mental health partners/educators - $300/each x 12 workshops - Wellness/Fitness instructors - $100/each x 12 workshops - Venues/space rentals x 12 workshops - $2400 - Workshop supplies - $200 - Marketing - $500 - Overhead - $790 *Full budget attached