Mental Health seminar leaves Weeksville participants BEAMing!

Natalie and Yolo, Director of Programs with the Executive Director and Founder of BEAM lead training at Weeksville Heritage Center.

The state of mental health and the quality and accessibility of our mental health services remain trending topics in New York and nationally. As we struggle with how to treat each other, the concepts of  community health and wellness, the root causes of violence, and the ongoing scourge of racism,  the BEAM Collective provides education, training, and advocacy to promote Black healing.

I had the opportunity to participate in a recent training facilitated by (directors) Natalie and Yolo at the historic Weeksville Heritage Center. As you know, Weekville was a refuge for free Black people and formerly enslaved people who built their own homes, schools, and businesses for our ancestors to thrive. It was a perfect setting for us to celebrate and embrace our uniqueness, acknowledge our struggles and challenges, while developing justice-informed peer support practices for our community. If you missed the training, check with my office about future training sessions. Learn more about the BEAM Collective here.

Photo from left to right: Yolo Akili Robinson (Founder and Executive Director of BEAM) Assembly Member Stefani L. Zinerman, Natalie Patterson (Director of Training and Programs at BEAM)