The National Cares Mentoring Movement To Host 10th Annual ‘For The Love Of Our Children’ Gala
Source: National Cares Mentoring Movement / National Cares Mentoring Movement
On March 6, distinguished stars and influential community leaders will come together at the historic Edison Ballroom in New York City to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the National Cares Mentoring Movement’s annual gala, For The Love Of Our Children. The special event honors individuals making significant strides in the mental health and suicide prevention fields, recognizing their tireless work to create support systems and safe spaces to address the rising rates of depression and suicide among African American youth. Emmy Award-winning daytime talk show star and entertainer, Sherri Shepherd, will return to host the special event that will kick off at 7:30 p.m. EST sharp.
Actress Taraji P. Henson will be honored with the prestigious North Star Award at the gala for her efforts to destigmatize mental health. The Color Purple star has been open about her own struggles with depression and anxiety. In 2018, she founded the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation in honor of her father, a Vietnam War veteran, who also battled mental illness before he died in 2005. The foundation aims to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health in BIPOC and underrepresented communities while increasing access to care through awareness campaigns and educational initiatives.
Other North Star Award honorees that will be celebrated for their healing work in the mental health space include philanthropist Tina Knowles, social justice advocate and member of NYC’s Council District 9 Dr. Yusef Salaam of the Exonerated Five, and renowned author, attorney, spiritual teacher, and television personality Dr. Iyanla Vanzant. The evening will feature special performances by America’s Got Talent star Journeyy and hip-hop legend Doug E. Fresh.
You can watch the For The Love Of Our Children gala live at caresmentoring.org.
Depression and suicide has risen among Black youth.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), suicide, a sequela of untreated depression, rose sharply from 8.2% in 2018 to 11.2% in 2021, reflecting an alarming 36.6% increase. In 2021, suicide became the third leading cause of death among Black youth.
Sadly, a 2024 study indicated that Black teens experienced a higher prevalence of dysthymic disorder, also known as persistent depressive disorder, with rates peaking during the pandemic. Researchers believe this surge may have been triggered by the traumatic loss of life, poverty, violence, social isolation, and systemic disparities that worsened during this period.
Susan L. Taylor, founder of The National Cares Mentoring Movement, is determined to find solutions to the disparities driving the heartbreaking trend.
“As we gather for our 10th Gala, we stand in both deep gratitude–and an even deeper commitment,” Taylor said in a press release. “We could not have grown our work and programming without the generosity of those who support us. But with depression and Black child suicide at epidemic levels, our work must not only be sustained, but grown. Our children have to know that we love them and that we are unwilling to lose them.”
If you’re experiencing distress or need someone to talk to, please dial 988 at any time for immediate support. You can also text START to 678-678. Trained counselors are available to provide confidential support and assistance.
You are not alone.
SEE ALSO:
Op-Ed: We Must Secure Black Youth’s Future Just Like Our Ancestors Tried To Do For Us
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