Nominations Are Now Open

Joy Is Our North Star

June 4th is National Black Mental Health Professionals Day!

The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (BLHF) is proud to celebrate the hard work and sacrifice of Black Mental Health Providers during our annual Can We Talk Symposium, and Joy Awards Celebration, presented virtually on June 3rd, 2023. Tune in for compelling fireside chats and thought-provoking panel discussions with esteemed guests. Enjoy informative vignettes about our Healers, Self Care Salons, and the different ways to expand Joy in the lives of our frontline workers.

Through an open nomination process, we will award ten (10) finalists of the Joy Awards, $10,000 each, and a very special surprise with compliments from friends of BLHF. The categories will include Mental Health Providers with a special acknowledgment for Mental Health Professionals, Integrated Wellness Practitioners, and Wellness Advocates.

New to our nomination process, we will be awarding two (2) youth (ages 12-15) finalists and two (2) young adults (ages 16-21) finalists of the Joy Awards, $2,500. These finalists will be empowered young people who are doing remarkable things to support, uplift, and educate their peers about mental health.

So please nominate someone you think deserves this award, or nominate yourself!

*Registration to join us for the June 3rd Can We Talk Symposium and Joy Awards will open April 11th, 2023.

Joy Award Categories

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

GRATITUDE & JOY

BECOME A SPONSOR

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

GRATITUDE & JOY

BECOME A SPONSOR

Mental Health Professional

..awarded to a Mental Health Professional, an unsung hero, that promotes and centers mental wellness and joy in the Black community. Mental Health Professional examples include Mental Health Therapists, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Advanced Practice Nurses, School Counselors, Behavioral Leads, Social Workers, Educators, Researchers, etc. Exceptional service examples include; Goes above and beyond to support families in the Black community, creation of a program that offers hope and support to last chance students outside of regular business hours, lead a project that establishes a new evidence-based therapy to improve outcomes for Black clients

Wellness Advocate

…awarded to a Wellness Advocate that promotes a healthy lifestyle to empower and educate the general public on the importance of mental wellness. Wellness Advocate examples include Influencer, Activist, Columnist, Lifestyle Blogger, Pastor, etc. Exceptional service examples include; consistently posts content that promotes and educates on relevant mental health topics, develops content and stories that address mental health themes and offer coping tools or strategies, etc., actively engages the community to support the balance of mental and spiritual health, etc.

Integrative Health & Wellness

…awarded to an Integrated Health and Wellness Practitioner who is changing the game through innovative approaches that are particularly inclusive to the Black Community - thus improving the accessibility and awareness of these additional methods of Self care and Wellness. Integrated Health and Wellness examples include Certified Meditation and Mindfulness Guides, Certified Yoga Teachers, Certified Art Therapy Practitioners, Certified Personal Trainers, Certified Nutritionists etc.

Youth Advocate

...are empowered young people who are doing remarkable things to support, uplift, and educate their peers about mental health.

Mental Health Professional

..awarded to a Mental Health Professional, an unsung hero, that promotes and centers mental wellness and joy in the Black community. Mental Health Professional examples include Mental Health Therapists, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Advanced Practice Nurses, School Counselors, Behavioral Leads, Social Workers, Educators, Researchers, etc. Exceptional service examples include; Goes above and beyond to support families in the Black community, creation of a program that offers hope and support to last chance students outside of regular business hours, lead a project that establishes a new evidence-based therapy to improve outcomes for Black clients

Mental Health Advocate

…awarded to a Mental Health Advocate that promotes a healthy lifestyle to empower and educate the general public on the importance of mental wellness. Mental Health Advocate examples include Influencer, Activist, Columnist, Lifestyle Blogger, Pastor, etc. Exceptional service examples include; consistently posts content that promotes and educates on relevant mental health topics, develops content and stories that address mental health themes and offer coping tools or strategies, etc., actively engages the community to support the balance of mental and spiritual health, etc.

Integrative Health & Wellness

…awarded to an Integrated Health and Wellness Practitioner who is changing the game through innovative approaches that are particularly inclusive to the Black Community - thus improving the accessibility and awareness of these additional methods of Self care and Wellness. Integrated Health and Wellness examples include Certified Meditation and Mindfulness Guides, Certified Yoga Teachers, Certified Art Therapy Practitioners, Certified Personal Trainers, Certified Nutritionists etc.

Joy Awards is Now Closed

Please select the appropriate option*

Which award category? Please select one*

Mental Health Professional Mental Health Advocate Integrative Health and Wellness Champion

Nominating someone else? Share your name (optional)

Last Name

Your Email

Your Phone Number

Nominee First Name*

Nominee Last Name*

Nominee Email

Nominee Phone Number

Question 1: Kindly share an example of when you or someone you're nominating, has gone above and beyond through direct service, innovation and/or personal contribution. How has that made an impact perpetuating Black Mental Health locally, regionally, and/or nationally? The more details you share about a specific instance where the nominee has gone above and beyond the better.

Question 2: What is your vision for the future of MH Providers, Advocates, and/or Integrative Health Practitioners in the Black community? What are you doing to activate that vision? What are the greatest challenges and opportunities for making these changes? Please share any ideas that may help nonprofit or corporate organizations in their quest to support your work in African American communities. 500-1000 word limit

Link to Additional Supporting Information i.e website, IG, FB, campaign

Headshot Image Upload (Supported Files: JPG, PNG, PDF, DOC)

Finalist will be notified via email and announced during the Can We Talk? Symposium Joy Awards on June 4th.

Nominations Are Now Open

Joy Is Our North Star

Joy Award Categories

Joy Awards is Now Closed

Joy Over Everything!