July 7th - August 6th
Duration: 5 Weeks
Meetings/Sessions: Twice Per Week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-7pm (10 Sessions)
Location: Wilson-Gray YMCA Youth and Family Center on 444 Albany Ave in Hartford, CT
Foundations of Black Mental Health & Professional Growth
Session 1 - Tuesday July 7th from 5-7pm:
Breaking the Stigma – Black Mental Health & Wellness
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Overview of mental health challenges in the Black community.
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Coping strategies and access to therapy and other mental health resources.
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Guest Speaker: Black therapist, psychologist, or social worker.
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Interactive Component: Workshop on guided mindfulness & self-care exercises.
Session 2 - Thursday July 9th from 5-7pm:
Career Advancement & Professional Networking
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Resume building, job search strategies, and networking tips.
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Overcoming career obstacles and climbing the ladder.
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Guest Speaker: Black career coach or recruiter.
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Interactive Component: Workshop on resume building strategies, resume review and how to prepare for an interview.
Entrepreneurship &
Financial Wellness
Session 3 - Tuesday July 14th from 5-7pm:
Black Entrepreneurship – Building & Scaling a Business
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Steps to launch and grow a successful business.
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Overcoming systemic barriers as a Black entrepreneur.
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Guest Speaker: Black business owner or startup founder.
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Interactive Component: Workshop on business idea brainstorming and elevator pitch practice.
Session 4 - Thursday July 16th from 5-7pm:
Financial Literacy for Career & Life Success
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Budgeting, investing, and building generational wealth.
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Managing financial stress and economic disparities.
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Guest Speaker: Black financial advisor or wealth manager.
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Interactive Component: Panel Discussion where Black financial experts discuss economic empowerment and how to navigate your finances for success.
Careers in Sports & Healthcare
Session 5 - Tuesday July 21st from 5-7pm:
Careers in Sports – Beyond the Game
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Professional opportunities in athletics (sports management, coaching, media).
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Mental health challenges for Black athletes.
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Guest Speaker: Black professional athlete, coach, or sports analyst.
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Interactive Component: Panel Discussion with Black athletes, agents, and media professionals on careers in sports.
Session 6 - Thursday July 23rd from 5-7pm:
Black Professionals in Healthcare
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Careers in medicine, nursing, and mental health.
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Addressing health disparities in Black communities.
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Guest Speaker: Black doctor, nurse, or healthcare administrator.
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Interactive Component: Workshop on pathways to careers in healthcare.
Education & Public Service
Session 7 - Tuesday July 28th from 5-7pm:
Black Excellence in Education
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The role of Black educators in shaping future generations.
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Addressing racial disparities in education.
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Guest Speaker: Black teacher, professor, or school administrator.
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Interactive Component: Workshop on leadership skills for future educators and mentors.
Session 8 - Thursday July 30th from 5-7pm:
Making an Impact – Public Service & Activism
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Careers in government, nonprofit work, public service and advocacy.
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Staying mentally resilient while fighting for change.
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Guest Speaker: Black politician, public servant, or activist.
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Interactive Component: Panel Discussion on public service and activism—highlighting both the challenges and successes.
Career Growth & Mental Wellness for Longevity
Session 9 - Tuesday August 4th from 5-7pm:
Navigating the Workplace as a Black Professional
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Overcoming imposter syndrome, microaggressions, and bias.
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Strategies for career growth and self-advocacy.
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Guest Speaker: HR professional or career advancement strategist.
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Interactive Component: Panel Discussion where Black professionals share workplace experiences and how to navigate them.
Session 10 - Thursday August 6th from 5-7pm:
Sustaining Mental Health While Pursuing Success
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Long-term strategies for balancing career ambitions and mental well-being.
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Closing reflections and community-building.
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Guest Speaker: Black therapist or mindfulness coach.
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Interactive Component: Panel Discussion on mental health action plans for personal growth.
Meet The Team!
Don Francis
Founder & CEO
Ashley Jones
Tech Lead
Tess Brown
Office Manager
Lisa Rose
Product Manager
Kevin Nye
HR Lead
Alex Young
Customer Support Lead
Our Partners
