Meet the Black Couple Who Have Traveled to 61 Cities in 32 States to Teach Mental Health Awareness

Nationwide — Lorenzo Lewis and his spouse, Jordon, have traveled throughout the nation instructing frontline employees the best way to look after the psychological well being of African People who are sometimes of their care. Thus far, they’ve educated greater than 4,000 folks, however their upcoming tour will take them to 22 extra cities to achieve 1000’s extra. All in all, their objective is to achieve greater than 100 million folks worldwide.

Their advisory agency TCP Ventures, together with its nonprofit arm The Confess Venture of America (TCPA), introduced that it’s taking its “Past the Store Neighborhood Psychological Well being Advocate Coaching Program” on a 22-city tour throughout the U.S.

Launched in November 2023 in Little Rock, Arkansas, the Past the Store initiative empowers neighborhood leaders with the data and abilities to assist the psychological well being of underserved communities.

Tour stops embody, however aren’t restricted to, Philadelphia (Might 20), Dallas-Fort Price (June 10), Houston (June 24), Los Angeles (July 8), Chicago (Aug. 5), Washington, D.C. (Oct. 7), Boston (Nov. 18), San Franciso (Dec. 2), Atlanta (Dec. 16), and a number of others.

The total 2024 tour schedule could be discovered right here.

For TCP Ventures Co-Founders Lorenzo Lewis and his spouse Jordon Lewis, these trainings have been a long-term objective in serving to to strengthen the psychological well being motion they’ve constructed over time.

“I’m excited to take Past the Store to communities across the nation, empowering on a regular basis folks to be advocates and assist methods for probably the most susceptible,” stated Lewis. “I’m so pleased with what we’ve constructed to assist preserve pushing psychological well being fairness ahead.

TCP Ventures focuses on coaching neighborhood “psychological well being gatekeepers” for suicide prevention, which embody barbers, educators, doulas, coaches, regulation enforcement, psychological well being professionals, and others. These people can join immediately with folks in the neighborhood, bringing them the psychological well being assist and assets they want.

The efficacy of TCP’s coaching is backed by analysis from Harvard College, which discovered that on a regular basis folks can act as a psychological well being lifeline and thru early interventions, can save lives.

As one among America’s first psychological well being consciousness actions, during the last seven years, TCPA has reached 3 million folks throughout 52 cities and 30 states, coaching barbers and stylists to be psychological well being advocates. The group now goals to achieve 120 million folks throughout the globe with psychological well being consciousness, assist, and advocacy coaching.

On the age of 10, challenges in his youth compelled Lewis to enter a behavioral facility that modified his life and made him the particular person he’s at present. This led him to his life’s mission to assist younger folks and adults combating psychological well being points.

“The coaching of our ‘gatekeepers’ is so important and a pure development of this motion,” stated Lewis. “To have the ability to equip folks everywhere in the nation to foster a way of consolation by means of their on a regular basis interactions can lead many to get life-saving assist.”

AboutThe Confess Venture of America (TCPA) is a nationwide group that fosters psychological well being advocacy within the Black Barber and Magnificence Business by constructing consciousness, breaking stigma, and growing entry to care throughout the communities they serve.

By way of their 3,236 barber and sweetness business professionals educated throughout the nation, they’re reaching over 2.4 million folks per yr. They’re presently in 53 cities and 30 states.

Their crew brings over 40 years of collective expertise in fields starting from social work to behavioral well being to remedy to assist develop applications for many who have the best stake within the situation.

They intention to achieve as many advocates as attainable, they see their applications as a part of a wider motion to unravel psychological well being disparities in communities of coloration—now, and for generations to come back.