The Black Mental Health Fund

Steel Smiling Champion!We hope you're safe and well. Thanks for helping us bridge the gap between Black community members and mental health support through education, advocacy, and awareness. Our 10-year vision is to connect 100% of Black adults in Pittsburgh to 1 mental health engagement that improves their Quality of Life by 2030. With your generous support, we hope to accomplish this together. 2019 was our best year yet and we couldn't have done it without your willingness to be present with us. In 2020, we're going to continue growing as a result of our amazing people, programming, and partnerships. In 2019, we successfully re-launched our Black Mental Health Workforce Development program (Beams to Bridges). A cohort of 23  community members participated in educational sessions, learned from mental health professionals of color, and had ongoing opportunities to practice teaching with their peers. The program's purpose is to develop an informed, confident, and diverse group of mental health liaisons who will support our community’s collective healing process. In 2018, we connected with thousands of people through our service efforts. We hit the streets, listened to stories from everyday community members, and collaboratively referred them to clinical treatment providers. For Mental Health Awareness Month, we convened over 100 people to participate in free mental health trainings and educational experiences. In September, we brought provider agencies, leaders, and others together to share conversations about suicide awareness, mental wellness, and best practices. We ended the year with our 3rd Birthday Party and Celebration. At this experience, community members participated in wellness activities and heard intimate stories from their peers about recovery. We've had the privilege of collaborating with many phenomenal companies and organizations. Here are some of the partners who’ve helped us fulfill our mission since 2015: the Mary Jennings Hillman Foundation, UPMC, ONYX Therapy Group, University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, The Rock Family Foundation, the Program to Aid Citizen Enterprise (PACE), the POISE Foundation, Voices Against Violence, Mindscapes, PublicSource, Allegheny HealthChoices, Inc. (AHCI), Allegheny County Health Department, Ascender, BMe, Community Care Behavioral Health Organization (CCBHO), Department of Human Services (DHS), Duquesne University, University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychiatry, IOBY, Environmental Charter School, Inside Our Minds, Edgar Snyder & Associates, Carnegie Mellon University Institute for Software Research, Jeron X Grayson Community Center, The Center That Cares, The Pittsburgh Foundation, The Staunton Farm Foundation, The Opportunity Fund, UPMC Health Plan, Neighborhood Allies, The UrbanKind Institute, BOOM Concepts, Adaptive Behavioral Services, Mercy Behavioral Health, Coro Pittsburgh, Public Allies Pittsburgh, PULSE Pittsburgh, Repair the World, Young Lungs Motivation, Eminent Hospitality Solutions, LLC, Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, Vitamin C Healing, Handinhand Counseling Services, LLC, Vision Toward Peace Counseling, LLC, and the Ujamaa Collective.Please consider making your financial donation today. The mental health and wellness of our communities depend on your continued generosity. We truly appreciate your commitment to serving our Black neighbors with us. In solidarity,Your Family at Steel Smilingsteelsmilingpgh.orgSteel Smiling is fiscally sponsored by Neighborhood Allies Inc. Neighborhood Allies is a 501(c)3 organization and was formerly referred to as DBA Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development, and may still be listed as such on software platforms with outdated information. Neighborhood Allies’ EIN # is 25-1578436.*An acknowledgement of your donation will be submitted to you via email within 3-5 business days.*