NAMI Buffalo & Erie County is partnering with Doing the Will of God Church under the leadership of Pastors Kenneth and Chandra Redfern to offer the Sharing Hope conversation series for the African American faith community to their congregation as well as to members of Covenant Grace Ministries and Zion Quest Fellowship Church. It will be held in Cheektowaga; call 716-226-6264 x 101 to register and for exact location information. The series will also be offered in Buffalo through Purpose and Praise social media ministry, and Masjid Nu’Man with the WNY Islamic Society. We will be adding other sites later this spring or summer.
What Is Sharing Hope?
Lack of information surrounding mental health issues can prevent people in Black communities from getting the help and support they need.
Sharing Hope is a three-part video series that explores the journey of mental wellness in Black communities through dialogue, storytelling and a guided discussion on the following topics:
- Youth and Mental Wellness: “How Do You Heal?”
- Community Leaders and Mental Wellness: “The Art of Healing”
- Black Families and Mental Wellness: “Smiling On Our Journey”
This beautiful series begins to help start conversation, remove stigma, and begin to help people find resources and understanding around mental health, particularly among families in the Black faith community. It provides participants an opportunity to learn more about overcoming barriers, finding help, and sharing hope for the present and the future. It offers encouragement and inclusion for the whole community, looks at historical reasons for stigma and mistrust of mental health service now and in the past, and offers a way forward in a time of unprecedented need and challenges for all the community, and especially our youth. Light snacks will be provided and pre-registration is required to attend.
We’re offering the Sharing Hope series at several locations over the coming months with African American partner churches and mosques in the area. If you would like to attend a series and your faith organization is not among those offering it, email us or call 716-226-6264 x 101 with your name and number to see if there is space for you as a guest at a partner hosting site.
If you would like information for your faith organization about hosting the series, email us or call 716-226-6264 x 101 with your name and number, and what faith organization you are part of with Subject “Info on Sharing Hope Partnering”.
Click here to see all three videos that are part of this guided community conversation.
