On May 11, 2023 The Shine Initiative will host our Make Time For Your Mind Soiree at the AC Hotel by Marriott in Worcester, MA. The event will celebrate our student youth mental health advocates, highlight the ongoing need to end the stigma surrounding mental health, and inspire us all to action through a powerful keynote. Funds raised supports the crucial work of reaching youth (and parents, educators, and caregivers) with mental health literacy and suicide prevention best practices. As new data emerges about youth mental health, the need for support increases, even more so for communities considered marginalized. The death rate from suicide for Black men was four times greater than for Black women, in 2018.  Also, Black females, grades 9-12, were 60 percent more likely to attempt suicide in 2019, as compared to non-Hispanic white females of the same age. Lastly, more than 1 in 5 (22%) LGBTQ+ youth attempted suicide in the past year.

Our keynote speaker is Darryl McDaniels, professionally known as DMC from the legendary hip-hop group RUN-DMC. In Darryl’s memoir, 10 Ways Not to Commit Suicide, he openly shares his challenges with addiction, suicidal ideation, and how he improved his mental health. Darryl understands the importance of talking about mental health directly and has dedicated himself to destigmatizing it to save lives.