Elevating Voices, Expanding Access:
Community Interventions Driving Mental Health Data & Transformation
Community Interventions Driving Mental Health Data & Transformation
"When the community speaks, data listens. Healing begins when we count what truly matters—people, stories, lived experience and policies."
Friday, July 11th, 2025
Location
Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center
6155 Earle Brown Dr, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
9 AM - 4:30 PM
Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center
6155 Earle Brown Dr, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
9 AM - 4:30 PM
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Welcome!
Ladies, Gentlemen, Fellow Professionals, Community Leaders, and Valued Partners,
Welcome to the 11th African Mental Health Summit - Elevating Voices, Expanding Access: Community Interventions Driving Mental Health Data & Transformation!
It is with deep gratitude and great excitement that we welcome you to the 2025 African Mental Health Summit, hosted by Progressive Individual Resources, Inc. and Restoration for All, Inc. We are honored to gather once again at the Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center for this vital convening of minds, hearts, and communities dedicated to advancing mental health equity for people of African descent.
Our theme this year, "Elevating Voices, Expanding Access: Community Interventions Driving Mental Health Data and Transformation," is a powerful call to action. It recognizes the essential role of community-driven solutions—not only in shaping narratives but also in generating meaningful data that drives policy, programming, and healing. We are entering a new chapter—one where lived experience is recognized as evidence, and healing begins with those closest to the pain and the promise.
Throughout the summit, we invite you to engage deeply in insightful sessions, dynamic panel discussions, and meaningful networking opportunities from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. It will be a day of shared learning, courageous dialogue, and community empowerment. Together, we will explore innovative strategies, celebrate resilience, and reimagine what mental health equity can look like for African individuals, families, and communities across the diaspora.
Congratulations to all of our 2025 AMHS Awardees! This special event is not only a tribute to excellence but also a recognition of the remarkable individuals and organizations that are trailblazing change, breaking down stigma, and transforming lives through their work in African mental health. Your unwavering commitment, visionary leadership, and passionate service continue to inspire us all. You are helping to shape a more just, compassionate, and mentally healthy future—and for that, we are deeply grateful.
We extend heartfelt thanks to our annual sponsors, whose continued generosity and partnership make this summit possible:
Minnesota Department of Human Services – Mental Health and Substance Use Division, Saint Paul-Ramsey County Public Health, Ramsey County Children’s Mental Health Collaborative, NAMI Minnesota, Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota, HealthPartners, Allina Health, New Concept Counseling, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Minnesota Alliance on Problem Gambling, Wellness in the Woods, Mains’l Services Brooklyn Park, St. David’s Center for Child & Family Development, PrairieCare Medical Group, Fairview Health Services, Metro Services, United Healthcare & Optum, and the Minnesota Department of Health. Thanks to your support, we’ve been able to provide full scholarships and deliver a high-impact summit experience that is accessible to all.
So—get ready! Let us move forward with renewed purpose to elevate every voice and expand access to mental wellness across every African community. Here’s to elevating every voice, expanding every doorway to care, and building a future where mental wellness is a reality for all.
Welcome to the 11th African Mental Health Summit - Elevating Voices, Expanding Access: Community Interventions Driving Mental Health Data & Transformation!
It is with deep gratitude and great excitement that we welcome you to the 2025 African Mental Health Summit, hosted by Progressive Individual Resources, Inc. and Restoration for All, Inc. We are honored to gather once again at the Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center for this vital convening of minds, hearts, and communities dedicated to advancing mental health equity for people of African descent.
Our theme this year, "Elevating Voices, Expanding Access: Community Interventions Driving Mental Health Data and Transformation," is a powerful call to action. It recognizes the essential role of community-driven solutions—not only in shaping narratives but also in generating meaningful data that drives policy, programming, and healing. We are entering a new chapter—one where lived experience is recognized as evidence, and healing begins with those closest to the pain and the promise.
Throughout the summit, we invite you to engage deeply in insightful sessions, dynamic panel discussions, and meaningful networking opportunities from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. It will be a day of shared learning, courageous dialogue, and community empowerment. Together, we will explore innovative strategies, celebrate resilience, and reimagine what mental health equity can look like for African individuals, families, and communities across the diaspora.
Congratulations to all of our 2025 AMHS Awardees! This special event is not only a tribute to excellence but also a recognition of the remarkable individuals and organizations that are trailblazing change, breaking down stigma, and transforming lives through their work in African mental health. Your unwavering commitment, visionary leadership, and passionate service continue to inspire us all. You are helping to shape a more just, compassionate, and mentally healthy future—and for that, we are deeply grateful.
We extend heartfelt thanks to our annual sponsors, whose continued generosity and partnership make this summit possible:
Minnesota Department of Human Services – Mental Health and Substance Use Division, Saint Paul-Ramsey County Public Health, Ramsey County Children’s Mental Health Collaborative, NAMI Minnesota, Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota, HealthPartners, Allina Health, New Concept Counseling, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Minnesota Alliance on Problem Gambling, Wellness in the Woods, Mains’l Services Brooklyn Park, St. David’s Center for Child & Family Development, PrairieCare Medical Group, Fairview Health Services, Metro Services, United Healthcare & Optum, and the Minnesota Department of Health. Thanks to your support, we’ve been able to provide full scholarships and deliver a high-impact summit experience that is accessible to all.
So—get ready! Let us move forward with renewed purpose to elevate every voice and expand access to mental wellness across every African community. Here’s to elevating every voice, expanding every doorway to care, and building a future where mental wellness is a reality for all.
Welcome to the 11th African Mental Health Summit!
Amb. Dr. Tolulope Monisola Ola (MPH)
Founder & Executive Director, Restoration for All (REFA) Inc. |
Richard Oni, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Progressive Individual Resources Inc. |