The big green balloon project

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” — Maya Angelou 

I started D.E.W in 2005 based off of being a research based organization, who has worked with young women with substance abuse and mental health illness. The passion for breaking silence of the "stigma " given toward the young women was heartbreaking.  
In the beginning of my freshmen year, I started getting involved with our counseling and testing department, working with suicide awareness, creating projects such as S.T.E.P  Up  
Suicide Training Education and Prevention for University. Participants (STEP UP) and grant writing with a great team for  for $15,000 for Active Minds.  

Sustainability ....

Working along with Dr. Anthony  Brown, former Vice Chancellor of  Student Affairs and Dr. Roosevelt Askew, former Counselor at the university of ECSU, I had the privilege to attend SAMSHA conferences , CDC events and Lonnie E. Mitchell conference, where I spoke on Sustainability for mini grants, Stigma and Mental Health awareness. Given this opportunity I was former student government president of my university and very passionate about sustainability, my former colleague and I formed a sustainability project with my vice president of finances and vice president of internal affairs, where she has lead the university and community into a go-green environment. 

What is Mental Health????

You don’t have to be an expert to talk about mental health . Sometimes, just doing the little things, like asking someone how they are, is all it takes to let someone know you're still thinking about them and make a big difference to how they're feeling

After graduating from ECSU with a B.A. in political science and public administration, I anted to explore more into mental health and prevention programs, that is where I enrolled in the Public Health program. My practicum and thesis was on "The stigma in the African American community of Baltimore , MD for receiving therapeutic help."  I was working in Annapolis, MD for the Office of Public Affairs , and notice that in the mental health court it was always the same "STIGMA" it was the same young adolescent that was fearful of their capabilities  and couldn't understand the proper way to channel it. I told my former supervisor Angelita Plemmer, Director of OSPA, "We all have a little  mental health illness inside of using, it is like a ticking bomb, but with the right help and prevention programs to have us aware of signs and ways to channel it, we all would feel safe again to go to the movies, or send our children to school."  It that is where the "Big Green Balloon Project" comes into play. 

There are lots of simple, everyday ways you can support someone who has a mental health problem.

The Big Green Balloon Project! Make a PLEDGE 

Our goal is to educate, encourage and inspire others about mental health issues and treatments in an effort to end stigma and foster hope.

Our Vision
- To educate people that depression and most mental illnesses are treatable.
- To encourage people to live a healthier life through education and treatment.
- To inspire others to talk about mental health issues and create support.

We hope to inspire you to inspire others as well. Make a PLEDGE 

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