Culver City-based group the Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM) celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, continuing its work “building a different model for mental health that is dependent on community, culture and ‘collective care over crisis response.’”
BEAM started out as a grassroots effort in 2016, founded by wellness practitioner and founder Yolo Akili Robinson. Since then, it has “grown into a nationally recognized movement through BEAM,” according to a statement. “After experiencing how challenging harmful systems of care overtreated, overlooked and even overpoliced individuals and families, Yolo is leading BEAM in creating new ones rooted in equity, accessibility, and the belief that healing is a collective act.”
In its decade of existence, BEAM has: “Distributing over $600,000 to Black-led grassroots mental health organizations; Provided $200,000 in direct financial support to families navigating mental health challenges; and Trained more than 15,000 people in community-based healing and crisis response.”
To celebrate the last 10 years, BEAM is launching Black Healing Remixed: Regulate to Resist, “a month-long virtual series focused on building sustainable, community-based approaches to mental health during the month of May.” The News asked the company (as a collective) about it all.
When was BEAM founded, by who, and what prompted it?
BEAM (Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective) was founded in 2016 by Yolo Akili Robinson. Yolo has been working in community health for over a decade and felt the way mental health systems were designed didn’t speak to the heart of folks’ needs. Through his own struggles, he wanted to create a system that would help him and the people he cared for. He launched BEAM to create grassroots, community friendly care systems that showed up where people are, such as barbershops, salons, churches, etc., to help those who needed it most.
Who is it for?
BEAM is designed for anyone and everyone who lives, and wants to better support Black and marginalize communities including women, LGBTQ+ individuals and those who have historically been underserved by traditional mental health systems.
At its core, BEAM gives people real tools and skills and resources to cope and heal in their lives.
Can you briefly go over some of the services provided?
BEAM provides a range of programs that expand how mental health support is delivered beyond traditional clinical settings. This includes:
- Healing Circles in Los Angeles: BEAM offers monthly healing circles one is in partnership with WalkGood L.A and brings together men and boys. The space teaches reflexive emotional skills and relationship skills building, followed by yoga, a sound bath and food.
- HeartSpace: Our monthly healing circle changes themes each month, making space for families and communities to come together to learn different skills like Emotional Freedom Technique, or tapping, emotional regulation and communication strategies for conflict.
- Parent Support Fund: We provide direct cash to families navigating mental health challenges.
- BEAM also offers front line mental health trainings for community leaders, barbers, stylists and parents to help them better intervene in and support mental health crises.
Together, these offerings are designed to build infrastructure for care that is rooted in community, not just systems.
In these turbulent times, is the need for a group like BEAM greater than ever?
Absolutely. In moments of social, political and economic uncertainty, the need for accessible, culturally responsive mental health support becomes even more critical.
Many traditional systems still fall short in meeting the needs of Black communities, which makes BEAM’s approach which is grounded in healing justice and community care, not just relevant, but essential. What BEAM offers is both immediate support and long-term solutions: tools people can use today, and frameworks that help reimagine what care can look like for the future.
How can people help / get help?
For those seeking support, BEAM offers a wide range of free and low-cost resources, including toolkits, trainings and community-based programming that is held in-person and virtually. Check our calendar for our monthly spaces in L.A that always have free and discounted tickets for the community.
For those looking to support the work, there are multiple ways to get involved. We encourage them to donate to our organization, volunteer or identify opportunities to partner with BEAM through their workplaces and communities.They can also learn more by visiting us online at https://beam.community or following us on Instagram at @_beamorg.