'Healing Starts With Us' National Campaign Commits to Battling Depression - By Any Means...( Goal To Secure 1 Million ...),Health

Goal To Secure 1 Million Pledges By Independence Day

NEW YORK, March 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the "Healing Starts With Us" national campaign launches its website Healingstartswithus.net to create a grassroots online network that will mobilize and promote the campaign's goal to reach 1 million pledges by Independence Day, July 4, 2008.

The campaign's website comes after an overflowing crowd of community, civic, social, political leaders and entertainers including Academy Award(R) nominee Ruby Dee, John Amos, Mo'Nique, Terry McMillan, HBO's The Wire co-stars Jamie Hector and Felicia "Snoop" Pearson and Rev. Al Sharpton united on March 18, 2008 for the launch of the "Healing Starts With Us" campaign, moderated by Susan L. Taylor and Geoffrey Canada. More than 700 attendees gathered at the historic Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial & Educational Center (formerly known as The Audubon Ballroom) to listen as celebrity guests read excerpts from Terrie M. Williams' latest book, BLACK PAIN: It Just Looks Like We're Not Hurting. Following the dramatic readings, in what has become the campaign's trademark, Williams engaged the audience in an "Open Book healing Q&A" discussion - which lead to an outpouring of audience members sharing moving testimonials that dealt with rape, death, and other traumas - including Terry McMillan, Felicia "Snoop" Pearson who shared incredibly touching stories of their own trials. Mo'Nique brought the evening full circle by sharing publicly for the first time her struggle with depression, and credited her husband Sidney who recognized and suggested her need for therapy. Said Mo'Nique, "I thought depression was a white woman's disease; my sistahs and brothas, I'm here to tell you that it does not discriminate."

The historic launch marked an important day in the history of the community, recognizing the opportunity to raise awareness and voices about issues facing men and women at every age and stage of life.
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