Activism

Frank Discussion on Men and Boys’ Mental Health

The Men and Boys Action Team is comprised of those who self-identify as male across the lifespan for discussion of mental health awareness and education. The team is led by William Spence Casey, a licensed clinical social worker with the Marin County Veterans Services Office, and Otis Bruce Jr., Marin County Assistant District Attorney.

Published

4 years ago

May 13, 2022

Oakland Post

Community in-person event titled ‘Redefining Strength’ on May 19

Courtesy of Marin County

Across their life spans, men and boys shy away from seeking mental health support particularly in times of distress, and that can be a key risk factor of suicide and other behavioral health issues.

To raise awareness, the Marin County Suicide Prevention Collaborative’s Men and Boys Action Team and the County of Marin’s Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) are hosting an in-person session called “Redefining Strength: A Conversation About Men and Boys’ Mental Health” at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 19, at the Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael. Online registration is open and required for attendance. The event is being held in partnership with the grassroots group RxSafe Marin, the Marin County District Attorney’s Office, and the Marin County Probation Department.

During the event, the collaborating partners will roll out their Redefining Strength campaign and hear from expert panelists before opening the community conversation about men and boys’ mental health and well-being and how to ask for help.

Through both its event and campaign, the Men and Boys Action Team is taking steps to inspire new thinking and actions among men and boys who are not known to seek help around mental health issues, suicidality, substance use, or addiction. After the event, the organizers will continue to listen and learn from men and boys and share the findings.

Casey, in his 18th year assisting military veterans, said his work fits well with his love of military history, his family of veterans, and his enjoyment of helping people.

“I am very proud to be a co-leader with the Men and Boys Action Team for the collaborative,” Casey said. “Our primary goal is to normalize a discussion around suicide prevention and mental illness. I’ve concluded from my life experience and profession that mental illness is part thief and part silent killer. When untreated and unidentified, it robs us of our time, joy, and happiness and, in a sense, our lives.”

Bruce leads the DA’s Office’s social justice and equity programs and serves as the community liaison and policy coordinator. A youth mentor and trial prosecutor in Marin for more than 30 years, he is dedicated to ensuring that youth and adults receive support and services for psychologically healthy, productive, and happy lives.

“Since the COVID-19 pandemic increased our community’s mental health issues, it is now important to encourage frank, open, and candid conversations around mental health, recovery, and wellness among men, young men, and boys who may be struggling,” Bruce said.

Among the team’s youth members is Deyne Jurie, a Dominican University student who became an intern and joined the team in the fall of 2021.

“It’s very interesting to be on a team with older men who have lived through or experienced mental health,” Jurie said. “As a college student, I represent the transitional stage from college to adult life for our team. Once the campaign launches, I plan to post it on my social media to reach my age group.”

Twice a month, the Suicide Prevention Collaborative’s Men and Boys Team hosts community meetings with presentations and discussions on topics about what it means to ask for help, how to help others, and ways to cope using healthy and positive strategies.

Dave Cort, the Executive Director of the San Geronimo Valley Community Center, regularly attends the monthly meetings and is a member of the Men and Boys Team.

“This work really captured my interest, especially because two of my close friends lost their sons to overdose,” Cort said. “The structure of the team and its focus on both men and boys with diverse lived experiences and a broad age range was also appealing. I have had an extremely great experience with the team because I can hear from high school and college guys as well as men of all colors.”

BHRS Director Dr. Jei Africa said the event is an opportunity to directly address the stigma of men and boys’ mental health. “What the Men and Boys Action Team is showing us is that we can be each other’s keeper and look out for one another when we’re in pain or struggling,” Africa said.

Locally, the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) oversees government-funded behavioral health and recovery services. If you or someone you know is in mental health distress, find resources on https://prevention.marinbhrs.org/or contact:

Marin Suicide Prevention Hotline: (415) 499-1100

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1 (800) 273-8255 y en Español: 1 (888) 628-9454

The Trevor Lifeline: 1 (866) 488-7386

Friendship Line (for 60 and older): 1 (800) 971-0016

Crisis Text Line: Text MARIN to 741741

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Activism

Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

Published

1 week ago

August 29, 2026

Post News Group

Dawna Williams, EOBA executive director speaks to attendees at the Black August Eperience on Aug. 21. Photo courtesy of Carolyn Flynn of EOBA.

By Jana Lang Propel Youth Reporter

Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA) and Youth Alive! came together on Aug. 21 to share with their community all that Black August means to them.

Held on EOBA’s patio at 816 98th Ave. in Deep East Oakland, the two organizations hosted their second annual Black August Experience, featuring a food tasting, financial literacy and mindfulness workshops, and voter registration with the League of Women Voters Oakland (LWV).

Black August is known as a time to uphold the legacy of prisoners who protested their conditions by fasting, fighting, and educating themselves on the economic and political circumstances that contributed to their incarceration.

According to its website, “EOBA is a multi-service youth and community development hub that goes far beyond the ring. While rooted in the discipline of boxing, for nearly 40 years EOBA has also integrated robust programs in workforce development, food justice, afterschool enrichment, financial literacy, mentorship, and wellness.”.

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

Through Coro California, another leadership organization serving young people across the state for 80 years, they gained a broader understanding of Black August.

EOBA Executive Director Dawna Williams spoke about how much she learned about Black August from the youth who created it. “I let them educate me,” she said. Instead of talking about prison reform and mass incarceration, Williams and youth interns found that Black August meant so much more. “We would have done a disservice if we had just focused on who the people were and what their situation was…We tried to take their message from back in the day and make it relevant to the young people today. What do they need to know?”

Youth interns created and placed posters around the patio to help participants understand how traditional Black foodways, civic engagement, financial literacy, and the power of education are relevant to Black resistance today.

An EOBA member described Black August with Youth ALIVE! as “a whole vibe. “This year we added the Fun Zone for the kids, because you really cannot go wrong with a Fun Zone. I also loved seeing everyone chillin’ in the outdoor lounge, catching some Vitamin D and just enjoying a Friday evening together.”

The food tasting, a popular event from last year, featured traditional Black foods such as black-eyed peas, johnny cakes, and fried chicken. Led by Williams, the tasting included a talk about how these traditional foods were made and why they are forms of Black resilience.

The “‘Plate of History’ was a favorite of the online writers. “Fun, educational, and did I mention delicious? Our Taste of History cook, Angela Southall, served up some good eats while connecting food to history and culture.”

The writer also commended the “League of Women Voters Oakland for their civic leadership and for getting our young people informed, ready, and registered to vote.”

Overall, it was a “good Friday event in East Oakland,” the writer said.

Upcoming Black August events: Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), will host “Black August: The Arc of Liberation” at Oakland City Hall on Sat. Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The websites for East Oakland Boxing Association, Youth Alive! and CORO are sources for this report.

Jana Lang is an Oakland resident, teacher, gardener and poet participating in the Propel News Initiative.