HBCU GO Series Focuses On Mental Health
• Byron Allen‘s Allen Media Group (AMG) and its free-streaming digital platform, HBCU GO, is partnering with the ARC 12 Project on a series of one-hour and half-hour specials focused on mental health and its impact on the youth population.
The Arc 12 Project: Open Lines was inspired and co-created by Howard University Senior Noah Thierry, bringing together HBCU students and young influencers battling severe mental health issues. The one-hour premiere episode of The Arc 12 Project: Open Lines will air this Saturday, May 28 at 1pm ET and 7pm ET, hosted by former WPGC/Washington morning talent Joe Clair. The show will also be available on demand on June 2 via the hbcugo.tv app.
Gary Bernstein, COO of Oceanic Tradewinds and Executive Producer of Open Lines, said, “It’s absolutely critical now to have honest and unfiltered discussions surrounding mental health. Whether it’s dating, depression, drugs, sexuality, suicide, or cyber-bullying, the goal of The Arc 12 Project: Open Lines is to engage, inspire, and empower the youth culture facing similar problems.” Bernstein added, “Besides raising awareness through authentic and revolutionary programming, there is also a responsibility to raise funds through the selling of candles — all to support very necessary mental health initiatives in and around the nation’s 105 Historically Black Colleges and Universities. We will be partnering with Nordstrom stores along with various radio entities in each city for on-site activations across the country.”
HBCU GO Co-Founder & President Curtis Symonds commented, “We are proud to be the first network to support a revolutionary program around mental health among people of color. The Arc 12 Project: Open Lines excites our team because the idea and movement emanated organically from a single HBCU student and his father trying to navigate their own complex mental health journey.”
Noah Thierry noted, “I’m lucky to have the constant support from my family and access to resources to help me battle my own mental health challenges each and every day. I know so many others within my generation who aren’t as fortunate. I’m motivated to change the narrative with this magnificent movement through media and social/ grassroots platforms such as the The Arc 12 Project: Open Lines.”
