National event coming to help TU men 'Just Heal'

By Kyle Hobstetter on April 28, 2022

Towson University continues to find unique ways to offer mental health support for its students.

On Monday, May 2, Towson University will host the Baltimore stop of the Just Heal Bro tour, a panel discussion and educational programming event that promotes emotional and mental healing for men of color.

The free event takes place at the University Union Theatre, located on the building’s third floor. The event starts at 6 p.m. and is free and open to Towson University students who identify as a male of color, to ensure a safe space for their transparency and healing.

“It is important for our students to recognize the signs and symptoms associated with mental health,” says Patricia Bradley, Vice President for Inclusion and Institutional Equity, and a member of the planning committee for the event. “They should be able to identify issues with their peers and with themselves and know where to get help if they are struggling.”

Due to limited space, students who are interested in attending must register through involved.towson.edu.

The discussion is a collaborative effort involving many campus partners and sponsors including the Division of Student Affairs, the Office of Inclusion and Institutional Equity, Student Activities, the Counseling Center, Towson University Athletics, the College of Fine Arts & Communications, University Advancement, Student Success Programs, Student Government Association and the Towson Black Alumni Alliance.

Kenneth Abrams ’92, the president of the Towson Black Alumni Alliance, initially suggested the organizations bring the Just Heal Bro event to campus. The idea came to him after he spoke with students at a meeting for Man 2 Man, TU’s peer program geared toward men of color at Towson University. 

“It is excellent that Towson students are able to interact with these distinguished guest speakers,” Abrams says about the event. “To begin the healing process, we must be honest and candid in our discussions. TU students will learn about some of the vast resources which will assist them in their path.”

Panelists for the event come from a variety of different backgrounds and occupations. They include:

• Jay Barnett - former NFL player, author, motivational speaker and licensed therapist
• Lamman Rucker - an actor, educator, activist and entrepreneur
• O’Shan Gadsden - assistant professor of psychology for Norfolk State University
• Lawrence Adjah - pastor and relational intelligence expert
• Richard Burton - actor, played Sean “Shamrock” McGinty on the HBO drama “The Wire”
• Jermaine Lewis - former Baltimore Ravens pro bowler and Super Bowl champion

The event will allow students not only to hear from this panel, but also allow students to discuss the issues they’re dealing with in a safe space with those who might experiencing similar issues.

“Our students can expect deep, rich, blunt, conversations regarding the mental health of black men in America,” says Rafael Cordwell, director of University Affiliated Housing at Towson University. “I’m hoping that it will encourage our students to speak more about those mental health and depression issues and not keep them bottled up.

“I am hoping that they learn it’s okay to speak to someone about the issues they may be having.” 

While this event is just a one-time event, TU provides similar programming year-round. Other examples include:

• Man 2 Man — the peer program geared toward men of color, hosted by Student Success Programs.
• Generation One — a program hosted by Student Success Programs and the Counseling Center that provides first generation college students tailored mentoring and guidance to help them through their TU journey.
• Counseling Center outreach programs — The TU Counseling Center offers workshops and trainings open to the university community. Counseling Center staff are available to present programs on a wide variety of topics to TU student organizations, classes, university departments, faculty, staff and offices that serve TU students.
• Center for Student Diversity programs — The Towson University Center for Student Diversity helps provide academic, social and transition support for underserved students and promote exchanges and dialogue between individuals with diverse backgrounds and identities.

As Towson University continues a focus on students’ mental health, it has been a goal of university leadership to provide these types of events and programs to help students during their time on campus.  

“Students spend the majority of their days on campus. In this climate, they need a space to deal with the daily stressors of life,” Bradley says. “We need to normalize mental health by treating it as something everyone should expect to go through and that it is a part of life.”