Aakoma Project Inc

THE AAKOMA PROJECT WORKS TO BUILD THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF INTERSECTIONAL YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS OF COLOR AND THEIR CAREGIVERS ON THE RECOGNITION AND IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH, EMPOWER YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES TO SEEK HELP AND MANAGE MENTAL HEALTH, AND INFLUENCE SYSTEMS AND SERVICES TO RECEIVE AND ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS OF COLOR AND THEIR FAMILIES.

IN 2023, THE AAKOMA PROJECT'S COMMITMENT TO RAISING CONSCIOUSNESS, EMPOWERING PEOPLE, AND CHANGING SYSTEMS LOOKED LIKE RAISING CONSCIOUSNESS THROUGH, 1.7B READERSHIP ACROSS MEDIA FEATURES, 14,500K+ FOLLOWERS AND 346,000+ IMPRESSIONS ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. AS WELL, THE AAKOMA PROJECT WAS FEATURED IN TOP GLOBAL OUTLETS INCLUDING ART BASEL, THE TODAY SHOW AND THE ASPEN INSTITUTE.

YOUTH OF COLOR ARE IN CRITICAL NEED OF IMPROVED MENTAL HEALTH; HOWEVER, RESEARCH ABOUT YOUTH OF COLOR IS MAINLY ABSENT. IN 2023, THE AAKOMA PROJECT PRODUCED 2 MAJOR REPORTS ON YOUTH OF COLOR MENTAL HEALTH; A FULL REPORT ON OVERALL MENTAL HEALTH, COUPLED WITH A GLOBAL ONLINE AUDIENCE FOCUSED EVENT AND A BRIEF ON YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS OF COLOR AND SOCIA MEDIA USE AND IMPACTS. IN 2023, AAKOMA ALSO TRAINED OUR COHORT OF YUTH OF COLOR LEADERS IN DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING MENTAL HEALTH CAMPAIGNS AND WE HOSTED A GALA TO HONOR THE YOUTH.

EMPOWERING PEOPLE WITH ACCESSIBLE TOOLS FOR ONGOING MENTAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT INCLUDING ENGAGING 13 YOUTH FROM THREE COUNTRIES TO JOIN TEAM AAKOMA (OUR YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND ADVISORY BOARD) RECEIVING TRAINING, LEADERSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES WHO ALSO STOOD TALL AND INITIATED MENTAL HEALTH CONVERSATIONS WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. NOTABLY 100% OF OUR AAKOMA PROJECT FREE THERAPY NETWORK PROVIDERS ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND/OR PEOPLE WITH EXPERTISE IN PROVIDING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE CARE. AAKOMA HAS COORDINATED HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF FREE MENTAL HEALTHCARE (VIA OUR NATIONAL PROVIDER NETWORK REFERRAL SERVICE) TO YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS OF COLOR AGES 12-30 REACHING PEOPLE OF COLOR IN ALMOST HALF 52 STATES AND U.S. TERRITORIES. OUR WORK ALSO REACHES INDIVIDUALS ON A PERSONAL LEVEL VIA OUR ACTIVITIES LIKE TEACHING VIRTUAL MINDFULNESS MEDITATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR, CONNECTING STUDENTS WITH MENTORS FROM OUR NETWORK, AND PROVIDING LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, INTERNSHIPS, AND JOBS.

CHANGING SYSTEMS TO PROMOTE YOUTH WELLBEING AND PROVIDE BETTER CARE: AAKOMA LEADS IN THE PRODUCTION OF RIGOROUS, CULTURALLY-RELEVANT SCIENCE AT THE INTERSECTION OF TRADITIONAL CLINICAL RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGED RESEARCH. WE WORK TO ENSURE THAT RESEARCHERS, RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, AND ASSOCIATIONS RECOGNIZE AND PRIORITIZE DATA AND STUDIES THAT FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF THE WIDEST RANGE OF YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS POSSIBLE. IN 2023, WE ALSO SUPPORTED CLOSE TO 500 HOURS OF FREE THERAPY NOTING THAT 168 PROVIDERS ARE PART OF AAKOMA'S FREE THERAPY NETWORK, PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH, AND REDUCING THE STIGMA AROUND MENTAL ILLNESS.