Taraji P. Henson Hosts Inaugural 'Can We Talk?' Benefit Dinner For Her Mental Health-Focused Foundation
The star-studded black-tie event for the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation will benefit African-Americans seeking more affordable therapy options.
WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 07: <> at The Newseum on June 07, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation)
Taraji P. Henson held the inaugural “Can We Talk?” Benefit Dinner for her foundation this past Friday Night in Washington D.C., a continuation of her work towards building mental health awareness in the African American community.
The star-studded black-tie event for the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation kicked off a 2-day conference dedicated to supporting African-Americans who seek therapy but may not otherwise have the means to cover costs.
WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 07: Taraji P. Henson attends The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation Hosts Inaugural “Can We Talk?” Benefit Dinner at The Newseum on June 07, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation )
The likes of Charlamagne Tha God, Morris Chestnut, Traci Braxton, Roz White, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, and BLHF Youth Ambassador Isan Elba were on hand for the dinner.
WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 07: Radio host Charlamagne tha God attends The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation Inaugural “Can We Talk?” Benefit Dinner at The Newseum on June 07, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation)
Actress, singer, and activist Jenifer Lewis was honored with the inaugural “I Rise” Award for her trailblazing efforts to combat the stigma around mental illness and seeking mental health services. Dr. Altha J. Stewart, the first African American and the first woman to be named President of the American Psychiatric Association, was the keynote speaker for the night.
WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 07: Jennifer Lewis attends The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation Inaugural “Can We Talk?” Benefit Dinner at The Newseum on June 07, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation )
WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 07: Dr. Altha J. Stewart, President of the American Psychiatric Association, attends The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation Inaugural “Can We Talk?” Benefit Dinner at The Newseum on June 07, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation )
The benefit dinner came just hours after Henson testified in front of the newly formed Congressional Black Caucus Emergency Taskforce on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health.
WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 07: Morris Chestnut attends The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation Inaugural “Can We Talk?” Benefit Dinner at The Newseum on June 07, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation)
WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 07: Traci Braxton and Taraji P. Henson attend The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation Hosts Inaugural “Can We Talk?” Benefit Dinner at The Newseum on June 07, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation)
“In the African-American community, we don’t deal with mental health issues,” Henson said in her testimony. “We don’t even talk about it. We’ve been taught to pray our problems away. We’ve been demonized for coming out saying we have issues. And we have trust issues.”
