The Braid Foundation

Ready to take action this Mental Health Awareness Month?
Be a part of something that spreads information, awareness, and access for youth in Shelby County.

Join the Youth Connect Ambassador Program 💚
Link in bio!

Mental health matters everyday, but this month hits a little different, it’s Mental Health Awareness Month. 💚

At Youth Connect, supporting young people is what we do best. So this is your reminder to check in on a young person, start the conversation, share a resource, or tell them about Youth Connect.

Small moments can make a big difference. Breaking the stigma starts with you!!

📣 Grateful. Honored. Still working.

The Braid is a local, woman-led nonprofit committed to amplifying mental health awareness, access, and advocacy in our community. Through our partnership with the Shelby County Youth & Family Resource Center-YFRC, local therapists, and local youth serving organizations; Youth Connect provides Shelby County youth (ages 13–18) with access to 12 free therapy sessions with trusted local therapists.

We are deeply grateful to Brown Missionary Baptist Church and all of our generous funders who have invested in this work and awarded us the resources to continue serving our youth. To date we have served over 500 youth and held 2000 Sessions in less than 2 years. Because of you, therapy is becoming more accessible for families across Shelby County.

Watch our feature on WREG’s Greater Memphis on a Mission ➡️
https://wreg.com/greater-memphis-on-a-mission/greater-memphis-on-a-mission-youth-connect/

Learn more and support our mission at 👉 www.thebraidfoundation.org 💛

Youth Connect is a non-profit organization that supports mental health wellness in our community, providing teens, aged 13 to 18, with easy access to mental health support through free therapy services.

Watch this week's 'Greater Memphis On A Mission' to learn more about this organization making a difference: https://wreg.com/greater-memphis-on-a-mission/greater-memphis-on-a-mission-youth-connect/

Summer will be here before we know it, and Youth Connect is ready to plan ahead! ☀️

If your organization serves youth and you’re looking to strengthen mental health support you offer this summer, let’s collaborate!

We provide free therapy for youth ages 13-18 in Shelby County and we’d love to partner with programs, camps, churches, and community groups to make sure young people have acesss to support when they need it most!

Survive the snow days!

A few days of snow? Cool.
Snowed in all week? That’s a bit tough. ❄️
Dropping a few reminders to help you take care of yourself while stuck inside.
Stay safe, stay warm, and be kind to yourself!

💙

The Braid Foundation serves to amplify mental health advocacy, awareness, and access here in the Midsouth. We are so honored to be supported by fellow disruptors, but most importantantly change agents right here in our community. This Thursday, December 11th at 8 PM, Chaos for a Cause is raising money to support our work and to continue support for youth and adults that want to invest in their mental health. Thank you for thinking of us! 🫶🏾

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ORIGINAL POST:

🌨️🖤Chaos for a Cause🧠💧returns with a night centered around the reality of seasonal depression and the power of community. Join us as we channel the heaviness of winter into something meaningful.

🧠This show is to raise funds for The Braid Foundation. 💕

This organization is dedicated to providing mental health support and creative programming for youth and adults.
Our goal is 💰$250 and ✨every dollar past that will be split among the performers.✨

🌆:
🗓️: Thurs, Dec 11
🕰️: 8pm
🚪: $10 and goes directly to donations.
🍹: Specialty drinks will be available. $1 from each purchase will go towards donations.

Check out Dr. Neik!

✨ Cheers to our final staff spotlight — Dr. Shaneika Smith! Co-Executive Director of The Braid Foundation Dr. Smith brings the energy, expertise, and heart that make Youth Connect what it is. 💜 Listen in as she shares her role and what she loves most about Youth Connect! 🎧

This is why we advocate for access.
Why we keep showing up.
Why we don’t quit when we’re exhausted.
Our young people are carrying so much—and they shouldn’t have to carry it alone.
❤️‍🔥 THIS. IS. OUR. WHY.

⭐️ SHARE ⭐️ SHARE ⭐️ SHARE ⭐️ SHARE ⭐️

We’re still offering ‼️FREE‼️therapy services to youth aged 13-18 in Shelby County, TN!

Youth can register here 👉🏾 https://www.thebraidfoundation.org/youth-connect-therapists-1

🌟 Youth Connect Turns ONE! 🌟

A year ago, around Memorial Day Weekend, Youth Connect officially launched as a bold collaboration between The Braid Foundation and the Shelby County Youth & Family Resource Center (YFRC) — and what a year it’s been! Youth Connect makes it possible for youth aged 13-18 to get FREE therapy (12 sessions) as long as they are a Shelby County resident.

In just 12 months, we’ve:

🧠 Provided therapy services to 345 youth across Shelby County
💬 Held over 1,389 therapy sessions with care, compassion, and cultural relevance
🌱 Connected with 5 community partners to bring mental health care to our youth IN their communities. Shout out to Giddy Up, Love Hope Grace, Memphis Public Libraries, Peer Power, The Pursuit Center, & Red Door Urban Ministries‼️

This past week, we gathered for our annual program review, reflecting on everything we’ve accomplished — and everything still ahead. Our hope for this upcoming year? To reach even more youth, continue to reduce wait times, and deepen trust across our communities. 💛

None of this would be possible without our village.

🙏🏾 Thank you to our community partners who opened their doors and welcomed us into their spaces to offer therapy in safe, familiar settings.

💼 Deep gratitude to the local therapists and therapy practices who pledged their time, energy, and hearts to this work. We cannot transform the mental health landscape without a strong, supported mental health workforce. See these amazing practices and individuals below👇🏾

To our Shelby County community — thank you for believing in Youth Connect. This is your program. These are our young people. And this is just the beginning.

Shelby County Youth who are 13-18 years old castill register for FREE therapy here: https://www.thebraidfoundation.org/youth-connect-therapists-1