About

Darkness RISING is a mental health awareness 501(c)3 nonprofit. We offer free community wellness workshops geared toward people of color, inspirational cover songs, visual albums, and live concerts created by Black Broadway and theatre professionals, many who have experienced a mental health condition. Our goal is to inspire conversations about mental health, address issues which directly affect the Black community, connect attendees to resources, and erase the stigma.

OUR MISSION

Improve

the health and wellness of the Black community

Raise

awareness about mental health in our community

Empower

and engage our community via resources, events and services.

Erase

the negative stigma of mental health issues

Events

Love In The Time of Covid

Wednesday, 2/10, 6pm EST, Virtual event on Zoom

The Ultimate A Vision Board Party​

Wednesday, 1/13, 6pm EST, Online

The Ultimate A Vision Board Party​

Wednesday, 1/6, 6pm EST, Online

charles calloway relieve your holiday financial stress

Relieve Your Holiday Financial Stress with Charles Calloway

Wednesday, 12/16, 6pm EST, Online

#GivingTuesday

Tuesday, 12/01

Afro Cardio Jam with Johari Mayfield

Afro-Cardio Jam with Johari

Wednesday, 11/25, 6pm EST, Facebook Live

relax relate release

Wellness Workshop:
Relax, Relate, Release

Wednesday 10/21, 6pm EST, Facebook Live

DJ CEO

Fundraising Party with DJ CEO &
Black Tap NYC

Saturday, 10/24, 5pm EST, Twitch

Afro Cardio Jam with Johari Mayfield

Afro Cardio Jam
with Johari Mayfield

Wednesday 9/30, 6pm EST, Online

Fellas, Y'all Alright? A Conversation about
black men's mental health

Wednesday 8/19, 6pm EST, Facebook Live

Healing Yoga The YOMA Method

Saturday 6/27, 10am Online

Darkness RISING Virtual Concert

Friday 5/29 7pm Facebook Live

Board Members

Collin Howard

Director of Creative Content

Nichole Ramirez

Grant Specialist

Cathey Ector-Cox

Program Director

Tamala Baldwin

Director of Marketing

Nichole Ramirez

Grant Specialist

Collin Howard

Director of Creative Content

Founder

carlita victoria

Founding Director

What We Do

Wellness Workshops

We offer free wellness workshops throughout the year, including: Meditation, Fitness, Yoga, Adult Coloring, Community Forums & more

Mental Health Resources

Our free Black mental health resource packet includes databases of Black therapists, apps, podcasts, blogs, advocates and more.

Music & Mental Health

Our Broadway singers perform at live events and virtually, singing songs of hope. Our video series includes singing, dancing + conversations about mental health

CollinHoward-print-JTG_4791-2-scaled.jpg

Director of Creative Content

Collin L. Howard

Collin L. Howard is a performer, producer, hospitality expert and an overall culture enthusiast. Originally from Piscataway NJ, Collin graduated from the prestigious Hartt School at The University of Hartford in West Hartford, CT where he earned his B.F.A. in Music Theatre and now resides in Harlem. He has performed Off- Broadway, regionally as well as in film and television. A proud member of Darkness RISING since its inception, Collin is an inaugural member of its Board of Trustees as well as Director of Creative Content. He firmly believes in making mental health and self-care awareness more accessible to the Black community; with a strong emphasis in the destigmatizing of addiction.

Board Member

Shani Graves, LMHC

Shani Graves, LMHC is a licensed psychotherapist and speaker. She is passionate about providing safe spaces for BIPOC individuals to grow and heal. Shani is the owner of SG Wellness PLLC, a group psychotherapy practice located in the heart of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. SG Wellness PLLC provides therapy, workshops and support to adults for stress management, self-esteem, anxiety/depression and interpersonal relationships. Shani has been featured in online publications such as Bustle, Books for Better Living and Allure Magazine. 

For more information: sgcounselingnyc.com 

Program Director

Cathey Ector-Cox

Cathey EctorCox has been involved with youth, community advocacy, and volunteer initiatives for more than 27 years. She currently serves as the Youth Services Director in the City of Raleigh Community Engagement Division, and is a Nonprofit Consultant. 

Cathey oversees the Raleigh Pathways Center, which houses a portfolio of workforce development programs, services and resources meant to increase opportunity and provide clear pathways to success for young adults. 

Cathey plays a vital role in the facilitation, organizing and planning of youth programs, community offerings, and services.  She is knowledgeable in the areas of community development, strategic planning and administrative management.  She works with youth service organizations by finding real time solutions to community issues, while simultaneously working with local government, grantors, and other stakeholders in order to create collaborative partnerships in bringing those solutions to fruition.  

TAMALA BALDWIN

Director of Marketing

Tamala Baldwin

Tamala is an award-winning filmmaker that writes stories designed to excite the imagination. She is known for the series, Bubbly Brown Sugar, which has taken home accolades for Best Series at major festivals including the International Newark Film Festival in 2019. Her work has also won awards at the Austin Revolution Film Festival, the Imagine This Women’s International Film Festival, the International Black Film Festival, and others. Tamala holds a MBA in Media Management and currently teaches business on a collegiate level. Tamala is the founder of Soul Kisses Productions, a production company based in NYC. Tamala has worked with Billboard Charting artists like Justin Timberlake, 50 Cent, Mandy Moore, and Snoop Dogg; with major record labels like Warner Brothers, Columbia, Universal and for mega brands such as Energizer, Vans, Photobucket, Myspace, and Eventful throughout her career.