About Us
CONGRATULATIONS IACA CYCLE #8 NONPROFIT
GRANT RECIPIENT, DARKNESS RISING PROJECT NONPROFIT!
Click here to learn about Cycle #22 artist grant winner,
Octavio Daniel Rodriguez Juarez.
The following are excerpts from their proposal:
Darkness RISING Project Nonprofit was created to help those in the Black community begin conversations with their family, coworkers, and friends about their mental health and emotional well-being. We accomplish this by partnering with mental health providers and/or mental health educators to create events, seminars, and sessions where the intersection between mental health education and the arts collide.
Darkness RISING offers 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.
Darkness RISING Project Nonprofit aims to:
-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
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Main Programs / Services:
- Black Mental Health Provider Database: A free database of Black mental health providers, free for providers and users
- Black Mental Health Resource Packet: A free digital resource packet with culturally competent mental health directories, apps, podcast, organizations, advocates and more
- Darkness RISING: Live - Annual inspiration Black mental health concert featuring Broadway performers.
- Help Me Find a Therapist Program: A free program in partnership with mental health nonprofits Depressed While Black and Darkness Rising that directly assists community members in the search for Black therapists. Users fill out a digital form to make customized requests for culturally competent therapy, tips for their first therapy consultation, and more.
- Music and Mental Health Video Series: Music videos featuring music and choreography from our inspirational cover album, performed by Broadway & NYC performers. Each video includes a Q&A with an artist about mental health in our community.
- Virtual Show: A virtual performance by our Broadway singers, with or without a mental health discussion with licensed mental health providers (based on your needs).
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We hope to use funding towards Darkness RISING: Live - Our annual inspiration Black mental health concert featuring Broadway performers.
We plan to pay for:
- Artist payments (performers)
- Mental Health Providers (speakers)
- Project documentation (video + photography)
- Venue rental
- Covid safety measures
Our community needs support. As the Black community grapples with the ongoing pain of racism, the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19, and health disparities, culturally competent mental health support becomes imperative. Darkness RISING: Live 4 is especially for our neighbors to experience Broadway artists right in their backyard and receive important resources. We use art to share resources and provide the tools we need to cope.
Integrity: Arts & Culture Association is honored to approve
Darkness RISING Project Nonprofit's Funding request and we wish
them continued success in their highly purposeful mission.
Your nonprofit organization may be the next grant winner! Click here to apply.
There is no specific type of artist that we focus on or primarily support. Creative expression comes in a wide variety of artistic disciplines and genres. We are looking for passion and excellence in your craft. Tell us why your work is important to you and how you hope it will impact others.
Where Eagles Soar (Isaiah 40:31)
Carlita Victoria, Founder/ Executive Director
Website: www.darknessrisingproject.org
Congratulations to Darkness RISING on a successful grant application!
DARKNESS RISING LIVE:
Inspirational concert by Broadway singers and
mental health professionals which explores
experiences with mental illness and provides mental health resources for intersectional communities.
BRAND NEW DAY:
This is featured in our Music & Mental Health Video Series. This video was created in response to Black community dealing with the ongoing pain of racism, as well as the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19. Providing mental health support and resources becomes imperative. The goal of the video is to encourage our community to spend time outdoors, moving our
bodies. A Black therapist is featured, providing more insight, tips and tools.
