FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Atlanta, GA, February 5, 2019

PRESS RELEASE:

The city of Atlanta is about to host a major event geared towards addressing a serious issue within the urban community: Mental Illness! The Courage to Believe International’s 5th Annual Community Crime Solutions Panel has done it again! They’ve put together a very interesting group of powerful pastors and mental health professionals. On Saturday, February 16, you’re welcome to join a panel of psychologists, mental health advocates, and therapists at Atlanta University from 11 am – 2 pm. This free event is geared towards “Healing the Hurt: Addressing Mental Health Challenges in Our Communities.” The nonprofit’s organization will host their signature annual event at Atlanta University’s Franklin Auditorium.

The organization’s founder, King Kevin Dorival, from Fort Lauderdale, also created programs geared towards circumventing the school-prison pipeline by mentoring at-risk youth through the game of chess and through literacy initiatives. He was able to form powerful partnerships in Georgia with the outspoken Pastor Dr. F. Keith Slaughter of the Beloved Community Church, 1380 WAOK, Psychology of Religion and Pastoral Care Department at the Interdenominational Theological Center. Influential individuals also answered the call, such as Natalie Hall, City of Atlanta Commissioner of District 4, Pastor Mike Clinkscales of The Rock Church of Atlanta, and Forest Park Councilman Dabouze Antoine.

Every year, there have been 6,000 to 9,000 violent black-on-black violent cases since 1980. In 2014, there were 6,095 black homicide deaths, and most of them were through the hands of other people of African descent. The suicide rate among African Americans ages 10 to 14 increased 233%, as compared to 120% of non-Hispanic whites, between the years of 1908-1995. As of 2017, black boys and girls ages 5 to 12, are committing suicide twice the rate of their white counterparts, according to JAMA Pediatrics study, which is based on data from 2001 to 2015.

The annual event was once called Black-on-Black Crime Solutions Panel that started in 2014. The catalyst for this annual event came as a result of the injustices in the black community, and the lack of attention towards solutions to the violent crimes sweeping the urban community. Furthermore, the highly visual white-on-black crime of police brutality has the nation on edge, all of which adds to the stress within the community. It’s the lack of love, resources, and applied knowledge that keeps people of African descent unemployed, disenfranchised, and violent.

“The outcry from the black community asking for help in the mental health area was too loud to ignore another year,” says Mr. Dorival.

There will be live entertainment, light food, raffle drawings, and a chance to ask some of the most influential people in the Mental Health industry questions. The 2019 panelists are: Dr. Willie James, pastor; Karen Purvis, health specialist; Kaprece James, mental health specialist; Camille Burke, Mental Health Specialist; Imhoptep Alkebu-lan, Esq,. Attorney; and Dr. Sheila D. Williams, mental health specialist. For more information on how you can support this event, contact Mr. Dorival at (470) 377-1126, or visit: www.thecouragetobelieve.com.

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King Kevin Dorival

The Courage to Believe International, Inc.

Atlanta, GA 30326

DIRECT: 954-263-8223

info@thecouragetobelieve.com

www.thecouragetobelieve.com