by JoAnna Fernandez Fernandez | Jul 7, 2026 | Mental Health, Thought Leadership, Youth
When a teenage boy doesn’t come to school, we notice his absence — but not that he was up all night caring for younger siblings while his mom worked the late shift. A young boy shuts down when asked how he feels because he’s used to being told to...
by JoAnna Fernandez Fernandez | Jun 30, 2026 | Mental Health, Thought Leadership
For some, turning 21 is a milestone celebrated with dinner, a night out, or a gathering of family and friends. For others, it is a life goal. Not because of college plans, career ambitions, or excitement about the next chapter of life. It is because, somewhere along...
by JoAnna Fernandez Fernandez | Jun 18, 2026 | Mental Health, Research, Thought Leadership
In one room, a Black man sits in a waiting room preparing for a therapy appointment he almost canceled. He needs support, but he is questioning whether the system he is about to enter will understand what he has carried to get there. In another room, a young...
by Aaron Mallory | Jun 3, 2026 | Mental Health, Thought Leadership
Youth impacted by the justice system often face far more than legal challenges. Many young men are navigating trauma, community violence, disrupted support systems, and limited access to culturally responsive care. That’s why GRO Community, in partnership with the...
by JoAnna Fernandez Fernandez | Sep 10, 2025 | Thought Leadership
Aaron Mallory, CEO of GRO Community On a quiet September morning, a mother sits at her kitchen table, staring at the chair her son used to fill. He was 14, full of humor and light, yet quietly carrying a weight that became too much to bear. She never imagined...
by JoAnna Fernandez Fernandez | Aug 6, 2025 | Thought Leadership
By Dr. Patrice J. Holmes, Board-Certified Psychiatrist Mental health awareness is growing nationwide, but significant care gaps remain as it relates to access and quality for Black and Brown communities. For Black and Brown boys and men, psychiatric care often feels...
