Trailblazers in Black Mental Health to Be Celebrated at Historic September 26 Event in Baltimore
Baltimore, MD (July 6, 2026) — Black People Die By Suicide Too, a grassroots organization dedicated to Black mental health awareness, access, and education, is proud to announce the honorees for the inaugural Black Mental Health Awards (BMHA) — an event that celebrates community leaders making a difference. The event will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Martin’s West in Baltimore, Maryland, during Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, under the theme “Honoring Trailblazers, Empowering Futures: Celebrating Excellence in Black Mental Health.”
This year’s honorees represent the very best of our community — clinicians, educators, advocates, creators, and organizations who have dedicated themselves to healing, empowering, and transforming Black lives. The 2026 BMHA honorees are:
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- Brandon Johnson — Public Health Impact Award
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- Tiffinee Scott — Peer Specialist of the Year Trailblazer Award
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- Dr. Marline Francois-Madden — Excellence in Social Work Education & Research Award
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- Gettin’ Grown Podcast, hosted by Dr. TyKeia Robinson and Chef Jade Verette — Innovative Black Mental Health Media Award
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- Janiah Fields — The Shirley Holmes Legacy of Care: Rising Clinician Scholarship
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- Black Mental Health Alliance — Organization of the Year Award
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- Bri Alexander — Wellness Content Creator of the Year Award
Brandon Johnson | Public Health Impact Award
Brandon J. Johnson, M.H.S., MCHES, is a tireless advocate for mental health and suicide prevention for youth and adults nationwide and within his home community of Baltimore, Maryland. He serves as Branch Chief of the Suicide Prevention Branch at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where he developed the Black Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative, helping 16 states create action plans to address Black youth suicide, and co-led the development of the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Morgan State University, a Master of Health Science from Johns Hopkins University, and the MCHES credential from the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. Brandon is also the creator of The Black Mental Wellness Lounge, a YouTube channel dedicated to promoting Black mental health tips, education, and community resources.
Tiffinee Scott | Peer Specialist of the Year Trailblazer Award
Tiffinee Scott is a passionate advocate for health equity, recovery, and community empowerment based in Baltimore, Maryland. With over 30 years of experience in public health and safety, she brings both deep professional expertise and the invaluable perspective of a family member with lived experience in recovery. She is a Maryland Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, Registered Peer Supervisor, President of the Maryland Peer Advisory Council, Inc. (MPAC), a member of the Alliance for Recovery-Centered Organizations (ARCO), and the Recovery Community Organizer for NCADD-MD. Tiffinee holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration and Human Services, has completed leadership and organizing studies at the Harvard Kennedy School, serves as an adjunct faculty member, and was recently accepted into the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Dr. Marline Francois-Madden | Excellence in Social Work Education & Research Award
Dr. Marline Francois-Madden is a nationally recognized thought leader, licensed therapist, researcher, speaker, and bestselling author of The State of Black Girls. An Assistant Professor at Morgan State University, she brings over 18 years of experience in the mental health field and has become a sought-after expert in adolescent mental health and racial identity. Dr. Francois-Madden holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Penn State University, a Master of Social Work from Rutgers University-Newark, and a Ph.D. in Family Sciences and Human Development from Montclair State University. She was named the 2020 Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers – New Jersey Chapter and received the 2025 Alumni Achievement Award from Penn State University – Lehigh Valley. Her work centers on advancing equity in Black mental health, with the conviction that equity and equality are not the same.
Gettin’ Grown Podcast | Innovative Black Mental Health Media Award
Gettin’ Grown was created by sister-friends Dr. TyKeia Robinson and Chef Jade Verette to build community around what it truly takes to survive and thrive in adulthood. Gathering listeners at “The Kitchen Table,” the podcast addresses mental health, wellness, social justice, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ issues, and more, creating a safe, affirming space where community members can be seen, heard, and connected to resources that support their wellbeing.
Dr. TyKeia Robinson is a scholar of change and transformation who brings both personal experience and professional expertise to conversations about the transitions and trials of adult life. She serves as a Senior Program Officer on the Transformation at Scale Team for Postsecondary Success at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In 2017, she founded TeamTypingFast (TTF), an online community of practice centered on the wellness, success, and productivity of Black women academics, corporate professionals, and entrepreneurs.
Chef Jade Verette is a Brooklyn-based chef and veteran podcast personality who uses audio and the culinary arts to craft shared experiences of meaning-making. Her work spans the personal, cultural, and political, and through her award-winning podcasts, including Gettin’ Grown and Jade + XD, she cultivates digital and in-person spaces for authentic connection across generations. She also served as Season 2 host of Heinz Presents the Black Kitchen Series.
Janiah Fields | The Shirley Holmes Legacy of Care: Rising Clinician Scholarship
Janiah Fields is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, where she serves as a Graduate Student Research Assistant at the Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing. Janiah has collaborated with the Black Mental Health Alliance, Healing Youth Alliance, SAMHSA, and the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities. In recognition of her advocacy around Black youth suicide, she was invited to the White House at just 19 years old for the release of the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and Federal Action Plan under the Biden-Harris Administration. She is a Baltimore native and 2025 graduate of McDaniel College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Africana Studies. Her work centers on Black mental health advocacy, culturally responsive suicide prevention, and advancing equity in mental health care for Black youth.
Black Mental Health Alliance | Organization of the Year Award
Founded in the spring of 1983 by pioneering mental health professionals — including Dr. Maxie T. Collier, Baltimore’s first Black Health Commissioner; Senator Shirley Nathan-Pulliam; and Dr. Fikre Workneh — the Black Mental Health Alliance for Education and Consultation, Inc. (BMHA) has served as a vital pillar of advocacy for over 40 years. BMHA takes a holistic, community-centered approach to health and wellness, serving as a powerful bridge connecting individuals and families to culturally affirming care. The organization maintains a trusted referral network of culturally competent clinicians and leads evidence-based trainings, workshops, and community conversations that dismantle stigma, expand mental health literacy, and foster resilience. Through its combination of robust educational programming and systemic advocacy, BMHA continues its founders’ legacy of positioning mental health as an essential, equitable component of overall well-being.
Bri Alexander | Wellness Content Creator of the Year Award
Bri Alexander is a Restorative Wellbeing Facilitator specializing in sound healing, movement, and meditation. Guided by the belief that wellness is a necessity — not a luxury — she creates trauma-informed sessions that help people feel grounded in their bodies, clear in their minds, and connected to a deeper sense of ease. Her credentials include Sound & Vibrational Therapies, Yoga Trainings, Mindfulness and Meditation Certifications, and a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education. Bri works across workplace wellness, private events, community offerings, and coaching, and has served clients including Google, Capital One, Morgan State University, Clark Construction, and Maryland Nonprofits. Outside of her wellness practice, she is a nature lover, live music enthusiast, and avid traveler.
To purchase tickets, donate, or become a sponsor, visit https://givebutter.com/BMHA26.
For more information about Black People Die By Suicide Too and its programs, please visit https://blackpeoplediebysuicidetoo.org/.
About Black People Die By Suicide Too (BPDBST):
Founded in 2023, BPDBST is a peer-led non-profit organization that focuses on suicide prevention and mental health awareness in the Black community. Through education, advocacy, and peer support, BPDBST addresses the unique challenges Black individuals face related to mental health and suicide, working to create safe and supportive spaces for healing and connection.
About Black Mental Health Awards (BMHA):
The Black Mental Health Awards is more than an event — it is a movement. This one-of-a-kind evening will spotlight the critical issue of Black suicide, raise awareness, and fund free and low-cost, culturally responsive mental health resources for the Black community. The BMHA celebrates and honors Black mental health professionals who have dedicated their lives to supporting, healing, and transforming lives. By recognizing their invaluable contributions, the organization aims to inspire future generations of healers and help dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health in the Black community.
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