HU News and Events

SHE CARE WELLNESS POD AT HAMPTON UNIVERSITY CAMPUS IN HAMPTON, VIRGINIA

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***  

The ribbon-cutting celebration featured musical and dance performances from local student artists to unveil the campus’s new ‘She Care Wellness Pod’, which will provide frontline mental wellness care and resources to the Hampton University community.

Taraji P. Henson, Tracie Jade Jenkins, Darrell K. Williams, Dr. 

Barbara Inman, Dr. Kristie Norwood, Taryn Bird, and T’Kiyah 

Reeves celebrating the opening of the second ‘She Care 

Wellness Pod’ at Hampton University

WHO:                   Notable attendees included actor, filmmaker, founder of The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation and 

kate spade new york Social Impact Council member, Taraji P. Henson, Executive Director of The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, Tracie Jade Jenkins, Hampton University President,Darrell K. Williams, Hampton University Vice President for Administrative Services, Dr. Barbara Inman, Director of the Hampton University Student Counseling Center, Dr. Kristie Norwood, Executive Director of Social Impact at kate spade new york, Taryn Bird, and more.

WHEN:                 Thursday, November 2, 2023

WHERE:               Hampton University, Hampton, VA

ASSETS:               For more information and visual assets of the pods, please see press kit HERE.

WHAT:                 OnThursday, November 2, 2023, Taraji P. Henson, The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (BLHF), Kate Spade New York and Hampton University celebrated the opening of the campus’s ‘She Care Wellness Pod,’ an extension of the program launched earlier this year that aims to reach over 25,000 Black women on HBCU campuses with frontline mental wellness care.

In April 2023, BLHF and Kate Spade New York first teamed up to create more access to culturally competent mental health resources for women and girls by jointly launching the first-of-its-kind program, which was concepted by actor, filmmaker, and founder of The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, Taraji P. Henson, and Tracie Jade Jenkins, Executive Director of The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation at Alabama State University. 

In partnership with trusted community resources, the program takes a multifaceted approach through the opening of ‘She Care Wellness Pods,’ physical structures installed on campuses that offer a range of services, including:

·        Free mental health therapy sessions for female students experiencing an exacerbation of stress, anxiety and hopelessness. 

·        Hangout spaces that allow students to connect with peers or avoid isolation and grief during the school year and vacation periods.  

·        Unique programming including yoga, meditation, art and drama therapy, African dance, nutrition, and more, all provided by certified practitioners.

·        Workshops that offer resources and tools for those who suffer with anxiety, sleep deprivation, and insomnia.

·        Quiet spaces for silence, rest and respite to reset from daily stressors.

Hosted by Hampton University President, Darrell K. Williams, Taraji P. Henson returned to her D.C. Metropolitan area roots to make an appearance at the ‘She Care Wellness Pods’ opening event and shared remarks on her continued commitment to the program. Reaching even more young black women and students, the ribbon-cutting ceremony officially welcomed the Hampton University community to begin utilizing the ‘She Care Wellness Pods’ for mental wellness care. 

Each ‘She Care Wellness Pod’ is designed to create an environment that stimulates joy, peace and serenity through intentional design and color selection. Each campus’s pods feature a mural created by a student artist that reflects the unique identity of the institution from the perspective of the student body.  Selected to design the murals at Hampton University, T’Kiyah Reeves created a work of art that represents four Hampton University students and their intersecting identities. The art features colors of green, orange and purple which are synonymous with the student class colors.

The ‘She Care Wellness Pods’ were built by S.I. Container Builds, a woman-owned modular construction company that specializes in repurposing shipping containers and building with sustainable materials and were designed by Saudah Saleem Interiors in collaboration with Kiyonda Powell Design Studio. 

ABOUT BORIS LAWRENCE HENSON FOUNDATION:

Founded in 2018, BLHF has built its reputation on providing trusted referrals and demonstrating a deep understanding of the population health of communities of Color.  Through timely and relevant programming and awareness campaigns, BLHF encourages mental wellness, raises awareness of the stigma and the use of stigmatizing language when referring to mental illness, and provides mental health resources to the Black community. 

The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation is charting a new course that encourages Black individuals to own their history, heritage, and collective wounds in empowering, empathic, and transformative ways.  For more information, visit https://borislhensonfoundation.org/.

ABOUT KATE SPADE NEW YORK: 

Since its launch in 1993 with a collection of six essential handbags, Kate Spade New York has always stood for color, wit, optimism, and femininity. Today, it is a global lifestyle brand synonymous with joy, delivering seasonal collections of handbags, ready-to-wear, jewelry, footwear, gifts, home décor and more. In addition to its rich heritage and unique brand DNA that offers a distinctive point of view, and celebrates communities of women around the globe who live their perfectly imperfect lifestyles, another core piece of the brand’s DNA is its social impact work. For more than a decade, women’s empowerment has been at the forefront of the brand’s purpose, and the brand has committed to using its platform and resources to destigmatize mental health and provide more women and girls with access to resources and support. Kate Spade New York is part of the Tapestry House of brands.

ABOUT HAMPTON UNIVERSITY: 

Rich in history, steeped in tradition, Hampton University is a dynamic, progressive institution of higher education, providing a broad range of technical, liberal arts, and graduate degree programs. In addition to being one of the top historically black universities in the world, Hampton University is a tightly-knit community of learners and educators, representing 49 states and 35 territories and nations.

For more information, visit https://https://home.hamptonu.edu/about/

CONTACT:           LaForce, katespade@laforce.nyc

Hampton University to serve as host for a Broadband Community Meeting Town Hall on Monday, October 2nd, at 6:00 PM at Student Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HAMPTON, VA – The Student Freedom Initiative (SFI), in collaboration with Hampton University and the City of Hampton, is set to host a transformative community event aimed at addressing the critical need for expanded affordable broadband access in the region.

The “Broadband Community Meeting Town Hall” is scheduled to take place on Monday, October 2nd, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, at the esteemed Hampton University Student Center, conveniently located at 135 Marshall Avenue, Hampton, VA 23668.

The primary objective of this landmark town hall meeting is threefold: to educate, inform, and engage the local community regarding the unprecedented funding opportunities stemming from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), signed into law in November 2021.

The IIJA is a legislative milestone designed to usher in essential infrastructure improvements, especially in communities that have historically been underserved and lack the fundamental resources needed for everyday life. Without active community involvement, there’s a risk that these crucial communities may once again be overlooked.

Highlighting the significance of this initiative, in June of this year, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) unveiled an astounding $1.5 billion in funding aimed at closing the digital divide within the state of Virginia. These funds are allocated through the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program under the IIJA.

The “Broadband Community Meeting Town Hall” promises to be an enlightening and empowering event that will shed light on the transformative potential of the IIJA and the funding opportunities it presents. By participating in this gathering, community members can play an active role in ensuring that Hampton, VA, and surrounding areas fully benefit from these critical resources.

The Student Freedom Initiative (SFI), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, stands at the forefront of this transformative effort. SFI serves as a catalyst for enhancing freedom in both academic and life choices for students attending Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) by elevating their social and economic mobility. Through close collaboration with partner educational institutions and strategic allies, SFI addresses the wealth gap by promoting affordable access to higher education, offering hands-on professional and life training opportunities, delivering integrated student services, and enhancing technological resources. These efforts not only support students in achieving future personal and professional success on a global scale but also bolster participating institutions, making them more resilient and competitive as pillars within their respective communities.

For media inquiries and further information, please contact:

MIA YI | Sr. Manager, Marketing and Communications | Student Freedom Initiative

633 Pennsylvania Ave NW, 5th Floor; Washington, DC 20004 M 202.768.9356 | myi@studentfreedominitiative.org

ABOUT HAMPTON UNIVERSITY
Hampton University is a comprehensive institution of higher education, dedicated to the promotion of learning, building of character and preparation of promising students for positions of leadership and service. Its curriculum emphasis is scientific and professional with a strong liberal arts undergirding. A historically Black institution, Hampton University is committed to multiculturalism, serving students from diverse national, cultural and economic backgrounds. Research and public service are integral parts of Hampton’s mission. In order to enhance scholarship and discovery, the faculty is engaged in writing, research, and grantsmanship. In achieving its mission, Hampton University offers exemplary programs and opportunities which enable students, faculty and staff to grow, develop and contribute to our society in a productive and useful manner. For more information, visit www.hamptonu.edu.

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Media contact: James Parker, Senior Director of Marketing & Media Relations, Office of University Relations, Hampton University, james.parker@hamptonu.edu, 757-718-2949