Usher’s New Look ensures that youth leaders are mentally healthy to prepare for their successful futures

By Careshia Moore, president and CEO of Usher’s New Look

Usher’s New Look is a 501(c)(3) organization that develops youth leaders through talent, career exploration and education preparation. The organization was founded 22 years ago by Usher Raymond IV to give underserved youth a “New Look” on life. The majority of the students we serve reside in high-need areas or attend schools in need of additional resources. Over 90% of our students identify as Black or Latinx and over 61% of the students will be the first to attend and graduate college. Our evidence-based curriculum and youth-centric approach provides the experiences needed to level the playing field for our youth. Even with a 100% high school graduation rate and over 98% of our high school graduates attending college (95% graduating within 5 years), we find ourselves needing to prepare our youth in a different way.

With the proliferation of social media, pervasive racial and social injustice, increased economic disparities and other traumas, our students expressed the need for mental and emotional support. As a result, we focus on the technical skills required to succeed and the competencies needed to compete in the global marketplace. In addition, we equip them with tools to cope with the mounting pressures and stress they are experiencing. 

In 2019, our Disruptivator Summit included diverse mental health specialists to share insights on coping with mental health stressors. With partnerships such as Silence the Shame and SND Bath, students learned skills on early recognition of mental health issues, understood the importance of erasing the stigma of mental wellness and experienced anxiety-reducing sound baths and breathing exercises from SND Bath report.

Usher’s New Look participants shared that the tools they received helped when facing anxiety and depression in school and in coping with issues that negatively affect their mental wellness. Hence, we are consistently supporting our students in dealing with the matters of life in a healthy way. We intentionally seek out partnerships and professionals who deliver mental health resources and tools for our students.

In 2020, we recognized that our students needed support in coping with the pandemic, isolation, social unrest and other societal ills. Our students shared their deepest fears that were now added onto the uncertainty of their education, joblessness, and reduced family income. This prompted us to partner with Cricket Wireless who sponsored a Summit entitled “Disruptivate: Racial Inequity and Teen Mental Health Trauma.” Over 150 youth participated and were provided with tools for managing their emotions and memberships to a MindRight, a mental health app that provides virtual coaching. 

We also partnered with the Christopher Wolf Crusade to train our staff and peer leaders on the Community Resilience Model (CRM), a skills-based model created by the Trauma Resource Institute that teaches how to experience rapid relief from stress-related symptoms and to gain control over their wellness. 

From one of the peer leaders, a current college student: “I haven’t felt this great in a really long time. I’m excited to drop off that ‘heavy book bag’ I’ve been carrying on forever. It’s exciting to be able to find life-changing skills without breaking your pockets to talk to someone.”

As we prepare for the upcoming year, continuing to support our youth in experiencing positive mental health is a priority. Our upcoming Disruptivator Summit, which takes place July 21 and 22, will include a mental health focus. Throughout this year, the 1200+ students that we serve annually will have the opportunity to gain skills and learn about resources to overcome obstacles, trauma and maintain a healthy life. We want to develop passion-driven leaders, who are healthy, fulfilling their purpose, and contributing members of our society. 

If you are interested in supporting youth-centric mental health resources and programming for youth leaders, please contact Renea Pierre, Chief Engagement Officer at rpierre@ushersnewlook.org. To learn more about the Usher’s New Look, click here.