As the holidays approach, we hope you find moments of joy, rest, and connection with your loved ones.❤️
We know this season can also feel heavy when memories, stress, and grief can surface even amidst celebration. Our Home for the Holidays campaign reminds us that preparation, care, and community support can make a difference, not just for our own families, but for those navigating crises nearby.
Every day, we work to ensure Black communities can access care-centered crisis response, emotional and financial support, and mental health resources without fear of criminalization.
And at this time, your support goes even further: thanks to a generous donor, every gift made before December 31 will be matched, dollar-for-dollar. That means:
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$25 → $50 to support families impacted by police violence
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$50 → $100 to expand access to The Right Response directory
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$100 → $200 to help create our upcoming television series shifting national narratives on crisis response and mental health
Thank you for grounding yourself in this work, for our Community, and for standing with us as we build a safer future together.
“I am what time, circumstances, history, have made of me, certainly, but I am also much more than that. So are we all.“
— James Baldwin
Social Media Spotlight
Our social media team has been showing up and speaking up about the conflicting feelings this holiday season brings with it. Many things can be true all at once.
(Tap the images above)
Check out a few of our posts and share with your networks. Also feel free to forward this email to a friend who may need a few gentle reminders that you see them, love them, and want them to know that you care.
Follow us on the social media platform of your choice linked below.
Your Expertise is Needed!
We’re completely revamping The Right Response Directory and need your input to ensure it meets our community’s needs.
This critical resource connects you to alternative first-response programs offering compassionate support through peer responders, clinicians, and trained EMTs for calls like welfare checks, noise complaints, traffic incidents, and mental health crises.
Your feedback is vital for us to improve. Please take a few minutes to complete our confidential survey. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
A Mental Health Tip For You
Slow down…
Then… tap into Music.
Music can be a powerful tool to manage holiday stress.
Create a playlist of songs that uplift your mood, calm your mind, or bring back happy memories.
Whether it’s classic Christmas tunes, jazz, or your favorite soulful tracks, set aside even 10–15 minutes a day to listen, sing along, or just move to the rhythm.
Spread Some Blessings!
The consequences of police violence extend far beyond the loss of life. For families affected, it’s the loss of income, the sacrifice of basic necessities, and the start of a high-cost legal fight. If you have the capacity, consider donating to 1M4. Proceeds help support impacted families and sustain the work of 1M4 toward ending police violence for good.
Look, this season can be joyful, but it can also be heavy. Give yourself permission to rest, set boundaries, and honor whatever emotions come up.
Caring for yourself is one of the most meaningful gifts you can offer your mind and spirit.
And if you’re able, we invite you to extend that spirit of care outward. Your end-of-year gift helps 1M4 continue building safe, culturally grounded crisis response systems and support families with dignity.
Giving today not only fuels this work—it ensures you’re making a tax-deductible impact that strengthens our community well into the new year.
Join us in our online 1M4 community to interact with others committed to a future we all deserve.
We are committed to covering 4000 families in our lifesaving resources by the end of this year. Join 1M4’s private membership community today and shield the village closest to you.
Let’s do this! Shields up!
Action Requested for Mobile Crisis Team Members:
A new survey has launched to build the evidence base for mobile crisis programs across the country, including behavioral health provider mobile crisis, mobile response and stabilization services (MRSS), law enforcement based co-responder programs, and alternative or community responder programs.
A team of researchers at Columbia University in collaboration with consultants are fielding the survey.
If you work for a mobile crisis response team as described above, please take this survey. Your input is needed. Survey will close on January 31st.
Questions can be sent directly to the team: mobilecrisissurvey@nyspi.columbia.edu
To ensure our community has the resources provided by 1M4 and are fully empowered to shield their immediate community from harm, our Founder will hold weekly office hours to answer any questions and walk members through our safety resources.
No registration required. Simply join 1M4 through the button below then tap into our online community at 12pm EST every Tuesday starting this week.
Got a pressing question? Reply here and we’ll answer you via email and first thing Tuesday at noon EST.
In October and beyond, help raise awareness of alternatives to police for mental health emergencies. Share the Right Response directory with your local community, snap a few pictures, and let us know about it. We would love to highlight you and your advocacy in our newsletter and social media pages. Share your advocacy results HERE. Whether you shared with two people or 200 people, each life matters.
We are celebrating you as the trusted voice in your community!
Any questions? Simply hit “reply.”
Ready to join in shielding your community? Click HERE
Ok so… we’re on TikTok now! Follow, engage, and rep 1M4 over there. We’re doing our best to reach the people.
Help some Sistas out!
You Got Your 1M4 Merch Yet?
Visit the 1M4 merch store to make sure you’re representing at court support, protests, or in line at your favorite coffee spot. We want to see YOU in your 1M4 gear. Every purchase goes directly to funding the work of 1M4 increasing access to safety and wellness.
