Click the above image/link to listen to a short message from our Founder, Tansy.
You can find the Executive Order she mentioned HERE Pay attention to the language choices that were made. They were indeed chosen with intention.
Events shared are inside the video description and below in the Upcoming Events section.
Come talk with us on Wednesday.
Now⊠back to our newsletter.
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Sis, you are worth the care you so freely give to others, so start with one step this week and keep going.
“If we focus on our health, including out inner health, our self-esteem, and how we look at ourselves and our confidence level, we’ll tend to be healthier people anyway.”
â Queen Latifah
Most days, your schedule is full before you even get out of bed. You’re caring for everyone around you but we have to askâŠ
Whenâs the last time you cared for you?
We get it. Check-ups can feel like one more thing on a never-ending list. But May is Maternal Mental Health Month, and itâs the perfect time to pause and say: My health matters, too.
Remember, Black women are more likely to:
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experience heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure
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be diagnosed at later stages of breast cancer
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be underdiagnosed or overlooked for mental health conditions
Thatâs why regular check-ins with your doctorâespecially your OB-GYNâare so important. Just like getting your mammogram and listening to your body when something feels off. It all matters.
And donât forget your mental health in all this. Stress, anxiety, and depression often hide behind âIâm fine.â So if things feel heavy, if youâre struggling to cope, or if someone you love is, donât ignore it.
During a mental health crisis, we encourage you to use The Right Response âit could literally save you or a loved oneâs life.
Sista Checkin THIS Week
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Your Expertise is Needed!
Weâre completely revamping The Right Response Directory and need your input to ensure it meets our communityâs 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!
Why We Do What We Do
In April, we helped Ferrone walk freeâjust in time for him and Terence to spend Easter at home with their families for the first time in nearly 25 years.
Weâre so happy for them both! This is why we continue to fight for justice, accountability, and every life stolen by an unjust system.
See beautiful moments from their holiday here. #notguiltyservinglife
What We’re Reading
Did you know police shoot victims twice as often as civilians do? A new Harvard study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine finds that people killed by police are shot an average of six timesânearly double the number in civilian homicides.
Over 15 years of national data reveals stark racial and regional disparities: Black people face more than twice the risk of being killed by police than white people, and are often shot more times, even when unarmed or less likely to be armed. Read more.
A Mental Health Tip For You!
Todayâs tip is simple: Take just a few minutes to explore what mental health resources are available to you. In a crisis, or even on a tough day, the last thing you want is to feel lost or alone.
Knowing your options before you need them is a powerful form of self-care.
You can start with these:
Therapy for Black Girls â find a culturally competent therapist
Sista Afya â community-based mental wellness resources
The Safe Place App â free mental health app for the Black community
The Right Response â emergency support without police intervention
Please donât wait until itâs urgent to find support.
Spread Some Blessings!
The consequences of police violence extend far beyond the loss of life. For families affected, itâs 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.
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Havenât seen your primary care doctor in a while? Canât remember your last pap or breast exam? Pushing your feelings to the back burner to stay âstrongâ? Again, if you answered yes to any of these questions, you deserve the same care, love, and attention you give to everyone else. Taking time for your health, both mental and physical, isnât selfishâitâs necessary. Start small. Stay consistent. Weâre rooting for you, always. |
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This conversation will be raw and real. No livestreaming. No recording shared.
Weâre checking in on you and yours this Wednesday evening.
May is Maternal Mental Health Month. Help us share the power of music and how it improves our mental wellness.  Copy and share the above graphic in your social media stories with a song of your choice for each day.
Tag @weare1M4
We want to highlight you. Click the link above or here to learn more
Monday May 12th at 6pm EST, weâre joining our friends at Life After the Impact to celebrate their 100th podcast episode and share resources to protect our mental health while we help others.
Registration is free and required
Tuesday May 13th at 1pm EST, Tansy, our Founder, will lead a transparent conversation with California based crisis responders focused on providing care to Black/African American communities.
Registration is required.
Sat. May 17th at 10am EST, weâll have a table sharing about the Right Response directory. Join us in Woodbridge VA
 You Got Your 1M4 Merch Yet?
Visit the 1M4 merch store to make sure youâre 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. Â
