Before We Hop into This Weeks Newsletter…
Meet us in NYC THIS Saturday, Feb 8th
1M4 will have a table onsite sharing information about The Right Response and be receiving an award for our work in uplifting alternative response models. This event is focused on our brothas, Black & Brown men. So bring your partner, brother, sons, and others.
Join us there—we’d love to meet you in person! *Note: this event will reach capacity so register now and make plans to be in the building*
Happy Black History Month, Sistas! This February, we’re doubling down on what matters most—our survival and our power.
On the heels of a new administration already stripping away major protections like the Equal Employment Opportunity rule, we are extremely concerned about what the next several months and years will look like.
But we’re not backing down. To protect the future of Black history, we need to protect each other.
That means leaning on resources like The Right Response directory for emergency support and building strong communities so we can keep making history.
We’re also planning to train 150 1M4 ambassadors across the country to share resources, spread life-saving information, and host gatherings to keep our loved ones safe. Stay tuned for more details on how you can get involved.
It’s no longer about saving the country. It’s about protecting ourselves and those we care about. Let’s come together, show up for each other, and keep pushing for change.
“With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.”
— Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Become a 1M4 Ambassador in Your Community
Sista Notice: We will be training 150 people to be Ambassadors of 1M4 in their local communities. No experience needed just a deep care about the safety and wellness of your community. Click the button above and fill out the short form so we can contact you with training details.
Sista Spotlight
Kiah Duggins
Moment of silence and prayers of comfort for the families of all the plane crash victims. Learning about Kiah Duggins, her fierce advocacy, and legal expertise left us speechless and heartbroken. Though she lived a short life, her impact will be felt for generations.
Thank you, Kiah.
Rest in Peace, Sis.
Click here to hear Kiah describe her work and areas of focus in her own words
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!
What We’re Reading
Federal prosecutors have decided not to charge officers in the deadly arrest of Ronald Greene, despite troubling evidence of excessive force. This painful and troubling decision breaks our hearts, especially for Ronald’s mother, Mona Hardin.
Read more about this devastating case.
A Health Tip For You!
With National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day coming up, the theme this year is “Engage, Educate, Empower: Uniting to End HIV/AIDS in Black Communities.” This theme reminds us that everyone has a role to play in ending HIV—whether it’s challenging the stigma, getting tested regularly if you’re sexually active, or supporting access to care and treatment.
There’s no shame in getting tested, and there’s no shame in encouraging your loved ones to do the same. Let’s talk openly about HIV, dispel myths, and help each other stay informed about prevention and treatment.
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.
Roll call, Sistas! Black history has always been made by us—leading movements, shifting culture, and building community, no matter the odds. Our resilience and strength are the blueprint for change, and it’s up to us to carry that forward.
This Black History Month, let’s honor our legacy by protecting each other and staying ready. Together, we’ll keep sharing resources like our directory, holding it down, and making history—just like we always have. We’ve got this!
Your Sistas In ALL Of This,
The Ladies Of 1M4
February 7: National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
Let’s end the stigma! This is an important day to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, including testing, prevention, and treatment efforts in the Black community. Visit HIV.gov for more information.
February 7: National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
February 8: Confronting the Stigma Mental Health Fair
1M4 is partnering to host a mental health event focused on resources for Black and Brown men at the Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture on February 8th! We’ll have a table onsite sharing information about The Right Response and engaging with local community members about their experiences with alternative response models. Join us there—we’d love to meet you in person!
February 13: Black Love Day
Celebrate Black Love Day by being your own Valentine! Created by Ayo Handy-Kendi, a community organizer and Washington, D.C. native, this holiday honors communal love and takes pride in being “unapologetically Black.” It’s a day to celebrate self-love, community, and the richness of Black culture.
Black Love Day
1M4 Merch
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.
The Mental Health Literacy Collaborative (MHLC) has officially launched its MHL Aware Certification Training.
Mental Health Literacy (MHL) Aware is a 60-minute training (with an optional certification) that benefits professional, personal, and community needs for knowledge, language, and confidence around the topic of mental health. This training is the first step in guiding people to successfully integrate MHL into the fabric of their community. The Aware training focuses on educating individuals about 1) What MHL is, 2) Why it is beneficial, and 3) How they can bring this information to their community. In addition to these core focus areas, the training provides basic, real-world application strategies. The cost is $30 per person for live trainings and $25 for the asynchronous course. Group rates are also available by contacting info@themhlc.org.
