From Harriet Tubman’s fearless leadership to the women of the Black Panther Party organizing free clinics and schools, we’ve always been the backbone of change.
And today, the work, diligence and fortitude continues. With police violence still being one of the leading causes of death for Black men—and Black women experiencing this violence at 1.4 times the rate of white women—we can’t afford to back down.
Our government is not here to save us, so we must protect each other. Here are a couple ways to take action:
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Share The Right Response Directory: Your resource for navigating emergencies, from mental health support to community-based crisis intervention.
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Join the 1M4 Sistahood: If you’re not a member already, join us to stay up-to-date on life-saving information, build support networks, and help host Sista CheckIns in local communities that prioritize safety for our loved ones.
Sistas, let’s keep honoring the fierce legacy of Black women in movements—our strength, resilience, and unyielding determination to protect our people.
“When I liberate myself, I liberate others. If you don’t speak out ain’t nobody going to speak out for you.”
— Fannie Lou Hamer
Become a 1M4 Ambassador in Your Community
1M4 Ambassador
Sista Notice: It’s time to come off the sidelines and rep 1M4 by informing and equipping your local community of our wellness and safety solutions.
You never know. It just might land you at the Super Bowl! (shout out to Radiance repping so well at last year’s Super Bowl festivities)
Anyway, we need you. It’s time we got hyper-local and shielded our communities in deeper, more connected way.
Tap In!
We will also host more Sista CheckIns across the country. We need your leadership to make it happen. If you’re interested in hosting, reply to this email, and let’s plan to bring the checkins to your city!
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
Inspiring news—after 160 years, Baltimore finally has local control over its police department, creating a path for real accountability. But the work isn’t over.
Read more on what this means for our communities.
A Mental Health Tip For You!
Black Love Day is coming up, so let’s start by showing love to the person who deserves it most—you. Take 5 minutes to write yourself a love letter, celebrating your resilience, beauty, and power. Start with:
“Dear [Your Name], I see you. I appreciate you. I love that you…”
Seal it in an envelope or save it in your notes app. When doubt creeps in, reread it as a reminder that you are worthy, lovable, and enough—just as you are. 💕
Need help finding affirmations that truly resonate? Start here 🖤✨
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.
We know the start of this year hasn’t been easy, Sis. Transitioning into a new year always comes with stress, but with the recent actions of the new administration, the weight feels even heavier. The uncertainty, the fear, the exhaustion—it’s real, and you’re not alone.
We’re here for you. The Right Response Directory is more than a crisis resource—it’s a tool for protecting your mental health, finding support, and leaning on community when things feel overwhelming. Use it, share it, and remember: you don’t have to carry this alone.
Your Sistas In ALL Of This,
The Ladies Of 1M4
Throwback Moment
Before you dive into the Super Bowl food, commercials, halftime show, and … oh yeah, the game! LOL! Just a throwback moment to our attendance during last year’s Super Bowl events.
Hard to believe this was 12 months ago. But we are super grateful for partners and supporters like Players Coalition for bringing us into spaces to share solutions and meet other like-missioned organizations.
Flip through some memories HERE
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.
