We can’t believe it’s already that time of year?! Cue the Mariah Carey playlist, Christmas decorations, and gift giving. December came in fast.
And with that rush can come the pressure to “wrap up the year perfectly.” But before we dive into all that, we want to pause with you.
Take a moment to breathe. Reflect on what you set out to do this year. Honor what you accomplished and release what you didn’t.
At 1M4, we’re doing the same—reflecting on the families we’ve helped, the communities we’ve strengthened, and the tools we’ve built to keep people safe and supported.
As you move through this season, we invite you to include 1M4 in your end-of-year giving. Your donation is tax-deductible and will reflect positively during the 2025 tax season. And thanks to a generous partner, every gift given by December 31st is matched, dollar-for-dollar.
Your support fuels prevention, healing, and narrative change for our communities.
“I’m always moving forward.“
— Debbie Allen
Social Media Spotlight
What We’re Reading
After 17 Bullets Killed this N.C. Mom; A Judge has Dismissed Her Family’s Case
We are holding Jada Johnson’s family in our prayers and thoughts as we continue to work to decriminalize mental illness. The actions of this judge make us angry and it deepens out commitment to helping mental health emergencies be addressed by health professionals and not law enforcement. Read the article and let us know your thoughts.
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
Light it up, Sis! With the days getting shorter, our bodies are taking in way less natural light, which can seriously affect mood, energy, and motivation. One simple way to support your mental health this season is to flood your morning with light.
Try sitting near a bright window or turning on a lamp within the first hour of waking. If you’re someone who feels the seasonal shift deeply, consider a daylight or “happy” lamp for 10–20 minutes in the morning.
This small dose of brightness helps regulate your internal clock, boost serotonin, and ease that winter heaviness many of us feel.
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.
As we move through this busy season, we hope you’re giving yourself permission to slow down, soften your expectations, and care for your spirit in small, steady ways. Winter asks us to turn inward and reconnect with what really matters…and we’re holding that reminder close, too.
Thank you for being part of the 1M4 community and for standing with us in this work. Your presence, care, and commitment make our mission possible. We’re grateful to walk into the end of the year with you—hopeful and ready to keep building a safer, more compassionate future together.
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!
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.
Human Rights Day (December 10th) reminds us that safety, dignity, and justice are not optional—they’re rights. Yet for communities, police brutality and state violence continue to threaten those rights every day. As we honor this day, we recommit to building a world where we can access care, support, and crisis response without fear.
This Saturday December 13th at 12pm EST, Dr. Urenna Onyewuchi will speak with Dr. Sandra Laveaux of the University of Chicago Medicine. Dr. Laveaux’s research focuses on the development of precision and preventive medicine for uterine fibroids, and her global health work centers community education and awareness of uterine fibroids in sub–Saharan Africa. This educational conversation is open to all.
Register today and provide your questions in advance!
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.
