With the aim of accumulating more joy in the lives of Black people everywhere, the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, a non-profit founded by award-winning actress Taraji P. Henson, hosted a 1920s-themed fundraiser Monday (October 30) at the Planet Word Museum in Washington, D.C.

In May, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a declaration that highlighted loneliness as a new public health epidemic. The Boris L. Henson (BLH) Foundation organized this and several other events throughout the month of October with one aim in mind: to connect people, culture, and community. Called the “Joy Joints Campaign,” participants had the opportunity to sign up for wellness walks, double dutch tournaments, card games, karaoke, and other events that promote friendship and connection and alleviate feelings of loneliness and despair.

"The [Black] community is suffering at a higher rate than any other demographic," Henson explained to BET.com at the fundraiser, adding that the reason she started her foundation was because she felt the "need to do something to help save [Black people]."

The campaign is inspired by the juke joints of the 1920s; a space where Black folks could comfortably and safely come together and have a good time connecting through music, dance, food, and drink. It’s also part of the Boris L. Henson Foundation's One Million Hours Joy Challenge. In partnership with BET, the ambitious goal is to provide 1 million hours of free mental health services to the Black community over the next five years.

Tracie Jade Jenkins, the executive director of the BLH Foundation, who works hand-in-hand with Henson, said the organization is meeting its targets and making a difference in the lives of the people who need it.

"It feels like we are doing our part, serving humanity when times are really hard," Jenkins said.

The BLH Foundation didn't have a fundraising goal for Monday night but instead is focusing on its monetary goal for the year. "Joy Joints has a $1 million goal, and we are halfway there, with hitters who have really invested in [the] work…and we are excited because there’s lots more to come."

Spirit, a licensed psychotherapist and global leader in ending the stigma of mental health issues, sits on the executive board of the Boris L. Henson Foundation. She believes joy is a powerful motivating force for Black people. "Without joy, we have no hope. Without hope, we have no health, and everything is tied to how we feel. It all begins with mental health and wellness," she said.

Hope and joy emanated from every attendee who danced the night away at the BLH Foundation’s fundraiser. Everyone was dressed to the nines to match the 1920s vibe that permeated throughout the night with laughter, rhythmic beats, and jazz music flowing throughout the venue.

Darnell Perkins, a DC-area philanthropist, said he had the choice to appear at a host of events that night but knew that “this was the one to attend.”

Henson was completely in her element—jovial and charming but also thoughtful and poignant. She understood the assignment and knew that this was a night of great importance to the work she and Jenkins have been committed to for years. "It means that we are foot to the ground, and we are saving lives," said Henson.

The Boris L. Henson Foundation touts itself as a "North Star” in mental wellness and proves its efficacy. It has successfully pumped mental health resources into the Black community. Each person who signs up for therapy receives five free sessions from counselors who have been trained by the foundation to best understand the Black experience and Black culture.

Henson, Jenkins, and the BLH Foundation team have also intentionally brought in partners who truly want to see a difference made in this space. The luxury brand kate spade new york recently sponsored a second installment of She Cares Wellness Pods on various HBCU campuses across the country. She Cares Wellness Pods offer a physical safe space, specifically for college-aged Black women, to seek out mental wellness care services like therapy sessions, wellness practices like yoga and dance therapy and workshops where they can learn how to positively combat the stressors that come their way.

The first installment opened in April 2023 at Alabama State University. At the event, Henson confirmed that the second She Cares Wellness Pods will open today, Thursday, November 2, at Hampton University.

Henson and Jenkins have plans to expand the program even further. Their outreach has pulled in brands like BET, kate spade new york, and Pinterest, to name a few; each sponsor understands the need to support the Black community's wellbeing through this lens of belonging.

"I view equity as actually a means to wellbeing. So once we feel like we belong, like we are connected, we can be well," said Leslie Hardy, director of strategy, operations, and programs for inclusion and diversity at Pinterest.

John Burns of the Burns Brothers, a culture-focused firm with a collection of companies fostering inclusivity worldwide, agrees saying that it's critical to have a forum like Joy Joints where people can come together to heal and experience unfiltered happiness

"This foundation can reach out to me or any of our companies in any shape or form as a partner and as an ally. [We support] all the great work they are doing," he said.

For more information on the Boris Henson Foundation and the One Million Hours Joy Challenge, visit borislhensonfoundation.org