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This Lemon's Legacies Porch Talk will introduce a transformative dialogue on mental and emotional health in Black communities. Panelists will confront the critical need to expand mental health discourse and interventions beyond ingrained traditional coping mechanisms often steeped in religiosity and rooted in the Black church.

Generational traumas stemming from atrocities of slavery and systemic racism historically are shouldered in silence, with the Black church standing as the cornerstone for communal support. By interrogating the “Leave It on The Altar” mentality, we probe cultural nuances framing mental illness as weakness rather than legitimate health concern and labeling the pursuit and engagement of mental health support as lack of faith versus viable option. We intend to unravel the threads of religious grooming that weave through our experiences, foster an atmosphere of silent endurance, and exalt long-suffering.

In exploring experiences of family secrecy, internalized stigma, boundary resistance, toxic productivity and professional burnout, inadequate representation among mental healthcare professionals, and the dearth of cultural competence among non-Black providers, we illuminate ways newer generations firmly reject shame culture, advocate for autonomy, establish and enforce boundaries, and normalize seeking help. We propose adopting this repudiatory model toward a systemic overhaul and innovative reimagination of mental health services for Black people—one in which self-preservation is accepted and celebrated as new tradition, communal experience, and generational legacy.

Aligning with the objectives of the 14th Annual Lemon Project Spring Symposium, this panel proposes catalysts for change that uphold the sanctity of Black life and our intrinsic right to flourish.

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Arielle Neblett is an Emmy-nominated video director and producer, and graduate of Virginia State University. She’s a natural-born creative with a passion for telling stories— specifically, stories of the Black experience. The “Black experience” isn’t all pain and is certainly not only making songs and viral dances for the world’s entertainment. It’s the in between, mundanity, and gray areas she wants to highlight most. As an Afro Caribbean raised in Brooklyn, NY, Arielle understands the beauty and complexities in both the similarities and differences of being Black and, more so, what we stand to learn from each other. She is active in her community and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Dr. Tamara Wilkerson Dias is a DEI Educator and leader with nearly a decade of experience in leadership development across corporate, nonprofit, and K-12 educational spaces. She serves as the CEO of a grassroots nonprofit, committed to the retention of Black educators. Her expertise and leadership garnered national recognition, and she was named to the 2017 Forbes 30 Under 30. Each of these experiences required knowledge of shifting company culture, managing human capital, and harnessing talents to move teams forward. Dr. Dias is certified in the DISC Assessment and DEI in the Workplace. Her background includes years of experience working alongside senior leaders in corporate settings to evaluate their readiness for DEI Initiatives, design meaningful strategy aligned to business goals, and cultivate inclusive workplace communities. Dr. Dias is committed to helping women build professional confidence and is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Dr. Latasha N. Eley Kelly is a higher education leader with a primary focus on student access and success. After earning a B.A. in Sociology at Christopher Newport University and M.Ed. in Educational Policy, Planning, and Leadership at William & Mary, she attained a Ph.D. in Language, Literacy, and Culture from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Dr. Eley Kelly began her career in college admissions, soon transitioning to other areas of student affairs, including academic advising; first-year experience; event planning; and equity, diversity, and inclusion. These high-contact roles prepared her for opportunities to contribute to state and federal education policy and informed her research on Black women’s experiences of body politics in their academic, personal, and professional lives. Dr. Eley Kelly is Founder and CEO of The Millennial Black Professor® and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Dr. Brandie T. Lee is a Virginia native and an educator with over 20 years’ experience in providing instruction (K-12 and collegiate), instructional coaching, mentorship, and mental health skill building for children and adults. She earned her B.S. in Political Science at Hampton University, M.S. in Secondary Education from Old Dominion University, and both an M.S. and Ph.D. in Psychology from Walden University. Dr. Lee truly believes that “to whom much is given, much is required.” Service and young people have always been part of her life’s passion and purpose. Her research interests include mother/daughter relationships, maternal experiences, race and culture, and mental health in the black community. Dr. Lee is a champion for education and proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Sponsored by: The Lemon Project: A Journey of Reconcilation

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