The Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM) is reshaping the landscape of wellness for Black communities across the United States.
Founded in 2016 by Yolo Akili Robinson, BEAM’s mission is clear: “to remove the barriers that Black people experience getting access to or staying connected with emotional health care and healing through education, training, advocacy, and the creative arts.”
BEAM is not just an organization — it’s a movement built on collective brilliance and shared responsibility.
“Yolo Akili Robinson founded BEAM in 2016, but I would argue that BEAM was founded at the time of Yolo’s birth,” remarked Natalie Patterson, BEAM’s first director of Training and Programs.
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“[He] brought it forth, but he is not the person who is, does, or will continue to bring it to life. It’s about having collective brilliance through our team, collaborations, community partnerships, and grantees to make this work possible.”
Emphasizing the unique approach that BEAM takes, Natalie said, “We use community as the tool instead of systems that don’t support us.”
BEAM’s impact is felt nationwide, with monthly healing circles in hub cities like Los Angeles and Atlanta, as well as funding, events, and virtual and in person training programs across the U.S. These efforts focus on building fully resourced ecosystems of care for Black and other historically underestimated communities.
One cornerstone of BEAM’s work is its healing justice framework, which addresses a myriad of issues, including generational trauma and violence, through holistic responses.
“We are not going to talk about someone’s behavior if we’re not going to talk about the contributions to their behavior,” Natalie explained. This nuanced approach seeks to dismantle one-size-fits-all systems, creating a space where individuals feel contextualized, loved, seen, and heard.
BEAM’s initiatives include its foundational training curriculum, Heart Space, and the North Star Program. Heart Space, founded in 2020 has now grown into a million-dollar program, serving as an “emotional workout gym” where participants engage in self-regulation exercises, themed discussions, and affirmations.
Natalie noted that every session includes a meal because “you can’t talk about your emotions when you’re hungry.” This statement reflects the very deep-rooted integrity within BEAM to reliably provide the full scope of resources necessary for mental and emotional health.
The North Star Program, originally designed for healers and practitioners, has evolved to include tailored support like massages and resources, ensuring practitioners are cared for while they care for others.
“We realized we needed to reimagine it,” Natalie shared, highlighting BEAM’s adaptability to community needs.
BEAM also takes an innovative approach to programming, such as Natalie’s “Pull Up” events. “I proposed that we spend a week in a city that gave us a lot of love digitally,” she said.
It created a space where local practitioners and leaders could share with BEAM what they were doing in their community. This year, BEAM expanded to cities like Houston, Detroit, and Baltimore, offering healing and learning days that introduced participants to modalities like meditation and sound baths.
BEAM’s internal practices mirror its mission. The organization prioritizes rest and well-being, with a four-day workweek and a minimum salary of $75,000.
“Many of us come from corporate environments, but now we have Friday as a rest day. We don’t believe anybody should be working full-time and be in poverty,” Natalie explained.
This ethos extends to BEAM’s funding opportunities for other organizations. From parent support funds to direct aid for individuals in crisis, BEAM ensures resources reach those who need them most.
“In the past, we’ve funded a disabled queer person’s ‘back-to-life’ [expenditures] and free therapy sessions after they lost everything in a hurricane,” Natalie noted, underscoring the real-time impact of BEAM’s support.
BEAM offers various ways for people to get involved, from volunteering at events to contributing through their monthly donation program.
“For as little as $10 a month, you can help sustain this work, which is really important,” Natalie said.
With a vision rooted in love, inclusion, and collective power, BEAM continues to lead the charge in redefining emotional and mental health care for Black communities.
“BEAM is a place where I get to dream each day,” Natalie reflected.
“There are very few places where a 40-something-year-old Black woman can lead the largest team and be held with respect and dignity.”
To learn more or support BEAM, visit www.beam.community.