NYC Men Heal helps young men of color build careers in mental health
The goal is to help students finish school and enter the workforce while building a mental health care system that better reflects the communities it serves.
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Growing up in Guyana, Alante Richards wanted someone he could talk to about what he was feeling.
“I had these heavy feelings I was carrying, and there was no one I could turn to and talk to about it,” he said.
Now, the Flatbush resident is studying social work at Hunter College and working toward becoming that person for someone else.
Richards is one of 25 graduate students in the first group selected for NYC Men Heal, a city pilot program supporting young men of color pursuing careers in social work and mental health counseling.
The initiative launched in June. Participants attended orientation in October and received living stipends, mentorship, workshops and help planning their careers. Eighty-four percent of the group also received full tuition scholarships through 1199TEF’s Career Pathways Training program.
The goal is to help students finish school and enter the workforce while building a mental health care system that better reflects the communities it serves.
“If we have healthier men in our communities, then we have healthier communities,” said Steven Chambers, executive director of the NYC Young Men’s Initiative.
The program comes as city-funded mental health services face staffing shortages, according to Laquisha Grant, acting executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health.
“Across our city-funded mental health programs, we are experiencing a workforce shortage,” Grant said.
She said the initiative also offers an opportunity to support men of color, who are underrepresented in the field. Participants are matched with experienced professionals who can help them navigate school, career decisions and the steps needed to enter the workforce.
For Richards, the program builds on work he has already started.
Through his Jar of Hearts company, he has approached men in Flatbush with simple questions, including when they last smiled. He said one man broke down in tears during a conversation.
Richards hopes the mentorship, resources and relationships he gains through NYC Men Heal will help him expand that community work.
“The power is being given back to the community to do the things that are necessary, and I’m happy to be a part of it,” he said.
Programming continues through summer 2027. Chambers said the first group is expected to graduate in spring 2027, with participants potentially entering jobs at city agencies and community organizations that summer.
The city is collecting feedback throughout the pilot to help determine how the program could grow. Organizers hope to support more participants and eventually reach men interested in mental health careers earlier in their education.
