Vibrant Emotional Health Partners with Brooklyn Public Library to Connect More Than 200 Community Residents to Mental Health and Community Resources
Media Contact:
Divendra Jaffar, AVP of Communications and Engagement
[email protected]
Community Wellness Event Increased Access to Behavioral Health Services, Family Supports, Workforce Resources, and Wellness Programs During Mental Health Awareness Month.
BROOKLYN, NY (June 10, 2026) — Vibrant Emotional Health (Vibrant), community program, Coordinated Children’s Service Initiative, in partnership with Brooklyn Public Library, brought together more than 200 community members, behavioral health providers, advocates, and local organizations on May 29 for Community Cares: We Thrive Together, a Mental Health Awareness Month event designed to increase access to mental health services.
As communities continue to face growing behavioral health needs, events like Community Cares: We Thrive Together help bridge gaps in awareness and access by connecting individuals and families directly with trusted local resources. The event reflects Vibrant’s ongoing commitment to expanding access to emotional wellness services, strengthening community partnerships, and ensuring New Yorkers know where to turn for support before a crisis occurs.
Held on the plaza of Brooklyn Public Library’s Central Library, the event featured more than a dozen community organizations offering information, screenings, referrals, and direct access to services spanning mental health care, youth and family support, recovery resources, workforce development, health insurance enrollment, CPR education, and more. Attendees also learned more about critical behavioral health resources, including NYC 988, helping ensure community members know where to turn for immediate mental health support whenever they need it.
By bringing together organizations focused on mental health, education, economic stability, healthcare access, and family support, the event underscored the value of community-based collaboration and demonstrated how we can effectively help individuals and families access the resources they need to thrive.
“Our collective well-being is strengthened when communities have access to trusted resources, meaningful connections, and spaces to use their voices to create meaningful change,” said Johnell Lawrence, MSW, Assistant Vice President of Community Engagement at Vibrant Emotional Health. “Our goal was to bring the organizations directly to the people which build bridges for and ensure our work is human-centered. We dream of a city where all people are equipped to support their own mental well-being and deeply aware of the depth of services available to them. We are grateful to Brooklyn Public Library, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and our city-wide partners for helping create an environment where individuals and families could access the resources they need to thrive.”
“Community is strongest when people know they have somewhere to turn for support,” said New York State Senator Zellnor Myrie. “Events like ‘We Thrive Together’ help connect our neighbors with resources that can make a real difference for individuals and families. I’m grateful to Vibrant Emotional Health, Brooklyn Public Library, and all of the participating organizations for creating a space where people could learn about available services, build connections, and access support in their own community.”
“We Thrive Together brought Brooklyn’s youth mental health community together on the plaza at Brooklyn Public Library, creating opportunities for individuals, families, and service providers to connect with one another and learn about available resources,” said Carrie Banks, Chief Librarian and Vice President of Public Services at Brooklyn Public Library. “Some attendees came specifically for the event, while others discovered it while visiting the library and were able to engage with the wealth of resources available. By bringing people together in a welcoming community space, we strengthened connections and our collective ability to support one another.”
Participating organizations included Coordinated Care Services, Inc. (CCSI), New York Psychotherapy and Counseling Center (NYPCC), Episcopal Health Services’ Children & Families Treatment Support Services, Families on the Move of New York City, New York Life, Educational Alliance’s Center for Recovery and Wellness, Healthfirst, Comunilife’s Life is Precious program, Charlie Health, the New York City Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD), SCO Family of Services, NY Connects, FDNY CPR, YAI, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), The Jewish Board, MetroPlusHealth, EmblemHealth Brooklyn, and several Vibrant Emotional Health programs, including Manhattan ASC, H2H, and NYC 988.
Throughout the afternoon, attendees connected directly with service providers, explored available programs, and learned how to access behavioral health and community support services across Brooklyn and New York City. Food and refreshments helped create a welcoming environment that encouraged engagement, learning, and community connection.
To learn more about Vibrant Emotional Health, visit www.vibrant.org.
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About Vibrant Emotional Health
Vibrant Emotional Health is a non-profit organization that helps individuals and families achieve emotional wellbeing. For over 55 years, our groundbreaking solutions have delivered high-quality services and support when, where, and how people need it. We offer confidential emotional support through our state-of-the-art contact center and crisis hotline services that use leading-edge telephone, text, and web-based technologies, including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line. Through our community wellness programs, individuals and families obtain the support and skills they need to thrive. Our advocacy and education initiatives promote mental well-being as a social responsibility. We help millions of people live healthier and more vibrant lives yearly. We’re advancing access, dignity, and respect for all and revolutionizing the system for good. Visit vibrant.org. Follow Vibrant on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X.
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