Shoppers are turning to culture-centred support as Brooklyn prepares for "Building Strength for the Caribbean Mind" , a free July 25 workshop led by Guyanese American Antoine B. Craigwell in collaboration with the Consulate of St. Lucia and island organisations, offering practical skills, CEUs for clinicians and a Creole-friendly approach that speaks to lived experience.

Essential Takeaways

  • Who’s leading it: Antoine B. Craigwell, president and CEO of Depressed Black Gay Men, Inc., is running the session; he’s also an award-winning documentarian and mental health advocate.
  • What to expect: Conversation on ancestors, rituals, spotting symptoms, suicide prevention and everyday tools you can practice; language is simplified and Creole-friendly.
  • Where and when: Saint Lucia House, 438 East 49th Street, Brooklyn, on July 25; open to anyone 18+ and free to attend.
  • For professionals: Clinicians such as LCSWs, LMSWs and LMHCs can earn continuing education credits/units (CEUs).
  • Feel of the event: Practical, community-rooted and participatory , attendees are encouraged to use techniques daily.

Why this workshop matters now , a community asking for more

Brooklyn’s Caribbean communities asked for another forum after a well-received May session, and organisers listened. The demand came from people who wanted tools to help loved ones and neighbours, not just theory. That grassroots urgency gives the July workshop a practical, no-nonsense vibe: it’s meant to be used at home, at church, or across family gatherings.

Who Antoine B. Craigwell is , more than a facilitator

Craigwell is known in community and creative circles for both advocacy and storytelling. As president and CEO of Depressed Black Gay Men, Inc., he combines lived experience with professional outreach, and his documentary work gives him a knack for clear, compassionate communication. Expect a facilitator who knows how to make difficult conversations feel less clinical and more human.

What will be covered , rituals, language and real-world tools

The session will explore ancestral practices and rituals alongside the nuts-and-bolts of spotting mental health symptoms and suicide prevention. Craigwell plans to use simplified language and Creole when helpful, so cultural nuance is front and centre. That approach helps demystify mental health for people who might be sceptical of mainstream services, and it makes the material feel familiar rather than foreign.

Practicalities , who can go, CEUs and where to find more

The workshop is free, open to adults 18 and over, and held at Saint Lucia House in Brooklyn. Clinicians can earn CEUs, which makes this useful for both community members and professionals seeking credits. For more details and upcoming events, organisers point attendees to inmymindconference.com.

How to decide if you should attend , quick advice

If you care for family members from Caribbean backgrounds, work in community health, or simply want culturally relevant mental health tools, this is a good fit. The Creole-friendly, ritual-aware focus means the content will resonate with people who prefer community-rooted ways of understanding wellness. Bring questions, an open mind, and be ready to practise techniques you can use daily.

It's a small change that can make every conversation about mental health more useful and less intimidating.

Source Reference Map

Story idea inspired by: [1]

Sources by paragraph: