Late in the fourth quarter of last night’s win over the Clippers, Hawks point guard Trae Young saw teammate Onyeka Okongwu cut the rim. Young’s teamwork with Okongwu turned a typical play into a standout alley-oop. That’s what the Hawks and their All-Star point guard do on and off the court. They make the routine seem extraordinary and they make the extraordinary seem routine.
The lob that ended with an electrifying dunk is the perfect example of what a team can accomplish when they help each other. It’s no surprise that Young leads the Eastern Conference in assists, since he’s always looking to elevate others. Just this week, the Hawks and their floor general made headlines with a bold new initiative that has the potential to save lives.
On Wednesday, the Hawks announced that they will team up with Silence the Shame, Inc. for a multi-initiative campaign. Silence the Shame, Inc. (STS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to de-stigmatizing mental health, reducing health disparities, and improving suicide rates among vulnerable populations. As part of this initiative, the Hawks and Silence the Shame will collaborate with Clayton County Public Schools, Skyland Trail and other community organizations to help normalize conversations around mental wellness and erase the stigma around mental health issues. This content will be an additional effort in support of the ongoing work of the Clayton County School District Student Health and Wellness Department.
To kick off the campaign, Hawks All-Star shooting guard Trae Young and five-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated singer-songwriter Chlöe participated in a teen mental wellness on-court talk and discussed their experiences with health mental and well-being. Courtside chat moderated by Silence the Shame founder and CEO Shanti Das addresses uncertainty and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, both Young and Chlöe describe their experience with mental health and provide healthy ways to deal with stress. The conversation can be viewed on the Hawks’ official YouTube channel. here.
“We are proud to partner with Silence the Shame for a series of activities that continue the conversation around mental health,” said Andrea Carter, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility for Hawks. “Through our collaborative efforts, we hope young people will help themselves, support others and make healthy choices.”
The campaign will continue on Sunday, March 20, with the Hawks raising awareness of mental health with a special Silence the Shame spotlight during the team’s home game against New Orleans. A special package will be offered that includes a ticket to the game, admission to the pre-game event and a limited edition co-branded Hawks and Silence the Shame jersey. For every package of tickets purchased, a donation will be made to Silence the Shame.
“We are truly grateful to join the Atlanta Hawks for a multi-initiative campaign that puts the mental health of our youth at the forefront,” said Shanti Das. “Having allies like the Hawks helps amplify our purpose, educate the community about mental wellness and healthy coping, and promote suicide prevention.”
Prior to the start of the game, the Hawks will host a community conversation titled “Sports, Entertainment, and Mental Wellness.” The discussion will emphasize the importance of prioritizing mental health, tips to improve connections, and tools to keep depression at bay. Starting at 4 pm, this panel will be moderated by Shanti Das and featured speakers include Andrea Carter (Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility for Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena), Dr. Vaughn Gay (CEO of Holistic Atlanta), (12-year NFL veteran) and Jumaine L. Jones (8-year NBA veteran and founder of Beyond The Hardwood Academy).
The collaboration will conclude in May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month. Throughout the month, the Hawks and Silence the Shame will host students.
Silence the Shame creates and promotes culturally sensitive content and increases literacy about the social determinants of mental health and suicide prevention for vulnerable populations. Since 2016, Silence the Shame has been working across the music industry to promote proper mental health training and awareness among artists, employees, and executives.
The Hawks continue to work with impactful organizations to build a stronger Atlanta community. To purchase tickets for the game on Sunday, March 20, in which the Hawks will highlight Silence the Shame, visit Hawks.com/SilencetheShame.
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