Social, Community & Cultural Issues
Social Services- Mental Health & Substance Use Disorders
Social Services- Mental Health & Substance Use Disorders:
Former US Representative, Rhode Island
Patrick Kennedy was a Representative from Rhode Island to the US House of Representatives. He now works as a mental health advocate and speaks about mental health, healthcare and many other related issues.
Award-Winning Actress, Producer & Equal Rights Advocate
With various ‘firsts’ in her already impressive career, Laverne Cox is a four-time Emmy- nominated actress, Emmy-winning producer, and a prominent equal rights advocate and public speaker.
Former NBA Player / Addiction Recovery Advocate
A hometown basketball legend, Chris Herren realized his dream of playing for the Celtics only to lose it all to addiction. He shares his story in Basketball Junkie & the ESPN documentary Unguarded.
Abuse & Homelessness Survivor, Author of CinderGirl
Empowering others with her inspiring life story, Christina Meredith survived sexual, mental and emotional abuse, incest, trauma, aging out of foster care, poverty and homelessness to forge a life committed to helping others.
Author, Recovering Addict & Son of Michael Douglas
Born into Hollywood royalty as the son of Michael and grandson of Kirk, Cameron is the author of the #1 Amazon bestseller Long Way Home, an unflinching account of his dangerous descent into years of drug abuse and his eventual rise to recovery.
Actor & Filmmaker
Sean Astin is an actor and director known for his roles in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Goonies, Rudy and Netflix’s Stranger Things 2. Son of actress Patty Duke, he is an advocate for mental health awareness, civic engagement and more.
Social Services Advocate, Community Activist
A vibrant community activist, Lonise Bias has turned the losses of her two sons (including basketball star Len Bias) into a calling to help remedy the social ills of today.
Recovering Addict & Subject of Beautiful Boy
Nic Sheff’s heartbreaking and inspiring struggle with substance abuse disorder is the story of Beautiful Boy, a major motion picture starring Timothée Chalamet as Nic and Steve Carrell as his father, David.