(L-R) Panelists Arron Muller, therapist; Muhammad Bilal, main organizer and filmmaker; Dr. Yuseef Salam, member of The Exonerated Five and NYC Council member; Chris V. Rey, President of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity; and Dr. Jeffrey Gardere, celebrity therapist.
 
In a moment of heightened anxiety for many people of color in the country, when Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are under attack and civil rights gains are being threatened, Hostos Community College teamed up with Bilal World Entertainment (BWE) and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. to host the event, “Confronting the Stigma: A Mental Health Event to Help Black and Brown Men Heal.”
 
The event, held on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at the Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture, sought to empower Black and Brown men by addressing mental health stigmas, offering vital resources, and fostering healing in communities of color.
 
“There are so many people out there right now struggling with mental health. That's why Hostos is thrilled to have partnered with Bilal World Entertainment to create an experience where we could engage in dialogue, and explore the realities, challenges and triumphs of those who have navigated mental health struggles, particularly among Black and Brown men. These issues were powerfully addressed in the Mental Health Fair as well as in Mr. Bilal's movie PERDIDO,” said Interim Vice President of Student Development and Enrolment Management (SDEM), Dr. Althea Sterling, who represented Hostos alongside Johanna Gómez, Associate Dean of Students; Interim Associate Dean of SDEM Carlos Rivera; and Fabián Wander, Director of Health and Wellness.
 
For their part, BWE expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the support and significant contribution from the College. In appreciation of this, Hostos was honored with a recognition, highlighting its invaluable role in supporting mental health initiatives for the South Bronx community.
 

 (L-R) Fabián Wander and Dr. Althea Sterling.
 
The event was led by renowned celebrity psychologist, Dr. Jeffrey Gardere. It featured an engaging agenda that included a private screening of PERDIDO, a powerful film by Muhammad Bilal – one of the event's main organizers and Founder of Bilal World Entertainment – that explores the journey of an African American man facing trauma and seeking therapy. The day also included an interactive panel discussion with notable figures such as Dr. Yusef Salaam, one of The Exonerated Five and now a member of the NYC Council, and an inclusive mental health and wellness fair open to the community.
 

 The event featured a panel with mental health specialists and advocates.
 
Over 15 community-based organizations attended, offering resources and support for mental health and wellness. The event provided a unique platform for attendees to engage in vital discussions about the challenges facing Black and Brown men about mental health, while offering expert insights and strategies for wellness and personal growth.
 
This impactful event provided a much-needed space for conversations about mental health within marginalized communities, aiming to reduce stigma, foster open dialogue, and create lasting change.
 
 

There was a private screening of PERDIDO, a movie about a Black man going through trauma and seeking therapy. Director Muhammad Bilal engaged in conversation with Dr. Jeffrey Gardere after the screening.