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Our History
Building A Better Culture
“America’s First Mental Health Awareness Movement”
Ever been told to “man up” when all you wanted to do is cry? Wished there was someone to talk to who understood where you were coming from? Had a moment when all the -isms in life were too much to bear?
We’ve been there. The Confess Project of America began in 2016 because we recognized a need to equip marginalized communities with mental health strategies and coping skills to help them move past their pain. In the African American community alone, suicide is the third leading cause of death. We exist to help change that. Our vision is a world without stigma and shame.
Founder Lorenzo Lewis’ first talk was at a historically African American church in Little Rock, Arkansas. Since then, he’s traveled all over the country to speak at universities, K-12 schools, and conferences to encourage communities to be their best. Drawing from stories in his book Jumping Over Life’s Hurdles and Staying in the Race, Lorenzo shares his own journey to wellness as a way to inspire hope—from narrowly escaping the school-to-prison pipeline to behavioral health professional.
Now under the leadership of CEO Jordan Lewis, Lorenzo's wife and a recently named Pinterest Impact Lab leader, the organization continues to be a guiding voice in the mental health advocacy field. The Governor of Arkansas has recognized us for our efforts across the U.S., and in 2019, the American Psychiatric Association Foundation honored us with their “Pioneer for Advancing Minority Mental Health” award. In addition, Fast Company named The Confess Project of America as one of “The 10 most innovative health companies of 2021.” We are likewise a 2024 Clinton Global Initiative organization.
Our team of public health experts, therapists, and education professionals continually respond to community needs and evolve. Through our Beyond the Shop program, we train barbers to become mental health advocates around the country. In 2020, we partnered with Gillette as part of their The Best Men Can Be campaign to bring our “State of Mind” tour to 16 cities all over the country. To date, we have trained over 5000 barbers and frontline workers in more than 35 cities.
We also work with city governments, universities, and organizations to highlight how mental health intersects with other issues. To tackle gender inequality, our training has included over 1200 female beauty stylists so far. And, we are widening our focus to substance use and the opioid crisis by providing culturally-responsive mental health support to those affected by addiction.
Recently, we moved our headquarters from Little Rock, Arkansas to the civil rights hub of Atlanta, Georgia. Inspired by the changemakers who went before us, we launched an affiliate arm, The Confess Project of Atlanta. Much like Atlanta embraced its homegrown leader Dr. Martin Luther King, we have been welcomed by the city and are proud to call it our new home. Through this affiliate and in tandem with our advisory company, TCP Ventures, we aim to reach 120 million people in the coming years.
As a family-run organization, we promise to improve the health, wellbeing, and prosperity of marginalized communities for generations to come. We won’t stop until we see life expectancy increase and legislation to ensure it lasts. Your struggles don’t need to be kept a secret anymore. Wanna win at life? Let's talk.
