THIS IS MY BRAVE INC
Storytelling Saves Lives
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
This Is My Brave exists to eradicate the stigma surrounding mental illness and addiction through the sharing of personal stories, which helps individuals struggling feel less alone and increases help-seeking behavior.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
This Is My Brave - The Show
Our flagship program, This Is My Brave - The Show - is a community theater production during May (National Mental Health Awareness Month). We recruit individuals from the community who are willing to share their personal stories of living with mental illness through song, poetry and essays. Auditions are held and a cast of 12-14 brave individuals are selected.
The inaugural show took place on May 18th, 2014, in Arlington, Virginia and included readings of touching personal essays, original music performances and energetic slam poetry. Everyone has a story and there were incredible tales of inspiration and hope shared through this mental health theater production.
Where we work
Awards
Clifford W. Beers Award 2018
Mental Health America
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our Sustainable Development Goals
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Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
This Is My Brave was created in 2014 when a group of passionate advocates came together for a common goal: ending the stigma surrounding mental illness through artistic storytelling. Our organization is a national mental health awareness 501(c)3 non-profit which is dedicated to providing a platform for individuals in the community to share their stories of overcoming mental illness to end stigma. We are driven by the goal to encourage people to not be afraid to speak openly about mental health issues because the more we share our stories, the more people understand that mental illness needs to be treated as we treat physical illness, they are not alone, and no one should be afraid of asking for help or seeking treatment.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
The goals of This Is My Brave, Inc., for 2021 and beyond include the following:\n* Reduce the stigma surrounding mental health disorders. \n* Educate society on the various types of mental illnesses and treatments available. \n* Provide hope to those suffering in silence, letting them know they are not alone. \n* Provide a creative outlet for people living in recovery from mental illness to share their stories.\n\nIn order to accomplish these goals, This Is My Brave, Inc., will meet the following objectives:\n* Recruit volunteer production teams of 3-5 individuals in each city/show location, for a total of 10 productions.\n* Oversee volunteer production teams' recruitment, casting, and coaching of 12-14 individuals in each community who are interested in sharing their stories in an effective, engaging way.\n* Assist in creating partnerships with 30 new and existing mental health organizations across the country to raise awareness of and reduce mental illness stigma, sharing the mission of This Is My Brave, Inc.\n* Through 10 shows, bring stories of mental illness recovery and hope to over 2,500 live audience members.\n* Increase knowledge and awareness regarding mental health conditions by 25% among audience members who attend a live production.\n* Reduce public stigma surrounding mental illness by 50% among audience members who attend a live production.\n\nMethods\nThis Is My Brave, Inc., will achieve these goals and objectives through a strategy which includes:\n* Recruiting interested volunteer production team members through word of mouth, contact with local organizations, and social media\n* Training production team members in the This Is My Brave - The Show model, including but not limited to things such as: how to recruit and cast a show, how to market a show, and how to partner with other organizations to benefit both the missions of This Is My Brave, Inc., as well as those of production team members organizations, as explained in the This Is My Brave Playbook. Each production team will have a timeline of four months to produce a This Is My Brave - The Show, following the Playbook. Production teams in each city will have access to Executive Director/Program Manager Jennifer Marshall and Program Assistant Hillary Marotta, throughout their show timeline, for support and guidance.\n* Equip production teams with This Is My Brave, Inc., social media tools, fundraising tools, and branding to ensure successful marketing of each show.\n* Obtaining licensing permissions to use Sara Bareilles's song Brave* as a signature opening musical introduction to each show. *(pending approval from Sony/ATV publishing)\n* Provide each production team with a Playbook including policies and procedures for producing each show as well as hosting a cast party, recruiting volunteers, and obtaining video and photography services for each show.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
This Is My Brave, Inc. has a history of successful shows which have impacted communities across the United States and beyond via our YouTube channel featuring all our shows. Since 2014, This Is My Brave has produced 75 unique storytelling productions in 43 cities across the US featuring over 875 individuals. We have built and continue to build a passionate group of staff, Board Members and volunteers who provide their talents and time to allow us to reach our goals. In addition, we build partnerships with other mental health organizations which allow us to further reach more people with our messages of hope and inspiration through storytelling.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
In addition to five successful shows this spring, Brave has also recently gotten the attention of not only additional local media including The Washington Post, but also the attention of national media. On Wednesday, June 1, 2016 - Brave's Executive Director, Jennifer Marshall, was featured in a front page story in The Washington Post shedding light on reducing the stigma around mental illness. The 3-page, Section A story told about Jennifer's journey through her own struggles to create This Is My Brave, Inc. This Is My Brave was featured in a 4-page article in O, The Oprah Magazine in August of 2016.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
THIS IS MY BRAVE INC
Board of directorsas of 05/19/2023
Jessica Kennedy
Mental Health America
Term: 2021 - 2024
Dr. Kyaien Conner
University of South Florida
Tammy George, LCSW
George Mason University
Ric Waldman
Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts
Kristine Haataja
Retired Consultant
Adam Bromberg
Director of Public Affairs, Charles Schwab Corporation
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
No data
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
Equity strategies
Last updated: 04/11/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.