Former NBA player Lamar Odom will be the keynote speaker as Coleman Health Services presents “Unmute the Uncomfortable,” a symposium on racial equity, shattering the stigma associated with mental health treatment and reshaping the community.
The event is set for 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 9 at House Three Thirty, located at 532 W. Market St. in Akron.
“Unmute the Uncomfortable” is a community-wide event to promote change through education in Summit, Portage and Stark counties; to raise awareness about racial equity, access and barriers to services; and to address the stigma associated with mental health treatment.
Odom’s off-court life has included substance abuse issues and the loss of his son. Despite these challenges, his resilience and determination led him to seek help for his addiction and embark on a path to recovery.
The day-long event will open with registration, breakfast and a resource fair. Additional presentations include “Building Safe Visibility for Black Boys—Men’s Mental Health, Stigma Among Men, Suicide Prevention,” “DEI: A Path From me to You,” and “Spirituality: A Core Component of Culturally Specific Mental Health and Collective Community Care.”
Individual tickets are $100 each, and are available by visiting https://www.colemanservices.org/events/unmute-the-uncomfortable-summit-portage-stark/.
Wendy DiAlesandro is a former Record Publishing Co. reporter and contributing writer for The Portager.