Harris County Precinct 2 Declaration

On day 1 of the 2024 Melanin Minds Mental Health Conference, Melanin Minds Co-Founder LaGina R. Harris & Advisory Board Member Muriel Foster took the stage at the Mellie Esperson Building to kickoff the 4th annual 3-day conference centering BIPOC mental health. The duo were joined by Harris County Precinct 2 Assistant Director of Health Services Asha Minix and Deputy Commissioner Chara Bowie for a special exchange.

A multi-year partner of Melanin Minds, Precinct 2 has maintained footprint at the past few conferences, connecting attendees with community resources for health and wellness. On this special day, Asha presented Melanin Minds with a special declaration, which reads as follows:

WHEREAS, Melanin Minds, a Houston-based nonprofit organization, has been at the forefront of providing mental health resources, education, and accessible spaces for personal and professional development within BIPOC communities, addressing the unique needs of these communities with compassion and dedication; and,

WHEREAS, Melanin Minds will host its 4th annual Mental Health Conference from July 26th through July 28th in Houston to mark the culmination of National Minority Mental Health Month and will feature a comprehensive array of sessions, workshops, activations, and panels designed to amplify melanin mental health professionals and the communities they serve; and,

WHEREAS, this year’s conference will explore five pillars of the wellness journey: Mindset Shifting, Aligning, Holistic Healing, Nutrition, and Relationships, providing a holistic approach to mental health through actionable workshops, interactive panels, local vendors, mental health thought leaders, and more; and,

WHEREAS, Melanin Minds, through its vision to activate 30,000 mental health advocates by 2030, is committed to normalizing conversations about mental health and creating spaces tailored to the specific mental health needs of BIPOC communities, thereby fostering genuine healing and resilience; and,

WHEREAS, the efforts of Melanin Minds co-founders, LaGina R. Harris, and Melissa Matos, as well as members of the organization, and their dedication to providing resources and spaces that reflect the diversity and needs of the communities they serve, deserve recognition and support from the wider community; and,

WHEREAS, Precinct 2 honors and supports the invaluable work of Melanin Minds and to provide mental health resources that educate, amplify, & create accessible spaces for personal and professional development within BIPOC communities,

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ADRIAN GARCIA, COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT TWO, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE LAST WEEKEND OF JULY 2024, AS MELANIN MINDS MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY AND WELLNESS WEEKEND IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS. BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME BY HARRIS COUNTY AND THE STATE OF TEXAS, I HEREBY AFFIX MY SIGNATURE ON THIS 28TH DAY OF JULY 2024.