This Saturday, May 3rd, Council Chair Edward Burroughs III will partner with actress and mental health advocate Taraji P. Henson for a free youth mental health symposium for Prince George’s County students.
Henson, an Academy Award-nominated actress, best-selling author and founder of The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (BLHF), will return to her alma mater, Oxon Hill High School, for this event.
The Can We Talk? Youth Mental Health Symposium & Joy Salons will feature non-traditional forms of therapy including dance, art, poetry, filmmaking, and dance—all designed to teach students self-regulation skills to cope with daily stressors. The centerpiece of the event will be a fireside chat with Taraji P. Henson and guests including actor and record producer Michael Rainey Jr. from the hit show Power and Power Book II: Ghost, and Dr. Jay Barnett, an author, speaker, and therapist.
“We continue to face a mental health crisis in our county with data showing that nearly a fifth of PGCPS high school students seriously considered suicide and 10 percent attempted it,” said Chair Burroughs. “These are not just staggering statistics, these are our children. I am committed to prioritizing youth mental health services and incredibly grateful to both Taraji and BLHF Executive Director Tracie Jade Jenkins for their dedication to our community.”
Chair Burroughs will announce a broader partnership with BLHF that will bring new mental health services into several PGCPS schools in District 8.
"Prince George’s County is not only home—it’s the place that helped shape who I am, making it all the more important to bring this work here,” said Taraji P. Henson. “Chair Burroughs has been a key champion of mental health in District 8 and beyond, helping to eliminate financial barriers and stigma surrounding care. It’s been an honor to continue this impactful work together.”
Both Henson and Chair Burroughs will be available for interviews in the afternoon.
WHAT: Can We Talk? Youth Mental Health Symposium & Joy Salons
WHERE: Oxon Hill High School, 6701 Leyte Dr., Forest Heights, MD 20745
WHEN: Saturday, May 3, 2025 from 10AM to 4PM