About Us

PROJECT BLACKBIRD is a non-profit 501(c)(3) that aims to de-stigmatize eating disorder and mental health conversation within underrepresented communities.

A non-profit 501(c)(3) and corresponding live touring event

Project Blackbird, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) and corresponding live touring event that aims to encourage conversations around the crises and stigma around mental illness by providing a public figure panel sharing lived experience, free therapy for those in need, and a resource fair to connect resources to those engaged in the PROJECT BLACKBIRD program.

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The goal of the live event is to encourage and empower participants to confront situations in their lives that may be causing them shame in order to give those situations less power, and to provide participants with local and national resources – including access to mental healthcare professionals – to begin the journey toward recovery and self-acceptance.

About the Touring Live Event

The components of each live event are

Screening of award-winning short film Blackbird
Post-screening conversation with member of the film's cast and special guest panelists including public figures, health care professionals and, or community activists.
Journaling activity for participants to explore their own feelings around mental health, especially with regards to past trauma, disordered eating, etc.
Activation fair connecting the audience with local community and national resources.

Participants are encouraged to then join the conversation on social media by posting their journal entry alongside the hashtag #ShedShame and tagging @ProjectBlackbird

Watch BLACKBIRD

Alma, a young black teenager recovering from Bulimia meets Noa, new roommate at an eating disorder treatment center. Seemingly, the two could not be more different, yet they will soon find they have more in common than they realize.

Based on a true story, Blackbird tells the narrative of hope, trauma recovery, and truth through finding connection.

Testimonials

Hear what our incredible audience have to say!

"Project Blackbird is a shining light on how to destigmatize and change the narrative in mental health. Conversation through fi lm is a powerful medium to help people understand, relate and engage in sometimes hard, but very important conversations."

Anonymous Audience Member

"PROJECT BLACKBIRD is a vital organization in the entertainment industry that boldly uses fi lm as a tool to build community and shed the shame accompanying mental health struggles. Julianne Moore said "the audience doesn't come to see you, they come to see themselves."

Krystofer Maison

CEO

"Bringing Project Blackbird to GW began a really important conversation on campus around eating disorders and mental health. There can be so much stigma around these topics; inviting Project Blackbird allowed us to gauge the comfort level of our students and understand where they are coming from."

McPherson-Wehan

Student Affairs, George Washington University

"Experiencing the life-changing impact of PROJECT BLACKBIRD first hand has been truly amazing. I have witnessed beautiful conversations unfold after an event, with many participants just beginning their mental health journey."

Anna Bunker

NAMI central Texas

"This event was incredible! Access to free therapy is a game changer"

Student

Wright State University

"I enjoyed the resource tabling activities prior to the showing and the discussion which preceded the viewing of the film. All of it was well thought out and executed."

Student

Wright State University

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About the Event

The program

What a Project Blackbird event looks like

A one-hour program followed by a 45-minute resource fair, tailored to your community. Here is exactly what happens in the room, and what everyone walks away with.

The experience, step by step

1The film

We open with a 13-minute narrative short film, based on a true story. It gives everyone an honest, shared starting point for a hard conversation.

2The panel

Athletes, artists, and public figures share their real mental-health journeys, with a clinician on the panel to add the how-to: how to recognize a struggle, and how to support someone through it.

3The journal

Each person answers one anonymous prompt, leaves it behind, and takes home a stranger’s message of hope. A real-time reminder that no one is carrying it alone.

4Resource fair + free therapy

A 45-minute resource fair follows, with local and national partners on-site, from mental health to financial literacy, food security, and housing. Every participant signs up for a full year of free therapy before they leave.

Topics we cover

Every program is built around the conversation your community needs most.

Eating disorders

Athlete mental health

Substance use

Social media & youth

General mental health

+ Custom to your community

Who it’s for

Built for every kind of room, and tailored to each one.

K-12 schools

Colleges & universities

Corporate & workforce

Military, veterans & families

Seniors

Film festivals

Conferences

Community & nonprofit

Bring Project Blackbird to your community

Tell us your audience and the topic that matters most, and we’ll build the program around it.

Book a program Talk to our team