B3 The Afro-American October 18, 2025 - October 24, 2025
Taraji P. Henson hosts 5th annual Can We Talk? Arts and Wellness Summit By Patricia McDougall The Taraji P. Henson’s Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation held its fifth annual Can We Talk? Arts and Wellness Summit Oct. 10-12, 2025, at the Gaylord National Harbor in Maryland. The three-day event was in honor of World Mental Health
Day, which is recognized each Oct. 10. Attendees included speakers, cultural leaders, community leaders, vendors, health experts, artists, students and more. The “I AM The Table” Benefit Brunch was held on Sunday, Oct. 12 and was hosted by Taraji P. Henson. The brunch pulled together members of the community, legislators and
celebrities, including Grammy-award winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion; CNN anchor Abby Phillip; actress Sherri Shepherd; mental health expert and author Dr. Jay Barnett; award-winning celebrity chef Huda Mu’Min; Wanda Durant and more. AFRO Photos/ Patricia McDougall
Meditation guide Kayla Haley (left) and sound healer Marsha Banks Harold lead the morning meditation with students at the Boris L. Henson Foundation’s Can We Talk? wellness summit.
Dr. Briana Deneal-Findley (left), Summaiya Khalid, Sahaj Kohli and Dr. Lara Okanlawon participate on the panel titled, “All God’s Children Got Wings” at the Can We Talk? summit at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center at the National Harbor.
Chef Huda Mu’Min, an award-winning television host, writer and Food Network champion, attends the benefit brunch for the 2025 Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (BLHF) annual conference.
Tracie Jade (left), executive director of the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (BLHF), shares a moment with Prince George’s County Councilman Edward P. Burroughs III (District 8); Taraji P. Henson, president and founder BLHF; Prince George’s County Executive Aisha N. Braveboy; actress and Emmy-award winning daytime talk show host, Sherri Shepherd, and Dr. Jay Barnett, a therapist. The group gathered together on the red carpet of the “I AM The Table” Benefit Brunch at Gaylord National Harbor.
Maryland State Delegate Jheanelle K. Wilkins (D-MD-20), chair of Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, flashes a smile on the red carpet of the “I AM The Table” Benefit Brunch at Gaylord National Harbor.
Taraji P. Henson, award-winning actress, filmmaker and producer, is the president and founder of Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (BLHF). Henson formed the organization to address the lack of culturally relevant mental health support for people of color.
Shown here, Justice Oliver (left), Psalm Fowlkes, Caylen Peeples, Cameena Robinson, Alim Kabia, Prince George’s County Councilman Edward P. Burroughs III (District 8), Angelica Jackson, Brianna Boston, Valeria Hernandez, Sanaa Rodriguez, Nnenna Nwughala, Mariol Musa (back, right) and Williams Scott (front, center) at the Can We Talk? summit.
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