The Confess Project

The Confess Project of America, Inc. is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to building a culture of mental health for Black men, boys, and their families. Founded in 2016 by Lorenzo P. Lewis, the organization began as a grassroots movement to equip marginalized Black men and boys with mental health strategies and coping skills. Lewis's personal journey, born in jail to an incarcerated mother and facing his own struggles with depression and anxiety, inspired him to create a support system within a trusted community space: the barbershop. Having grown up in his aunt's beauty salon and experienced the mentorship of a barber, Lewis recognized these locations as ideal for destigmatizing mental health conversations.

The organization's primary initiative is the "Beyond the Shop" program, which trains barbers to become mental health advocates. The curriculum, which has been evaluated by Harvard University, focuses on four key skills: active listening, validation, positive communication, and stigma reduction. This peer support model empowers barbers to identify, support, and guide clients who may be struggling with their mental health, bridging the gap to professional services. Since its inception, The Confess Project has trained thousands of barbers and stylists across dozens of U.S. cities, reaching millions of individuals annually. The business model operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, relying on partnerships, grants, and donations. It has secured national partnerships with major brands like Gillette and Toyota to fund its outreach.

The Confess Project has expanded its model beyond barbershops to include training for stylists, frontline workers, educators, and law enforcement to better serve under-resourced communities. The organization also engages in research to address public health disparities, advocacy to shape public policy, and innovation through digital platforms. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, after relocating from Little Rock, Arkansas, the nonprofit aims to establish affiliate chapters and community mental health clinics across the country. Now under the leadership of CEO Jordan Lewis, the founder's wife, the organization continues to expand, including the launch of a Beauty Coalition focusing on Black women and girls and addressing issues like the opioid crisis.

Keywords: mental health advocacy, Black community wellness, barbershop movement, peer support model, mental health training, community-based mental health, stigma reduction, men of color, youth mental health, Lorenzo Lewis, Beyond the Shop, grassroots nonprofit, suicide prevention, emotional well-being, public health disparities, trauma-informed care, cultural competency, mental health access, community organizing, mental wellness