Alexandra Miles has firsthand knowledge of the healing therapy brings.
Having battled with anorexia, she spent an extended time in a treatment center to learn how to restore her health. While there, she met Kendra Williams, who was younger, from another community and suffered a different trauma, but the two connected through silent pain. They realized they shared the very human desire to be heard.
“I told her, ‘I know that I don’t want to die and I wake up every day, but I also don’t want to be alive,’” recalled Miles. “‘I feel numb, paralyzed, ashamed to be here. I don’t know what I’m doing.’ [Williams] looked up and she said ‘yeah, me too.’ It was the deepest connection I’ve felt. She made me feel seen and I made her feel seen.”
Upon returning home to continue her healing process, Miles was called to create Project Blackbird in 2022, a nonprofit organization to ensure students have access to free mental health resources and a platform to share their story.
“It’s about students feeling safe, opening up about their own mental health,” said Miles. “The pandemic resulted in a lot of loneliness for students. Students didn’t have the opportunity to develop connections because they were in isolation during pivotal years. There’s a lot of difficulties in loneliness and loneliness leads to a lot of mental health struggles. We want students to feel open to going to mental health services.”
Named for the tattoo that graced Williams’ neck, Project Blackbird is invited into communities, K-12 schools and college campuses to screen a film based on a true story, which is followed by a curated panel of influencers who share personal stories. Students then complete a journal prompt about themselves. It then connects the youth with local and national resources, including free therapy for up to a year.
Project Blackbird partners with clinicians, dietitians, treatment centers, banks, influencers and Housing and Urban Development to address as many issues students may have. The organization’s network, including a former two-year partnership with virtual mental health care company Talkspace, allows young people to receive sponsored therapy services with licensed providers.
“We’re proud of the impact we made together over the past two years and continue to support the important work Project Blackbird is doing to increase access to mental health resources,” said Lea Krugolets, Talkspace senior director of youth programs. “Early therapy helps young people build emotional awareness, resilience, and healthy coping skills before patterns become harder to change. Starting therapy young can also reduce stigma and normalize seeking support throughout life.”
Through collaborations with school districts and municipalities, Talkspace has provided therapy to more than 70,000 youth nationwide, making mental health support more accessible and scalable by meeting young people where they are in schools and communities.
Talkspace’s partnership with Project Blackbird was instrumental in helping the young nonprofit reach 50,000 students at 80 schools and universities, and offer 700 funded therapy sessions.
“Over the past two decades, rates have climbed significantly, with PTSD prevalence in children rising from 17% to 28% in just the last five years,” said Krogulets. “COVID-19 accelerated this further, increasing domestic violence, household dysfunction, and parental stress – all of which compound trauma exposure for children. These trends highlight the importance of timely access to care.”
Despite a rising need for mental health care for students, schools around the country are losing funding for counselors and mental health programs.
The Washington Post reported in November that about 60% of DCPS (158 campuses) had at least one licensed clinician, noting that 21 positions were vacant and 70 schools had not received a clinician in 2025.
With 52 DCPS campuses still lacking a mental health counselor and the challenges youth are facing throughout the nation, Miles said Project Blackbird must continue its mission, especially in her hometown.
“There is a high education standard in the DMV area,” she said. “Pressures that come out of D.C. are very different from many other cities and rural areas. What we see is the pressure to perform, have a perfect GPA, manage IB [International Baccalaureate] and AP [Advanced Placement] classes, and we have noticed presenting in the District, that those pressures have an extreme impact on depression and anxiety. For a lot of students that ends in suicide.”
Providing the Chance to Experience Joy
Project Blackbird celebrated its fourth anniversary this month at Nationals Park with its annual mental health gala, raising funds to continue offering free mental health resources.
“We chose National Park baseball stadium because we do focus on youth and really wanted to bring everyone together in a space of joy,” said Miles.
Sports agent, author and mental health advocate Leigh Steinberg was honored, Project Blackbird ambassadors shared personal stories, including: former Georgetown University basketball team player and NBA star Jerome “Junk Yard Dog” Williams, Baltimore City Councilmember Phylicia Porter and former Washington Nationals pitcher Chad Cordero.
The unique event offered a therapeutic puppy playpen, a wellness activation hosted by Glowbar, and featured local artisans and vendors that presented gifts tied to attendees’ health journey.
Further, vocalist, theatrical storyteller, mental health and LGBTQ+ rights advocate Krystofer Maison roused the crowd with a unique performance.
“We want everyone to celebrate the impact we made and to acknowledge that while everyone isn’t experiencing joy, every individual has the chance to,” Miles explained. “We have to help them get there.”
During the event, Project Blackbird announced its 2026 initiatives, including an HBCU tour in collaboration with the Department of Education. The multi-year initiative will also be tied to an initiative to help college athletes balance mental health and resilience.
“We are working to expand this work in a way that is intentional, culturally relevant, and grounded in equity for all,” Miles told The Informer. “We want to encourage connection. Connection at the core is one of the more important elements of mental wellness. It’s about breaking stigma, bolstering communities and uplifting services that already exist.”
