Black History Month Feature: Partnership between COMM 390 and Black People Die By Suicide Too

Check out this incredible partnership happening in our department!

This semester, COMM Assistant Professor Carina Zelaya is partnering with Black People Die By Suicide Too in COMM390: Health Communication. The organization was co-founded by T-Kea Blackman, a graduate student in our program and an advisee of Dr. Zelaya. 

In the course, students are working with the organization on a communication campaign toolkit focused on mental health awareness and suicide prevention in Black communities.

When discussing the collaboration, Blackman explained, "I am excited to partner with Dr. Carina Zelaya’s Health Communication course. As both Executive Director of Black People Die By Suicide Too and a PhD student in the Communication program, this collaboration is meaningful to me. It represents the kind of community–academic partnership I believe in, one where scholarship directly strengthens grassroots impact. Students are developing strategic messaging and a communication campaign toolkit to enhance our outreach around mental health awareness and suicide prevention in Black communities. We are a grassroots organization, so this partnership also reflects our commitment to capacity building, culturally responsive communication, and advancing equity through both research and practice." 

We are very proud of this collaboration between faculty and students and between academia and our communities. Great work, Blackman and Dr. Zelaya!