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April 6, 2021
After Maria Brown-Spence lost two loved ones to cancer, she looked for help to deal with her grief but found the cultural divide was too wide. An Afro-Latina, she started Hearts2Heal in Austin, Texas, to create culturally relevant mental health programming for people of color. (Photo courtesy of Taylor Prinsen Photography)
Hearts2Heal members pose after a Hike and Heal event last September in Austin, Texas. The event aimed to provide a safe space for discussions about mental health and grief during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo courtesy of Maria Brown-Spence)
PHOENIX – Maria Brown-Spence lost two people to cancer in six years – her grandmother in 2012, her significant other in 2018. Grief-stricken, she tried to get help but found few mental health resources for people who look like her.