You Aren’t Alone Project
Organization: You Aren't Alone Project
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Type: Nonprofit | Mental health advocacy through art and community
Role: Founder & Executive Director
Services: Nonprofit launch, brand development, community-building, event planning & production, board development and training, communications strategy, programming development
The Challenge
Mental health conversations, especially in community settings, don't happen on their own. They need the right container: a space that feels safe enough, creative enough, and human enough to invite people in. The You Aren't Alone Project was built to create exactly that. But building it meant starting from nothing: no brand, no community, no programming infrastructure, no funding relationships. Just a mission and a belief that art and storytelling could change the way people talk about mental health.
Programs Launched:
YAAP's programming was designed to meet people where they are whether that's an event, a creative retreat, or a community workshop. Each touchpoint was intentional: not just an event to attend, but an experience designed to move people toward connection.
Live Art Event & Auction — an annual, immersive gallery experience merging art and mental health advocacy, now in its 5th year
Creative Retreats — intimate multi-day experiences at the intersection of creativity and personal wellbeing
Community Workshops — accessible, facilitated programming for community members navigating mental health topics
Creative Mental Health Toolkits — distributed to high school students
Podcast — long-form storytelling and conversation around mental health and the creative journey
Nonprofit Involvement Program — partnerships with aligned organizations to extend YAAP's reach and impact
What We Built
Founded in 2019, the You Aren't Alone Project is a nonprofit dedicated to changing conversations around mental health so that no one ever has to feel alone. We built it from the ground up, the mission, the brand, the programs, the community, and the communications infrastructure to sustain all of it.
Brand & Communications
Before we could build a community, we needed a voice. I developed the brand identity, messaging, and communications strategy that define YAAP today, grounded in warmth, accessibility, and the belief that creative expression is a pathway to connection and healing. That voice runs through everything: the website, the social channels, the event copy, the email list, and the 30-episode podcast where we go deeper on the themes the community cares about most.
Signature Event: The Live Art Event & Auction
The You Aren’t Alone Live Art Event is YAAP's flagship and the clearest proof of what happens when community-building, event production, and communications strategy all work together.
Each year, we produce an immersive gallery experience that brings together visual artists, performing artists, mental health advocates, and community members for a night centered on storytelling and connection. The event features curated artwork, live performances, a fundraising auction, mental health resources, and a chapter narrative arc guiding guests through themes of self-awareness, emotional release, healing, and renewal.
What production looks like:
Concept development and thematic framing
Artist recruitment, curation, and coordination via open Call for Artists
Venue sourcing and logistics management
Sponsor acquisition and relationship management
Run-of-show development and day-of production
Pre- and post-event communications across email and social
Virtual program and digital auction coordination
Volunteer and team management
Sponsors have included: Ochsner Health and Our Lady of the Lake Health District
Learn more about the You Aren't Alone Project at youarentaloneproject.com.