The Hilltop Doesn't Just Need "Awareness." It Needs This.
Thank you to Quantum Health for supporting this work. Your investment in our community makes events like this possible and helps us show up for neighbors who need us most.
Make-A-Day volunteer, Beth, having lunch with a guest she’s known for over 15 years.
On May 4th, the Hilltop Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library didn't look like a quiet place to study. It looked like a living room for the neighborhood.
By the time the last neighbor left, 200+ people had come through, with the library reporting an 80% increase in their door count from the previous year. We saw every haircut appointment filled, every meal served, and the Dignity Market well loved. But the numbers aren't the story; the faces were. We had an 88-year-old veteran sitting near young kids. We had neighbors from our Black, Latino, and East African communities sharing space, with working-age adults making up the majority of guests and a meaningful number of older adults and young people in the mix. Many were navigating the heavy intersections of homelessness, recovery, disability, and justice involvement, sometimes all at once.
Why did they show up? Because for many of our New American and immigrant neighbors, traditional clinical mental health feels like a locked door. Between language barriers and the clinical "vibe" of a doctor's office, care often feels out of reach. We wanted to change the setting.
We traded the clinical setting for a drum circle, a therapeutic gardening activity, and conversations centered on healing and connection. Stephanie Lewis created space for caregivers and community members to focus on healing, self-care, and support in a world that often overlooks them. Our Spanish-speaking community members were connected to services through Christina Colon, Community Engagement Specialist for FCS, and other bilingual community partners who helped build trust and communication.
Shairon Brown-Jones guided people through managing life’s many responsibilities while reconnecting with themselves in the middle of a loud and busy day. Tifani K Inspires gave folks a wellness experience using breathwork and mindful movement to reduce stress and support emotional well-being. Roger Myers closed it out with a drum circle that you could hear from the parking lot.
We paired all of it with the stuff people actually need right now: immigration support, hygiene kits, and a hot meal.
Gro EcoWellness provided therapeutic horticulture through make-your-own tea blends and plants to take home.
Shairon Brown-Jones talked about burnout in the employment landscape and the importance of taking care of yourself.
Roger Meyer led a group drum circle encouraging folks to connect with music and each other.
Tifani K Inspires created a full spa environment, leading our guests receiving haircuts through guided breathing and grounding exercises.
What made the day work was what happened in the meeting rooms. More than 40 organizations showed up, and the range of what they brought reflected exactly how many things our neighbors are trying to navigate at once. Immigrant neighbors found employment support and English classes. Survivors of domestic violence found services designed specifically for them. People in recovery found peer support. Families with young children found parenting resources and childcare help. Older adults found aging services. People managing chronic illness found health insurance navigation. People carrying legal history found reentry support. There was no single type of person the event was for, and that was the point. The community that showed up on May 4th brought all of itself, and the room was built to hold it.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s department took the opportunity to engage with their community and meet the folks they serve.
Councilmember Green connected with many of her constituents at the event.
As always, our volunteers made the event possible. Seeing Councilmember Green's team managing the mobile salon and the Franklin County Sheriff's Office showing up as neighbors rather than authorities was what we mean when we talk about bringing community together. One liaison said afterward they had no idea the library could hold this much life. And none of this works without the Hilltop Branch staff. Thanks for rolling with it and handling a hectic day with total grace.
Mental Health Awareness Month ends on May 31st but the stress our neighbors carry doesn't. Strong Minds, Stronger Communities proved that if you build something that respects people's neighborhood and their dignity, they will show up. 200 times over.