CABCoFA Students Find Healing, Insight, and Purpose at the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation’s "Can We Talk?" Summit
By Chad Eric Smith, Director of Marketing & Communications, Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts
Students from Howard University’s Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts (CABCoFA) recently received complimentary tickets to join artists, practitioners, and advocates at the 5th Annual Can We Talk? Arts & Wellness Summit, hosted by the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (BLHF) at the Gaylord National Harbor. Founded by Academy Award–winning actress, mental health advocate, and proud Department of Theatre Arts (DoTA) alumna Taraji P. Henson, the three-day summit celebrated World Mental Health Day with a focus on culture, healing, and community. The event brought together therapists, artists, and cultural leaders for dynamic conversations about mental wellness in marginalized communities. Celebrity guests, including Megan Thee Stallion and Sherri Shepherd, kept the discussions real, candid, and meaningful.
For Howard students in attendance, the experience was both illuminating and personal. Theatre Arts student Ava Futrell reflected on a moment that struck at the core of her own journey. “The conversation about chosen siblings resonated with me the most because I don’t have any biological siblings,” she said, adding that Taraji P. Henson and Megan Thee Stallion’s transparent dialogue on people-pleasing “sat with me because it’s something I’m trying not to do.”
Professor Robin Y. Harris, Senior Lecturer in DoTA, expressed profound appreciation for the continued partnership between the Foundation and CABCoFA. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to BLHF for consistently supporting our students in the vital realm of mental health and wellbeing,” she shared. “Your unwavering backing has made a meaningful difference in their lives, providing a stable foundation as they navigate academic and personal challenges.”
That support has extended beyond the auditorium. In addition to attending the summit, DoTA Arts Administration and Theatre Technology students worked alongside event staff throughout the weekend, gaining in-depth knowledge of conference operations. Harris emphasized the importance of that exposure, noting, “We thank you for creating valuable opportunities for our students to gain practical experience in conference execution. These hands-on experiences empower them to develop essential skills, from project management to effective communication, in real-world settings.”
For student Caira Hearse, the whirlwind pace of the summit—from late-night prep to high-energy execution—left a lasting impression. “This event helped with problem-solving and adjusting at the last minute,” she said, recalling a night when she and another worker prepared 500 gift bags for the following day’s events. “In that moment, I learned that no matter how tired you are, you have to maintain positive energy and keep going.”
Beyond logistics and leadership development, the summit reinforced a core message about wellness in creative communities. Futrell shared that the experience “opened my eyes to the amount of people struggling with mental health and how important it is to prioritize it.” Harris believes that awareness and empathy will shape students’ futures as artists, educators, and advocates. “The knowledge and insights they acquire through these experiences will shape them into empathetic and tactical arts administrators who advocate for mental health and wellbeing at the forefront of arts advocacy,” she explained. “Your partnership helps ensure that wellbeing remains a central priority in our field, inspiring students to lead with compassion, resilience, and strategic vision.”
That vision, rooted in healing and collective care, is one students are already carrying forward. As Futrell put it plainly, “Humans need humans.” In a moment defined by cultural stress, artistic ambition, and expanding conversations around identity and mental health, her words capture the heart of what the BLHF Summit offered: a reminder that wellbeing is not a luxury in the arts—it is a lifeline, a discipline, and a shared responsibility.
For CABCoFA students in attendance, the Can We Talk? Summit was more than an event. It was an affirming space to witness vulnerability, build community, and imagine the future of the arts with wellness and humanity at the center. And through ongoing collaboration with the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, that future feels both possible and within reach.
