CODE M Magazine - March 2021

Page 1

CODE M

10

CELEBRATES TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF MEN

CLARK KELLOGG

ON

RACISM,

LIFE

ACHIEVERS

IN THE

CLE

AND THE

NCAA TOURNAMENT MAKING MONEY DURING CORONA

MENTAL

HEALTH BECOMES

THE

FOCUS

OF THE INDIANAPOLIS COLTS MARCH 2021 ISSUE



INSIDE 20

MAKING MONEY DURING CORONA Discover different options to create a second income and protect yourself from financial ruin.

ON THE COVER

16

CLARK KELLOGG: LIFE, RACISM AND THE NCAA TOURNAMENT Clark Kellogg talks about the major changes in society and how it has impacted him personally, his

family, and how the NCAA Tournament plans to deal with COVID-19.

24 EVERETT HALL:

8 MOVERS AND SHAKERS

“My clothes are for the upscale man who prefers the smooth elegance that sets him apart yet

Get to know people who are making a difference in their careers and changing the world.

A PERFECTED CRAFT IN TAILORING

CODE M / MARCH 2021 3



[ INSIDE ]

wins him admiration for being well put together.” – Everett Hall

25 MENTAL HEALTH BECOMES THE FOCUS OF THE INDIANAPOLIS COLTS The Indianapolis Colts and the Irsay Family stand together today and moving forward to “Kick the Stigma” around mental health and encourage anyone battling these illnesses to seek the help they need.

ADVERTISE WITH CODE M Men of color influence the latest trends of popular culture, fashion, and music more than any demographic. Reach this audience when you advertise with CODE M Magazine. Call 216-273-9400 to request a rate kit.

11 CODE M CELEBRATES 10 ACHEIVERS IN THE CLE Meet some of the most impressive men of color making a difference in their industry and in Cleveland for 2021.

CODE M / FEBRUARY 2021 7



TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF MEN

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Stephen Curry

PUBLISHER Bilal S. Akram

ADVERTISING Kevin Jones

PRESIDENT Brad J. Bowling SENIOR ADVISOR Alexandria Johnson Boone MANAGING EDITOR David Christel GRAPHIC DESIGN Stiff Arm Media EXECUTIVE MANAGER/ MEDIA COORDINATOR Paula D Morrison EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT To the PUBLISHER

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Teri Martin David Williams CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Leslie Logan Bolling Smith Anthony Kirby David Christel Brad J. Bowling D'Juan Hopewelnifer Corley Lawre nce Burnley CODE MEDIA GROUP LLC

Ladonna “Lala” Dicks STAFF DIRECTOR OF RADIO/PODCAST

Sharif Akram

Bilal S. Akram

Darrell Scott Braylon Lee

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Franklin Solomon SOCIAL MEDIA Rachel Woods Subscribe FREE online: www.codemmagazine.com

IT CONSULTANT Anthony Jones Digital Jetstream, LLC

#CODEMAGINTL

To submit comments, feedback or to inquire about advertising please contact us at info@codemediagroupllc.com CEO AND CFO: BILAL AKRAM

bilal.akram@codemediagroupllc.com

216-273-9400 ext 100

PRESIDENT: BRAD BOWLING

brad.bowling@codemediagroupllc.com

216-273-9400 ext. 103

CMO: STEPHEN CURRY

stephen.curry@codemediagroupllc.com

216-273-9400 ext. 104

ADVERTISING: KEVIN JONES

kevin.jones@codemedialgroupllc.com

216-273-9400 ext. 108

ADVERTISING: TERI MARTIN

teri.martin@codemmediagroupllc.com

216-273-9400 ext. 110

CODE M Magazine was created to be a guiding force in creating a dialogue for black men everywhere. Code M focuses on the conversations of advancement, mental health, career choices, the political landscape and relationships that define and shape the lives of black men everywhere.

Code M Magazine is published by CODE MEDIA GROUP, LLC © 2020 All Rights Reserved


MOVERS &

SHAKERS

M A L C O L M 8 MARCH 2021 / CODE M

Get to know people who are making a difference in their careers and changing the world!

W A L T E R S


[ MOVERS & SHAKERS ]

Malcolm Walters, DDS.

Jacklyn Chisholm

Malcolm Walters has become one of the area’s most-respected dentists. With two locations, his business is thriving and helping Clevelanders with smiles and braces.

Jacklyn A. Chisholm, Ph.D. is President and Chief Executive Officer of Step Forward, the largest Community Action Agency in Ohio. The Agency recently did a total rebrand and is looking to do big things in 2021. Step Forward helps people find hope, believe in their future, and take steps to make it a reality. The future is bright for this organization.

With over 20 years in dentistry, Walter’s business is poised to remain one of the top businesses to do business with this year.

Melvin Jones Melvin Jones is quickly becoming one of Cleveland’s top authors. His book, “The Reissuance,” about the pastime of baseball, is quickly gaining national attention. The Hawken High School graduate and baseball umpire loves the direction he is going for in 2021. Jones is setting his sites even higher as he completes his next book. Jones is currently working on another book which will publish this year.

Lynna Lai

Local news has only become more interesting with COVID-19 and the current climate in politics and diversity. Lynna Lai, anchor at Channel 3 WKYC is leading the charge to make sure you are kept up-to-date on the latest on how everything impacts Clevelanders. The weekend anchor has been with Channel 3 since 2012 and has won 5 Emmys for her outstanding coverage of news in Cleveland.

CODE M / MARCH 2021 9


12 FEBRUARY 2021 / CODE M


LIFE

CODE M CELEBRATES

10

ACHIEVERS IN THE

CLE

Cleveland has always been home to some of the most talented people in the country. CODE M Magazine celebrates those men in this issue. Meet some of the men of color who are impacting our community and Northeast Ohio.

- Justin Bibb CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER at URBANOVA

Justin Bibb is the Chief Strategy Officer at Urbanova, a private-public partnership for smarter, healthier cities. He leads the national expansion of this accelerator’s proven model and educates leaders from Tulsa to Tampa on how to harness data to solve urban challenges. Bibb is expected to continue to excel in his current position and take on new and challenging projects in 2021.

- Peter Lawson Jones ACTOR, PRODUCER, DIRECTOR

Peter Lawson Jones had a successful political career in Cleveland. Now Jones is reaching new heights as he directs, produces, and acts his way to the top. Jones recently had a guest appearance on Chicago Fire and is expected to appear on more shows in 2021. Jones knows that you can accomplish whatever you want if you put your mind to it. He is living proof of that fact. CODE M / MARCH 2021 11


[ LIFE ]

Larese Purnell has taken success to another level. His firm is excelling and his restaurant Black Box Fix is considered to be one of the best places to get a meal in Cleveland. Purnell is not done, his organization the Real Black Friday helps businesses in and around Cleveland reach their full potential.

- Larese Purnell -

The MBA graduate is striving for 2021 to be his best year yet by working to grow as a person and businessman. We expect nothing but the best from Larese and congratulate him on all of his successes.

MANAGING PARTNER CLE CONSULTING FIRM

Brandon Pitts had a brilliant idea: create a third-party aggregator site that allows gamers to bet each other on a neutral site. He launched Play One Up with a successful round of investors. Today, Pitt’s company is taking over the gaming industry and setting new standards for how business is done in the digital world. Pitts continues to excel in 2021 and CODE M Magazine is excited to see what else he can dream up.

- Brandon Pitts OWNER, PLAY ONE UP

Brad Sellers has returned to his hometown where he graduated high school to create one of the best comeback stories in Cleveland history. The City of Warrensville Heights has experienced incredible business growth that is paying off in spades.

- Bradley Sellers MAYOR, CITY OF WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS

12 MARCH 2021 / CODE M

The city continues to attract outstanding business partners and is in the process of building an entirely new school system. Sellers and his team continue to be engaging managers of the city.


[ LIFE ] ]

Ward 7 Councilman Basheer Jones was elected in November 2017, becoming the city’s first Muslim council representative. He represents an area that includes the historic Hough district, as well as the St. Clair-Superior, Midtown, and Asia Town neighborhoods. Jones has been instrumental in the continued development of the areas that he oversees and hopes that 2021 brings even more growth to the City of Cleveland.

- Basheer Jones WARD 7 COUNCILMAN, CITY OF CLEVELAND

Bilal S. Akram launched Code Media Group and CODE M Magazine in 2017 to fill the media void left in Northeast Ohio for covering men of color. The magazine focuses on transforming the lives of men by offering uplifting and positive images about men in the area who are excelling at life.

- Bilal S. Akram CEO & PUBLISHER, CODE MEDIA GROUP

Akram recently started the CODE M Foundation, a non profit, with hopes of being able to provide scholarships to trade schools for those who are looking for non-traditional ways to acquire an education.

Terry Maynard is excelling in business with various opportunities in and around Northeast Ohio. The president of 100 Black Men of Cleveland oversees the development of scores of Black-owned businesses. Maynard’s leadership has helped dozens of businesses throughout the pandemic. Although 2021 continues to see difficult times, Maynard and his team promise to be a force when it comes to thriving in this difficult environment.

- Terry Maynard CEO AND PRESIDENT, 1OO BLACK MEN OF CLEVELAND

CODE M / MARCH 2021 13



[ LIFE ]

Michael Jeans is the founding President and CEO of Growth Opportunity Partners (Growth Opps), a Small Business advisory, investment, and lending community financial institution. For small businesses/middle market companies, Growth Opps provides capital, management consulting, and advisory services to support the growth of companies and the development of management teams. Growth Opps has a particular focus on impact in low and moderate-income communities.

- Michael Jeans PRESIDENT AND CEO, GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES PARTNERS

Dain Thorpe is quickly sky-rocketing in the medical field. The recent Howard University graduate is finishing his residency at Georgetown where he will take a job in DC with a focus on neurological rehabilitation medicine (working with patients who have had serious neurologic injuries including strokes, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury). Thorpe will also continue to mentor black medical students to help them navigate medical school and begin their career, as well as college students considering careers in medicine.

- Dain Thorpe M.D. PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION (PM&R)


COVER

CLARK

KELLOGG

ON

RACISM,

LIFE

AND THE

NCAA TOURNAMENT

Clark Kellogg talks about the major changes in society and how it has impacted him personally, his family, and how the NCAA Tournament plans to deal with COVID-19. By Brad Bowling

Kellogg was a standout at Ohio State for three successful seasons.

16 MARCH 2021 / CODE M


[ COVER ] racism, too. I can remember the riots and how disheartening it felt to grow up during that time. But my father would always say that he would never draw his gun on someone unless he had no other choice,” Kellogg commented. Because Kellogg has three children, two of whom are boys, the topics that dominate the news today are important to him. When the Ohio Department of Health called and asked him to do a public service announcement, he jumped at the chance. “They asked me to help promote mask-wearing showing perseverance to Ohioans, so I jumped at the chance to do so. I love Ohio and will do anything that I can for my home state,” Kellogg said. The Cleveland-born basketball player graduated from St. Joseph High School and attended Ohio State University for three years before entering the NBA where he was drafted by the Indiana Pacers.

A

s Clark Kellogg prepares for this year’s NCAA Tournament, he cannot help but think about all the things that have changed since the last tourney. The pandemic, the stress of the presidential election, intolerance, cancel culture, and the growing rift brought on by racism. After the death of George Floyd, dealing with police brutality has not gotten any easier. Recently, an unarmed black man was shot and killed by the Columbus police. Kellogg, a resident of Columbus, feels the pain and irritation of the situation.

Kellogg spent five seasons with the Pacers before injuries ended his career. Kellogg feels that today’s advancements in medicine would have prolonged his career back then. “Back when I got hurt, we didn’t treat the recovery process the same way they do today. Today, they allow the injury to heal and the rehabbing is much different. Physical therapists strengthen the muscles around the injury to take the pressure off the injured area.” Clark continued, “Building up the muscles around the injury would have made a difference in prolonging my career.”

For Kellogg, the police hold a special place in his heart. Kellogg remembers how his father and uncle, both policemen, always described a very different approach to policing than what we’re experiencing today. “I grew up in the mid-60s where we dealt with

Kellogg has covered the NCAA tourney for 24 years for CBS.

CODE M / MARCH 2021 17

CODE M / AUGUST ISSUE15


[ COVER ] Kellogg entered the broadcast booth after he retired joining CBS to help analyze the NCAA Tournament and March Madness. This year will be Kellogg’s 24th year doing the tournament and will probably be his most challenging.

families of the players. The NCAA has had the pleasure of watching the NFL, MLB, and college football successfully navigate their seasons, so they expect a successful tournament.

“This year, all of the games will take place in and around Indianapolis. That way, we can control the environment. The students will be tested before games and they will not allow much movement during the tournament,” Clark explained. “Most of the teams will be able to get there by chartered busses and planes, but we will pay close attention to how they come in contact with the public.”

When Kellogg is not in the broadcast booth, he spends his time working on the boards of several organizations. His goal is to be able to enhance the lives of those around him and he works at that process every day.

Kellogg hopes CBS will allow the broadcast team to attend the games. He has been flying back and forth weekly from Ohio to the New York studio to prepare for the telecast. For fans, the seating capacity will be limited to 25 percent of what the arenas can handle and will be comprised mostly of the parents and

Kellogg was a very popular trading card for the NBA during his career.

16 AUGUST ISSUE / CODE M

“My faith in God is my anchor, on how I view myself and the world around me. It has been my anchor to help me get past anything I am going through.” Kellogg continued, “I also lean on those who helped me get to where I am, the teachers, coaches and the good folks in my life who have really been my foundation for success.” Kellogg has been married for over 38 years to Rosy and together they have three wonderful children, Talisa, Alex, and Nick. Kellogg knows that things will get better and feels the difference in the current political climate already. He will continue his career at CBS and work to influence those around him so they, too, can live the life they’ve always imagined.


[ LIFE ]

CODE M / DECEMBER 2020 21


[ LIFE ]

MAKING MONEY DURING CORONA Discover different options to create a second income and protect yourself from financial ruin. By Bolling Smith

Y

ou did all the right things. You went to college, you were careful to pick the right career, you had a level of security that meant a certain lifestyle for you and the ones you love. That all changed when COVID-19 hit our country. No one could have predicted the incredible financial destruction the virus would have on our society. Those who thought they were protected from financial ruin seem to be hit the hardest. Every industry was hit, but certain industries were literally killed by the coronavirus. While everyone seems to have found a way to survive, securing multiple forms of income might be the only way to truly protect yourself from financial despair. CODE M looked at the latest trends over the last year and developed a list of possible options to create a better revenue stream that provides more security and possibly better lives.

income it threatened. Door dash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub all provide a certain level of extra income without the irritating parttime boss. You get to set your own hours and you also get paid quickly or as often as you want. SELL UNWANTED ITEMS One of the quickest ways to leverage your time is to sell the items in your home that you no longer want. There are all kinds of new sites available to create a decent second income for yourself. There are those that have made selling secondhand items a business by going to thrift stores, or finding discounted items, and selling them online. While it may not replace your primary income, it does offer you an opportunity to put some extra money in your pocket. RE-ACCESS YOUR EXPENSES

PART-TIME GIG The pandemic has taught us all that we might have had more time on our hands than we realized. That extra time could be used to create a second income that helps protect Douglass us from disaster if our first Frederick

20 MARCH 2021 / CODE M

Harriet Tubman

Most people with a decent income do not realize where they are spending their hard-earned cash. Taking some time to really do a deep dive into what your spending habits are and you just might find some cool savings. We all forget about the shopping club we joined. The small re-occurring fees that leak out of our bank accounts without our knowledge or the expense of eating out more than we should. Most


[ LIFE ] people can find a small monthly fortune by looking at their monthly spending habits. GET PAID FOR YOUR HIDDEN TALENT There has never been a better time to develop your hidden talent into a great second revenue source. You might be good at writing or drawing. Those skills might be handy to the right person or small company. There are dozens of other opportunities to make money. Some people make extra money by doing voice-over work. They have a nice voice and use it to make extra money. www.fivverr.com offers a multitude of ways to turn your hobby into cold hard cash. INVEST IN THE MARKET With so much time on your hands, this might be the perfect time to learn about investing. Investing in the market still might be one of the best ways to increase your net worth the fastest. www.robinhood.com offers new investors the chance to learn about the market, invest small amounts of cash, and limit their risks at the same time. The recent turmoil in the market caused by millions of small investors buying one stock caused a huge shift in how we look at investing. OPINION SITES Sites like Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, or Vindale Research pay you to take online surveys. They usually only take a couple of minutes to complete, and they are incredibly easy to understand and use. The downside? The pay is not that good. Typically, you can get anywhere from $3 up to $35. Since there is nothing else to do, you might as well take several surveys a day and make some money at the same time. DONATE PLASMA If you are lacking in a skill set or simply need to make some extra cash without any delay, you can donate blood plasma. There are donation centers all around that offer up to $800 dollars the first month you donate. The process is not that hard and typically you must donate twice a week for it to be beneficial. The money you earn is loaded on to a credit card that can be used at any retailer you want. It is relatively safe and a decent way to make money if you are struggling to find a second source of income.

This has been one of the most trying times for Americans and there does not seem to be an end in sight. These are just a few options that might work for you to earn some extra cash, reduce your stress, and create a better path forward.

CODE M / MARCH 2021 21


[ COVER ]

NOVEMBER 2020 ISSUEM / CODE M 2622DECEMBER 2020 / CODE

Blacks are suffering the most with the pandemic, but still are unsure if the vaccine can be trusted.


[ LIFE ]

Quincy Jones is one of music’s most famous composers.

MAN CODES: S

tigma is one of the main reasons why people with mental health problems don't seek treatment or take their medication. People of color, particularly African Americans, feel the stigma more keenly. In a raceconscious society, some don't want to be perceived as having yet another deficit. — Bebe Moore Campbell Greatness occurs when your children love you, when your critics respect you, and when you have peace of mind. — Quincy Jones No one should negotiate their dreams. Dreams must be free to fly high. No government, no legislature, has a right to limit your dreams. You should never agree to surrender your dreams. — Jesse Jackson Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations. If you adopt their attitudes, then the possibility won’t exist because you’ll have already shut it out…You can hear other people’s wisdom, but you’ve got to re-evaluate the world for yourself. — Mae Jemison

QUOTES BY PEOPLE OF DISTINCTION

Compiled by Bilal S. Akram

“I found that with depression, one of the most important things you can realize is that you’re not alone. You’re not the first to go through it, you’re not gonna be the last to go through it.” — Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson “Life doesn’t make any sense without interdependence. We need each other, and the sooner we learn that, the better for us all.” — Erik Erikson “You don’t have to be positive all the time. It’s perfectly okay to feel sad, angry, annoyed, frustrated, scared, and anxious. Having feelings doesn’t make you a negative person. It makes you human.” — Lori Deschene

appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” — Elisabeth Kübler-Ross And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. —Hebrews 11:6

“If you’re going through hell, keep going.” — Winston Churchill “The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an

Mae Jemison is the first black female in history to fly in space for NASA.

CODE M / MARCH 2021 23


FASHION

EVERETTHALL:

A Perfected Craft in Tailoring

“My clothes are for the upscale man who prefers the smooth elegance that sets him apart yet wins him admiration for being well put together.” – Everett Hall By Anthony Kirby

H

ow does one stay in the game? Well, as it applies to the industry of men’s fashion, you pursue your God-given talent with passion. That would apply to the success of Everett Hall, the man behind the label of well-tailored men’s clothing. It has been some years since I last saw Everett. We would usually see one another twice a year in New York City during the menswear market. I was introduced to him through a mutual acquaintance in the industry. During the menswear shows in NYC, you would rarely, or you could count on one hand how many people of color either showed a collection or were buyers shopping for the upcoming season. So, when I was told about a Black menswear designer showing, I had to see for myself. This annual show took place at the ritzy Plaza Hotel. When I visited his showroom, it was laid out with elegant shirts, jackets, and trousers. The place was abuzz with buyers inquiring about his new collection. I was in awe and inspired to see us represented there. It was that inspiration that I held onto until it was my

24 MARCH 2021 / CODE M

time to develop my own collection years later. The story begins in Springfield, OH where Everett was born. He is the eldest of three brothers. Growing up like most young men, sports was the order as a young man. He excelled at both basketball and football. But it was his father, a well-dressed gentleman, that Everett took note of and this would have him at age thirteen making his own clothing. His work began to be recognized in his neighborhood, young men wanted Everett to start making their clothes for parties and other events. During that first year, he made about 300 garments. That’s impressive! So, impressive that a childhood friend’s mother taught Everett the skills of sewing and choosing fabrics. It is here that he started setting goals and working harder at his newfound talent. While attending Howard University, Everett became president of the school’s Fashion &

Textile Association and was nominated as a finalist for the Cutty Sark Award, which is presented to the nation’s best student designer. After Everett graduated with a degree in fashion and merchandising from Howard in 1983, he launched his menswear business consisting of jackets, trousers, and shirts. The collection was made entirely in Maryland and employed a small group of local artisans. Expansion was soon to follow. Everett decided to create a wholesale line for men’s specialty and department stores, a strategic decision for any designer to gain brand entree into many retail stores. During the launching of his wholesale collection, you really didn’t see a lot of black designer collections in stores. This was the case concerning


CODE M / FEBRUARY 27ISSUE 27 CODE M /2021 AUGUST


[ LIFE ]

Everett Hall opened his first store in 1994 and continues to thrive today.

All photos taken by Franklin Solomon. Everett’s collection. To put it bluntly, stores didn’t want to buy from a Black designer even though his collection would have sold exceptionally well. With his talented craft and passion, Everett didn’t let the retail buyers and naysayers keep him from growing his brand. In 1994 Everett opened his first flagship store in the NW Washington DC area – Everett Hall Designs in Chevy Chase, MD – and he opened a second location in Tyson Galleria in the northern Virginia region. The opening of his own shops gave him the needed branding to build relationships with Italian manufacturers to produce his menswear collection.

26 MARCH 2021 / CODE M

Everett’s notable international brand has attracted an array of men including leaders, celebrities and professional sports figures, such as the late President Nelson Mandela, producer Tyler Perry, actor Michael J. White, sportscaster James Brown, and football running back Emmitt Smith. Today, the Everett Hall brand is still in the game and thankfully, there are many more black-owned menswear brands than there were thirty years ago. We have collections of men’s tailored clothing from A. Sauvage, Thomas Tillman Bespoke, and Brett Johnson. We honor Mr. Everett Hall for being a pioneering trailblazer in menswear. His creativity, style and dedication, and perseverance have opened the door of

opportunity for countless people of color who want to become designers, shop-owners, and purveyors of style and elegance. It is Everett’s passion with persistence that has created a model of success for so many. Here’s to many more years of tailored style.

EVERETT HALL 5301 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20015 https://www.everetthallboutique.com/


[OPINION]

CODE M / DECEMBER 2020 31


[ HEALTH ]

30 FEBRUARY 2021 / CODE M


HEALTH

[ BUSINESS ]

MENTAL

HEALTH BECOMES

THE

FOCUS

OF THE INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

The Indianapolis Colts and the Irsay Family stand together today and moving forward to “Kick the Stigma” around mental health and encourage anyone battling these illnesses to seek the help they need. By Brad Bowling

B

ecoming a professional athlete is one of the highest accomplishments one can achieve. Becoming an NFL football play sits right up there with superhero. That is why most people expect athletes to never have mere mortal problems. There is no

way that they could ever struggle with mental depression or anxiety because they worked so hard to get to where they are. The truth is, professional athletes suffer from mental health issues just like everyday people, if not more. With the pressure to win, family and maintaining their careers, professional athletes might struggle more so to maintain a healthy mental balance. In the past, addressing mental health was tabu for professional athletes, but with the recent statements made by Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps and NBA player Kevin Love, the message is starting to get across. Mental health impacts everyone, even professional athletes.

The year 2020 has led the US to a mental health precipice. The country is more divided than ever as Americans face historic racial and civic unrest along with the global coronavirus pandemic. As vulnerable populations face even more economic and societal injustices brought about by the COVID19 lockdowns, feelings of fear, anxiety, and stress add to the country's mental health crisis.

In 2017, 1 in 5 Americans were already living with a mental health disorder. It is projected that job loss and social isolation will only make this situation worse. There has never been a more important time to not only address the issue of mental awareness, but to also put real action behind it. CODE M / AUGUST ISSUE 29


[ HEALTH ]

Darius Leonard plays linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts.

The Indianapolis Colts decided to take the issue of mental health head on after a successful campaign to bring awareness to the problem. “We got an overwhelming response to the ‘My Cause My Cleats’ program,” said Steve Campbell, the Colts Vice President of Communications. “Ever since then, the Irsay family and the Colts organization have made a commitment to addressing mental health head on with our ‘Kicking the Stigma’ program.” The “My Cause My Cleats” campaign is an NFL initiative where the athletes get to wear customized cleats during the game to bring awareness to any nonprofit organization of their choice. Darius Leonard, a Colts player,

decided to address mental health and that started the “Kicking the Stigma” program.

home-grown talent hailing from Akron, Ohio and who attended Ohio State University.

“Darius took a huge step up to address the issue of mental health and now it has become a focus of the entire team and organization – so much so that we have made it a national campaign,” Campbell explained.

He began his career in public service and helped found the Colts-Business Alliance, the public-private partnership of Indiana businesses that advocated for building Lucas Oil Stadium where the Colts now play. In 2009 he founded Campbell Strategies LLC, a local communications and strategy firm providing media counsel to business, nonprofit, and public sector clients.

The team hopes to hold a virtual fund raiser for “Kicking the Stigma” and, recently, the Irsay family donated over 1 million dollars to Indiana University to address mental illness.

Now Campbell and the Colts are building something new, a solid Campbell considers this to be the perfect national campaign to tackle athletes time to be with the team and to deal with and mental illness head on. mental health as well. Steve is a

From left to right: The My Cause, My Cleat program, Steve Campbell the Vice President of Communications, Jim Irsay, Owner of Indianapolis Colts.

30 MARCH 2021 / CODE M


[ EDUCATION ]

CODE M / FEBRUARY 2021 33



Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.