The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (BLHF) and Kate Spade New York have announced the launch of a multiyear initiative to provide mental health resources for women on HBCU campuses.

Conceived by BLHF founder Taraji P. Henson, an HBCU alumna, and executive director Tracie Jade Jenkins, the She Care Wellness Pods initiative will feature physical structures on HBCU campuses, built by S.I. Container Builds, a woman-owned modular construction company. The pods will offer a range of services including free virtual and in-person mental health therapy sessions; hangout spaces to help students connect with peers and mental wellness professionals; self-regulatory practices including yoga, meditation, art, and sound and dance therapy; workshops and seminars; and rest pods for silence and respite. To launch at Alabama State University this spring, the initiative aims to reach over 25,000 Black women.

Over the last 10 years, Kate Spade New York and its foundation have invested $25 million in women’s mental health and empowerment partnerships, including $5 million this year.

“Tracie and I grew up in a community where women were expected to store the pain and struggles of inequities and disparities faced daily in education, health care, and the workplace,” said Henson. “We believed that mental health was a commodity for the rich and those who didn’t look like us. We are grateful for this partnership with Kate Spade New York. Together, we are changing the narrative and charting a new course for women who are experiencing the Strong Black Woman Syndrome.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/FatCamera)