Atlanta, GA – May 31, 2025 — CAREGD
, a culture-forward wellness brand, activated across Atlanta and Los Angeles during Mental Health Awareness Month—hosting check-ins with athletes, barbers, and firefighters to make emotional wellness visible in overlooked spaces.
Through a series of grassroots conversations—some filmed professionally, others raw and real on a phone camera—founder Lisa C. Williams and her team brought visibility to emotional wellness in spaces that are often overlooked. From athletes to barbers to first responders, CAREGD showed up where mental health often gets buried under performance, pressure, and silence.
“We didn’t always have perfect lighting or a full camera crew—and we didn’t need it,” said Lisa C. Williams, founder of CAREGD. “Sometimes, it was just me, a couple of young men, and a mic—asking real questions that don’t get asked enough. This month was about presence, not perfection.”
Where CAREGD Checked In
B.E.S.T. Basketball Program (Building Effective Solutions Together) – Stockbridge, GA
Athletes reflected and recharged in nature—proving that rest is performance, too.
Coach David McRae | bestprogram.me
BallinIsMoney AAU Basketball – Atlanta, GA
High school boys opened up in interviews while rocking merch that reminded them: Me 1st. Then Sports.
Coach Avery McGinnis | @ballinismoney_hoops
Barbershop Pop-Up – Atlanta, GA
We checked in on culture shapers for National Barber Mental Health Month—because barbers are always checking on everybody else.
Ike Thomas & Tez Angelo | @tez.angelo
Centric Barber Lounge – Union City, GA
Dre Dennis, Owner | @chopgod_ | @centricbarberlounge
Ballislife All-American Games – Long Beach, CA
At Long Beach City College’s Hall of Champions, CAREGD paused the hype to spotlight headspace and emotional wellness.
Matt Rodriguez, CEO | @ballislife
Athlete Wellness Fair – Westlake Village, CA
We tapped in with LA Rams Sports Psychologist Dr. Carrie Hastings and Monica Wurst, a Yoga x Mindset Coach for elite athletes.
Dr. Carrie Hastings | @sportpsychbydrh
@monica.wurst
Firefighter Tribute at Station 28 – Porter Ranch, CA
CAREGD closed the month by honoring LA firefighters who battled the 2025 wildfires—true heroes carrying invisible emotional weight.
In partnership with @mayweatherfitporterranchca
Interviews & Collaborators
- Devean Walker – LA Valley College Men’s Basketball | @theyyluvdev
- Roberto Bell – Barber | @berto._.bell
- Phillip Johnson – Founder, Black Men Need Hugs | @blkmenneedhugs
- Lisa C. Williams – Founder, CAREGD
Videography Credits
Select interviews and footage were captured by an incredible team of visual storytellers who brought this movement to life:
- Hassan Wells | @hassanhaze
- Bernard “Nate” Brisbane | @natesoul
- Dez Brown | @dezzy.world
We thank them for amplifying our message through powerful, authentic visuals.
ABOUT CAREGD
CAREGD (Compassion, Awareness, Resilience & Emotional Grounding Delivered) is a culture-forward wellness movement making emotional check-ins visible, normal, and necessary. We bring mental health awareness to the frontlines—whether in locker rooms, lunchrooms, barbershops, gyms, or battlegrounds. If you show up for others, we show up for you.
Signature Campaigns:
Checking In – Are You Good?
A national visibility campaign rooted in community, making honest mental health convos normal—where people already are.
Me 1st Then Sports
A bold initiative flipping the focus from performance to personhood across the entire sports ecosystem.
You Matter More
A merch-driven affirmation campaign reminding people they are more than what they produce. This is care for the ones who rarely get it.
“Mental health is not just about therapy rooms and hotlines,” Williams added. “It’s about showing up where people already are and reminding them they’re not alone. That’s CAREGD in motion.”
#CheckingInCampaign #WeCheckInLoud #Me1stThenSports #YouMatterMore