Can We Talk? I Am The Table! – Silke Endress International Women Media Forum

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Celebrities, Leaders, and Advocates Unite

Taraji didn’t stand alone. The weekend was a star-studded show of solidarity, a testament to how mental health has become a collective cause.

Among those who came to support were:

Megan Thee Stallion, who joined the foundation’s “I Am The Table” benefit brunch and spoke about her own mental wellness journey.

Wale, the DMV native, who opened up about managing anxiety in the spotlight, saying, “Even all these cameras... I had to come to grips with being shy. These are all things connected to the mental.”

Sherri Shepherd, actress and comedian, who lit up the room with humor and honesty.

Lisa Vidal, longtime friend of Henson and mental health advocate, who has championed the foundation since its beginning.

Abby Phillip, CNN anchor, who lent her voice to discussions about resilience and representation.

Wanda Durant, motivational speaker and mother of NBA superstar Kevin Durant, emphasized the importance of self-care and community support.

Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy and Council Chair Edward P. Burroughs III, who reaffirmed the county’s $30 million commitment to renovate the Temple Hills Community Center, a facility that will provide vital mental health services in partnership with BLHF.

This lineup wasn’t just about star power; it was about shared purpose. Each person, in their own way, echoed Henson’s mission: to make wellness accessible, relatable, and rooted in cultural truth.

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Taraji P. Henson’s 5th Annual “Can We Talk?” Summit Brings Star Power and Healing to National Harbor

Silke Endress International was on the scene as the Oscar-nominated actress and founder of the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (BLHF) hosted her 5th Annual Can We Talk? Multicultural Arts & Wellness Summit at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at National Harbor. The three-day summit, held in honor of World Mental Health Day, wasn’t just another celebrity event; it was a movement of heart, healing, and hope.

A Mission Rooted in Love and Legacy

Henson created the foundation in 2018 to honor her late father, Boris Lawrence Henson, a Vietnam veteran who struggled silently with mental health challenges after returning from war. Through BLHF, Taraji is changing how Black and marginalized communities' approach mental health, replacing stigma with support, and silence with honest conversation.

“We need to make it okay to not be okay,” Henson has said in countless interviews. “Our community has carried trauma for generations, and we deserve to heal.”

That healing energy filled the air at the summit, which combined cultural expression, therapy, and conversation. Attendees took part in mindfulness workshops, global wellness panels, and even a World Art Bazaar, celebrating multicultural creativity as a path to healing.

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Beyond the Summit: Real Impact

The BLHF isn’t stopping at conversation. The new Temple Hills Community Center project represents a tangible investment in mental wellness infrastructure, a place where residents can access culturally competent care, community programming, and safe spaces for dialogue.

That’s what makes this summit different. It’s not just an event; it’s a catalyst. Henson and her foundation are turning awareness into action, and celebrity spotlight into sustainable change.

The Bigger Picture

For Taraji, this work is personal, but it’s also purposeful. Her foundation continues to partner with schools, churches, and community centers across the country to offer free therapy sessions, mental health resources, and wellness education.

“I always wanted to come back and pour into the community that poured into me,” Henson said. “We can’t heal what we don’t talk about.”

A Movement That’s Just Getting Started

The 5th Annual Can We Talk? Summit was more than a wellness conference it was a cultural homecoming. It blended art, music, therapy, and community in a way that only Taraji could curate: bold, beautiful, and unapologetically real.

If one message stood out above all, it’s this: mental health is not a luxury, it’s a lifeline. And thanks to Henson and her growing community of allies, that lifeline is reaching more people than ever before.