HEAL & RISE 2026 expands into tri-country mental health convening

Beyond The Call 24 7 will hold HEAL & RISE 2026 on Sept. 24 at TD Bank’s One Vanderbilt location in New York City, with simultaneous gatherings in Scarborough, Canada, and Trinidad and Tobago. The event is designed to connect survivors, experts and community leaders around youth and women’s mental health across the Caribbean diaspora.

Why it matters: - HEAL & RISE 2026 is expanding from a single convening into a tri-country live experience, widening its reach across New York City, Canada and Trinidad and Tobago. - The event is built around youth and women's mental health, with a focus on healing, resilience and community connection. - The format is meant to support year-round partnerships, educational programming and community healing initiatives across the Caribbean diaspora and beyond.

What happened: - Beyond The Call 24 7 announced that HEAL & RISE 2026 will take place Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at TD Bank's U.S. location at 1 Vanderbilt Avenue in New York City. - Doors open at 4:30 p.m. ET. - The convening will link New York City with satellite gatherings in Scarborough, Canada, and Trinidad and Tobago through one shared live broadcast. - The event is presented through Beyond The Call 24 7's HEAL & RISE framework in collaboration with W.I.T.H. (West Indian True Heritage).

The details: - HEAL & RISE 2026 will bring together survivors, mental health professionals, educators, researchers, artists, musicians, advocates, policymakers and community leaders. - The program follows the success of the inaugural 2025 convening. - The event will blend keynote conversations with visual art, music, cuisine, storytelling and immersive experiences designed to engage sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. - Ozzie Stewart, founder and president of Beyond The Call 24 7, said the expanded format sends a message to survivors that they are not alone. - Beyond The Call 24 7 was founded in 2023 and focuses on turning lived experience into collective healing through storytelling, advocacy, culture, education and community engagement. - More information is available at the company's announcement.

Between the lines: - The tri-country structure signals a shift from a local event to a diaspora-centered platform. - The sensory, arts-based format suggests the organization is positioning mental health work as both cultural and communal, not just clinical. - The New York, Canada and Trinidad and Tobago linkup also gives the convening a broader symbolic reach within the Caribbean community.

What's next: - The September event will serve as a launch point for future partnerships and community programs. - Beyond The Call 24 7 is likely to use the convening to build momentum for additional healing and advocacy work across the Caribbean diaspora. - The organization will continue positioning HEAL & RISE as an ongoing movement rather than a one-time conference.