Community Cares Listening Line

1-877-719-1117

Free mental and emotional support for first responders and essential workers to help keep you going, while you keep everyone else going.

Sponsored by the Institute of the Black World 21st Century’s Black Family Summit, the Community Cares Listening Line is a culturally responsive helpline operating in the NY/NJ metropolitan area. The helpline provides free emotional support and resource information to callers in need.

Our Project

The Institute of the Black World 21st Century Black Family Summit (IBW/BFS) has developed a culturally responsive helpline to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on African Americans and people of African descent who are employed as first responders and essential workers.

The Community Cares Listening Line is a culturally responsive helpline operating in the NY/NJ metropolitan area. First responders and essential workers of African descent are the targeted population. The helpline provides free emotional support and resource information to callers in need.

Our Callers

The employment categories include but are not limited to; medical staff, EMTs, law enforcement, correction officers, firefighters, teachers and school staff, grocery store workers, public transit workers, nursing home staff, transporters, food service workers, custodial staff, security guards, drivers, postal service staff, morgue staff, funeral home workers.

Our Helpline Volunteers

The Community Cares Listening Line is grounded in a framework that recognizes the healing value of community and the importance of listening with empathy and instilling hope. Local chapters affiliated with the National Association of Black Social Workers and the Association of Black Psychologists endorsed the project and recruited many of our volunteer listeners.

Our Operations

Latest CCLL Post

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Dr. Ron Daniels talks with the Hon. Ras J. Baraka, Joseph Muhammad and Dr. Zakiya Newland

Vantage Point Radio: State of Newark Report • Preparing for Disasters • Community Cares Listening Line

March 1, 2021
March 1, 2021 — On this edition of Vantage Point, host Dr. Ron Daniels aka The Professor talks with the Hon. Ras J. Baraka, Joseph Muhammad and Dr. Zakiya Newland. Topics: State of Newark Report, Preparing for Disasters, The Community Cares Listening Line. Guests: Hon. Ras J. Baraka, Mayor, Newark, NJ Joseph Muhammad, Co-Chairperson, IBW/BFS Emergency Management Task Force, Virginia Beach, VA Dr. Zakiya Newland, Project Director, IBW/BFS…
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10 Black Essential Workers Share How They’re Practicing Self-Care During the Pandemic

February 24, 2021
"Gratitude for working and feeling needed helps my mental health." By Tonya Russell — Nothing could have prepared us for 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a myriad of challenges and changes that, to say the least, have required some major life adjustments. While many people had to shelter-in-place at some point this year with the ability to work remotely, countless others have put themselves in harm's way working in…
Culturally Responsive Mental Health Resources

Knowledge Cypher Discuss Culturally Responsive Mental Health Resources

February 17, 2021
February 17, 2021 7:00 PM ET — Knowledge Cypher’s panel of Black Health professionals discusses erasing the stigma of mental health in the Black community. Topic: Culturally Responsive Mental Health Resources.

Black Family Summit

A collaborative of national Black professional organizations convened by The Institute of the Black World 21st Century that are dedicated to promoting holistic principles, policies and practices to strengthen Black families. For more info visit www.ibw21.org/bfs

IBW21.ORG/BFS