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The Road to MENTAL
2.0
THREE STORIES. ONE NARRATIVE.
From a film, to global dialogue, to community action in Atlanta
Journey begins August 1st, 2026
Aug 1
Begins
Aug 21
Bronzelens
Sep 21-25
New York
Sep 28-30
Nairobi
October
MENTAL 2.O
This journey starts with one person's story. It grows through artists, researchers, policymakers, and communities working together around a larger question: what becomes possible when people are recognized?
WHAT THIS IS
Three Stories. One Narrative.
BronzeLens, the UNGA 81 Science Summit, and MENTAL 2.0 are each complete stories in their own right, a cultural premiere, a policy conversation, a citywide activation. Together they trace a single narrative, following one idea as it moves through culture, research, policy, and community.
Film
→
Conversation
→
Research
→
Policy
→
Community Action
What does it mean to be recognized, and
what becomes possible when people are?
THE JOURNEY
Three Chapters
CHAPTER ONE - CULTURE
BronzeLens Film Festival
THE STORY RETURNS
Mid- August - Atlanta
The Atlanta premiere of In Search of Sanctuary, reuniting the original crew four years after the film was made. The earliest principles of the Sanctuary methodology began to take shape.
ON THE ROAD - 11ALIVE ATLANTA & COMPANY
From one story to a larger conversation
Otis Damón and Eric Bomba-Ire joined 11Alive's Atlanta & Company ahead of the film's Atlanta premiere to talk about Otis's story, mental health, and where the conversation goes next
CHAPTER TWO - RESEARCH & POLICY
UNGA 81 Science Summit
THE CONVERSATION EXPANDS
Sep 21-25 New York – Sep 28-30 Nairobi
Moving from one human story into a global conversation about mental health
CHAPTER THREE - COMMUNITY ACTION
MENTAL 2.0
THE CITY RESPONDS
October – Atlanta
A citywide activation bringing artists, researchers, and community leaders together, through three open calls: Author & Chapter, Author & Exhibition, Author in Conversation.
ROAD TO THE SCIENCE SUMMIT
Featured Voices
Throughout the journey, featured speakers respond to one question at a time, building the conversation toward New York and Nairobi.
Katherine Marshall Woods
NAIROBI MODERATOR - GWU
NAIROBI MODERATOR - GWU
NAIROBI MODERATOR - GWU
Rep. Kim Schofield
NAIROBI MODERATOR - GWU
Kauna Malgwi
DRMHI - NIGERIA
Marcel Foster
PERFORMANCE HYPOTHESIS
Dr. Arthur Lima
AFROSAUDE - BRAZIL
Rodney Kidunggu
MOSAIC
Payal Arora
INCLUSIVE AI LAB
Hartmut Koenitz
NEW YORK MODERATOR - ARDIN
THE RECORD
Recognition Briefs
Independent analysis grounded in current public questions, connected through the recognition framework.
BRIEF 01
We Have Expanded Mental Health Care. Why Do So Many People Still Feel Unseen?
What the global mental-health movement reveals about access, authorship, and what it takes for institutions to change because of the people they serve.
BRIEF 02
Coming Soon
A new analysis of recognition, public systems, and the relationships beneath current events.
JOIN US
Join Us in Carrying It Foward
This journey begins with a film in Atlanta, continues through two accepted sessions at the UN Science Summit, and returns home through MENTAL 2.0. Over the next six weeks, we're raising support to bring an Atlanta delegation to New York and Nairobi, and to document, share, and carry those conversations back into our city.
Explore MENTAL 2.0 →
WHAT'S NEXT
The next chapter is being shaped now.
This journey brings community experience, cultural practice, research, and Global South leadership into conversations about what mental health systems become next.
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