Dear Mama,
you’re invited.
The ALLICE Collective invites you to our 3rd annual block party for Black maternal mental health — celebrating mothers, supporting families, building community.
WHEN: Saturday, September 19, 2026
TIME: 10:00am - 3:00pm
WHERE: Sunnyside HMSC | 4410 Reed Rd, Houston, TX 77051
COST: Free & open to everyone
2–3×
Black women face maternal death at 2–3 times the rate of white women — and mental health is the leading cause.
Black mothers experience postpartum depression and anxiety at nearly twice the rate of white women, yet most never receive treatment. Too often these struggles stay invisible. Dear Mama exists to change that — raising awareness, reducing stigma, and opening doors to real, culturally-relevant support.
Source: Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA), 2023.
THE DAY
What to expect
Part celebration, part sanctuary — a full day built around care, connection, and joy.
Community
Building a village of support for every mama.
Real Talk
Talk, create, and heal together, mind and body.
Mama’s Respite Room
A quiet space to recharge and nurse in private.
Kids’ Zone
Creative fun for kids, supervised by background-checked staff.
Fatherhood Lounge
A space for fathers to reflect and be present.
SWAG & Giveaways
Raffle prizes, diaper giveaways, & gift bags.
Vendors, DJ & Refreshments
Mental health and wellness resources, good music and nourishment.
MAMA'S CIRCLE
Sit with the women leading the conversation
Three interactive discussions on motherhood, caregiving, and health, led by professionals who live this work.
CALL ME MOTHER EXPERIENCE
Art That Testifies
Led by Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton
Founder Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton leads an art-making activation that puts a face to the staggering statistics of the Black maternal health crisis. Join her to create art for an upcoming exhibit and explore how art can lift our collective voices and surface new solutions.
IDENTITY & CAREGIVING
Beyond the Caregiver Role
Led by Dr. Amber Gunner
Caring for others can be deeply meaningful, but the pressures that come with it can shape how we show up in ways we don't always recognize. In this interactive session, mothers and caregivers will learn to tell the difference between helping, enabling, and empowering, and leave with practical tools and an intentional next step toward caring for others in a way that supports their own well-being too.
LET'S TALK HEALTH
The Heart of Mental Health
Part of Harris Health's Let's Talk Health series, this conversation explores how heart health and mental health impact the overall well-being of Black mothers. It looks at how factors such as chronic stress, sleep, and blood pressure affect their bodies and minds over time.
FATHERHOOD LOUNGE
Spaces for fathers to do the inner work in community
Led by mental health providers committed to helping our fathers thrive.
The Check-In
Led by Rashad A. Sanders
This space blends mindfulness, breathwork, movement, guided meditation, and journaling to support emotional awareness, nervous system regulation, and meaningful brotherhood.
What He Carries Home
A guided group discussion on the patterns men learn young, how they show up in their relationships and parenting, and who inherits them.
WHY THIS MATTERS TO US
Maternal mental health is a whole-community issue.
At The ALLICE Collective, we believe positive mental health is the foundation for thriving families and communities. And we know it often begins with mothers, when a mother is well, her children, her family, and her community are stronger for it. Dear Mama reflects our mission: to support mental well-being in underserved communities by creating spaces where culturally relevant services and resources are accessible to all.
Dear Mama 2024 Panel Discussion
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
GET INVOLVED
Three ways to be part of Dear Mama
01 — ATTEND
Come to the block party
It's free and open to everyone. Reserve your spot so we can plan for you and your family.
02 — SPONSOR
Sponsors give Dear Mama life
Ways to support include funding the venue, providing refreshments, donating SWAG bags and raffle items, offering volunteer teams, and more.
03 — VENDOR
Share your services
We welcome vendors who offer mental health and wellness services and resources for our community.
Please complete our request form if you offer mental health and wellness products or services and would like to donate raffle items, have an interest in becoming a partner, volunteer, or sponsor.
Learn more about our services at www.theallice.org.
Connect:
O: 832.536.5948
E: community@theallice.org
The ALLICE Collective for Mental Health & Community Engagement is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
EIN: 86-3986124