# Event Details - **Event Name**: SoundMinds 2026 "Share The Load: Learning + Lifting + Building Together" - **Event Start and End Date**: Thu, 09 Jul, 2026 at 10:00 am – Thu, 09 Jul, 2026 at 05:00 pm - **Event Description**: A grassroots, community-driven conference advancing mental health awareness and advocacy in Black and Hispanic communities.About this EventJoin us in person or online!The 6th Annual SoundMinds Mental Health Awareness & Solutions Conference is in Chicago Thursday, July 9, 2026.This year's theme “Share The Load” is rooted in love, resilience and responsibility. It’s a call for all of us to learn together, lift together and build together.When we say “Share The Load,” we’re declaring that mental health is everybody’s business. We’re creating space to learn new tools and resources, to share information across communities, and to normalize reaching out for help - not as weakness, but as wisdom.SoundMinds Mental Health Awareness & Solutions Conference creates a space where honest conversations, practical resources and lived experiences come together to help us better understand and support one another.At this one-day conference, there will be:Raw + Real Panels: Featuring mental health professionals, people with lived experience and advocates.Impactful Resources & Tools: Providing attendees with access to mental health resources and support services.Networking Opportunities: Facilitating connections among professionals, advocates and community members to foster collaboration and support.No one should have to carry this alone.Mental health impacts every family, every community and every generation, yet too many people still feel like they have to face their struggles alone.LearnGain insight from mental health professionals, advocates, faith leaders and people with lived experience who are committed to changing the way mental health is shaped and shared in our communities.LiftBe encouraged through transparent conversations that reduce stigma, strengthen understanding and remind us that healing is not a solo journey.BuildLeave with practical tools, connections and strategies to support mental health in your family, workplace, faith community and beyond.Take a mental health day and join us.This conference is for the community. You don’t have to be a clinician to make a difference. You just have to care ... and be willing to learn how to be an advocate for yourself and others.________________________________Why Minority Mental Health Conversations MatterMental health affects everyone. But the disparities in stigma, care and advocacy for Black and Hispanic individuals are real. From misdiagnosis to lack of culturally competent care, from systemic barriers to deeply ingrained stigma, these challenges demand not just awareness, but action.If we are to dismantle the barriers to care and healing, we need people willing to learn how to be an advocate for themselves and others. We need people willing to listen, learn and stand in the gap.We need YOU in the room! Join us at SoundMinds 2026 in person or online and be part of the solution.________________________________REGISTRATIONIn Person Registration:General(May 29 - July 5) - $35Late (July 6 - July 8) - $40---------------------Virtual RegistrationGeneral (May 20 - July 5) - $25Late (July 6 - July 9) - $30A complimentary registration code is available for those who need it. No questions asked. Email: info@soundmindsconference.com.*In Person is subject to close when capacity is reached.________________________________Illinois Social Workers - CEUsCEUs are available for LSW, LCSW, LPC, and LCPC via Riveredge Hospital's Social Work CEU sponsorship with IDFPR under license #159000731. The CEU credits are only provided to in-person attendees who stay for the full duration (100%) of the panel presentation.Receive one (1)CEU for each of the following panel sessions:The Hot and Heavy Reality: Women, Menopause + Mental HealthStrong, But Struggling: Men + DepressionWhat Happens in this House Stays In This House: Breaking Generational SilenceBeyond Prayer: The Church's Role in Mental Health SupportInstructions will be provided the day of the SoundMinds Conference by a Riveredge Hospital representative.Panelists and attendees who are accredited in the state of Illinois are able to receive the CEs. Riveredge Hospital is a Registered Social Worker CE Sponsor through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.Providers with other credentials (e.g., QIDP) are encouraged to provide presentation information to their credential authority to consider credit for attendance.________________________________Thank you to our 2026 Sponsors + PartnersADVOCATE SPONSOR________________________________SUPPORTER SPONSOR | The Johnsons________________________________PARTNERS https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events5/banners/f8456370-78a5-11f1-b452-0f2e0e513fce-rimg-w1200-h543-dcffffff-gmir.jpg Agenda?: 09:00 AM - 10:00 AMIn-Person Check-In Info: Check-In and visit Resource Exhibitors. Doors open at 9:30AM CT/10:30AM ET for Virtual Attendees.?: 10:00 AM - 10:10 AMWelcome + Greetings?: 10:10 AMLive Musical PerformanceHost: Leah WrenneInfo: Leah Wrenne is a singer-songwriter who pairs melody with emotions by crafting eclectic songs based on mental health, disability, faith and love. She blends soul, indie-folk and indie-pop elements together to create music that touches the soul.?: 10:15 AM - 10:30 AMKeynote MessageHost: Holley Brandchaft-White, MBA, LCSW?: 10:35 AM - 11:20 AMWhat Happens In This House Stays In This House: Breaking Generational SilenceHost: Moderator: Tanya Simmons ReidInfo: In many families, silence has been survival. Trauma wasn’t discussed. Mental illness wasn’t named. Pain was carried quietly and passed down quietly. This session examines the impact of generational silence on mental health and family dynamics. ?: 11:25 AM - 12:10 PMNo Cap, Just Care: What Young People Need Us to HearHost: Moderator: Ezsa Allen M.S.,MHCInfo: A brave panel of adolescents (ages 13-19) share their lived experiences navigating mental health in today’s world - from academic pressure and social media stress to identity, stigma and silence. This session invites parents, guardians, educators, faith leaders and community members to listen with openness and curiosity as young voices speak their truth about what support looks like and what it doesn’t.?: 12:10 PM - 12:30 PMResource & Refreshment Break [20 minutes]?: 12:30 PM - 01:15 PMBeyond Prayer: The Church’s Role in Mental Health Support Host: Moderator: Rachel BrinkleyInfo: Faith communities are often the first place people turn in times of crisis. But many churches are not fully prepared to respond to mental health challenges in ways that address both spiritual and clinical needs. While prayer is powerful, it is not always sufficient on its own. This session explores the gap between intention and preparedness and why effective mental health support requires community, collaboration and connection to professional care.?: 01:20 PM - 02:05 PMGiving Without Losing Yourself: Mental and Physical Wellness for CaregiversHost: Moderator: Kimberly O. Simmons LCSWInfo: Caregiving is an act of love, commitment and sacrifice. But when the responsibility to support someone else becomes constant, many caregivers find themselves physically exhausted, emotionally overwhelmed and unsure where their own needs fit in. This session explores the realities of protecting your own well-being while caregiving.?: 02:05 PM - 02:20 PMResource + Refreshment Break [15 minutes]?: 02:20 PM - 03:05 PMStrong But Struggling: Men + DepressionHost: Moderator: Duane ReidInfo: Depression in men is rarely discussed and often misunderstood in our communities. Instead of being recognized as a real mental health challenge, it is dismissed, minimized or hidden behind responsibility, silence and isolation. But the pressure to perform, provide and persevere can take a serious emotional toll. This candid conversation creates space for men to talk openly about depression, loneliness and the pressure to carry everything alone - whether they are experiencing it personally or witnessing it real-time in the lives of men they love.?: 03:10 PM - 03:55 PMThe Hot & Heavy Reality: Women, Menopause + Mental HealthHost: Moderator: Danielle J. BondsInfo: For many women, menopause is not just a physical transition, it’s an emotional and mental health journey that is rarely acknowledged, openly discussed or properly supported. In our communities, conversations around menopause are often silenced, dismissed or misunderstood. Mood changes, anxiety, depression and emotional shifts are minimized or misattributed, leaving many women to navigate this season alone. This panel creates space for transparent dialogue about the intersection of menopause and mental health and how the lack of conversation is impacting women’s quality of life.?: 04:00 PM - 04:15 PMClosing Remarks?: 04:15 PM - 04:45 PMLast Call! Make Connections + Grab Resources - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/oak-lawn/soundminds-2026-share-the-load-learning-lifting-building-together/100001985333299342 - **Event Categories**: health-wellness, mental-health, business, conferences, nonprofit, music, live-music, pop, contests - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 - **Event Highlights**: - Age Limit: under_18_with_guardian - Duration: 7 hours - Location: Hilton Chicago/Oak Lawn - Languages: English ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 44.52, currency: USD ## Event venue details - **city**: Oak Lawn - **state**: IL - **country**: United States - **location**: Hilton Chicago/Oak Lawn - **lat**: 41.7224807 - **long**: -87.73983 - **full address**: Hilton Chicago/Oak Lawn, 9333 South Cicero Avenue, Oak Lawn, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: SoundMinds 2026 "Share The Load: Learning + Lifting + Building Together" - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events10/banners/297ae1f09962ed655a78f295cd02c57c14266accc06be774729a9aa298e114c3-rimg-w1200-h600-dc000101-gmir.jpg?v=1773924313 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is SoundMinds 2026 "Share The Load: Learning + Lifting + Building Together" being held? - **A:** SoundMinds 2026 "Share The Load: Learning + Lifting + Building Together" takes place on Thu, 09 Jul, 2026 at 10:00 am to Thu, 09 Jul, 2026 at 05:00 pm at Hilton Chicago/Oak Lawn, 9333 South Cicero Avenue, Oak Lawn, United States. - **Q**: Who is organizing SoundMinds 2026 "Share The Load: Learning + Lifting + Building Together"? - **A:** SoundMinds 2026 "Share The Load: Learning + Lifting + Building Together" is organized by SoundMinds Conference. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** SoundMinds 2026 "Share The Load: Learning + Lifting + Building Together" is ideal for professionals, entrepreneurs, startup founders, and networking enthusiasts eager to grow their connections. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Oak Lawn, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. 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Our mission is to deepen our understanding, empathy and support for people affected by diagnosed mental illnesses and mental health challenges within Black and Hispanic communities. We address a broad spectrum of critical topics, including anxiety, bipolar disorder, caregiving, the role of church, depression, government policies, menopause, PTSD, suicide, trauma, triggers, social determinants of health and much more. We are committed to creating community conversations that:educate Black and Hispanic communities about mental health and its impact on families, communities and personal health;help people erase stigmas and increase understanding about loved ones dealing with mental health challenges and living with mental illnesses;share solutions about supporting and advocating for one another, as well as ourselves individually;and encourage a collaborative care approach that includes both mental and physical health care to improve overall health." } ] } ] ```