Mental Health, Memoir, and the Power of Our Stories: A Conversation with Nana-Ama Danquah

As May approaches, so does Mental Health Awareness Month, and this year, the Black Health & Mental Care Alliance (BHMCA) is hosting a powerful and healing event you won’t want to miss.

On Friday, May 2nd, 2025, BHMCA will welcome world-renowned author, editor, and speaker Nana-Ama Danquah to the Palm Springs Cultural Center (Theater 2) for an evening of candid conversation, community connection, and literary brilliance.

The event will include a live discussion on mental health awareness—especially within Black communities—followed by a book signing and intimate Q&A with Ms. Danquah herself.

And for those who want to support this important work, tax-deductible sponsorship opportunities are now available.

🖤 Why This Matters

Mental health isn’t just a talking point—it’s a lifeline. For Black folks, especially Black women, conversations around depression, anxiety, and trauma have too often been stigmatized or silenced.

Nana-Ama Danquah’s groundbreaking memoir, Willow Weep for Me: A Black Woman’s Journey Through Depression, broke that silence. Hailed by The Washington Post as “a vividly textured flower of a memoir, one of the finest to come along in years,” the book paved the way for a deeper, more honest dialogue on mental health in our communities.

Through her writing, editing, and global speaking engagements, Danquah has remained a fearless truth-teller—and a fierce advocate for healing

Nana-Ama Danquah is more than a memoirist. She is a multi-hyphenate force: author, editor, journalist, ghostwriter, public speaker, actress, teacher, and photographer. Her body of work spans continents, genres, and generations.

She is the editor of multiple acclaimed anthologies—including Becoming American, Shaking the Tree, The Black Body, and Accra Noir. Her essays and poems have appeared in outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, Essence, and Allure, and have been included in countless school curriculums.

As a ghostwriter and editor, she has worked behind the scenes on several New York Times bestsellers, collaborating with high-profile figures in business, entertainment, and politics. Her resume includes writing speeches for Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, including four United Nations General Assembly addresses.

A recipient of multiple prestigious honors, Danquah was most recently a fellow at Yaddo, the legendary artists’ colony. She is a proud citizen and resident of both Ghana and the United States.

📍 Event Details

🗓️ Date: Friday, May 2nd, 2025

📍 Location: Palm Springs Cultural Center – Theater 2

🎟️ Featuring: Live Discussion on Mental Health Awareness + Book Signing with Nana-Ama Danquah

🤝 Sponsor This Moment

We’re currently seeking community-minded sponsors to support this event and the mission of the BHMCA. All contributions are tax-deductible, and your sponsorship directly supports mental health awareness programming in underserved communities.

If you or your organization are interested in sponsoring, please contact:

📧 Aneka Brown at bhmca@yahoo.com

🧠 Because Mental Health Is Black Health

At IconCityNews.com, we believe our stories matter—especially the ones that are hardest to tell.

Join us this Mental Health Awareness Month as we honor truth, healing, and the power of the written word with Nana-Ama Danquah and the Black Health & Mental Care Alliance.

Let’s hold space for each other. Let’s talk about it. Let’s write about it. And above all—let’s heal.