We Rise
What We Did
The Los Angeles Department of Mental Health and TaskForce joined forces to create WE RISE, an annual series of large-scale, 10-day pop-up art exhibitions and a platform for artists, activists, public figures and the community partnering to illuminate issues around mental health, stigma and call for systemic changes so ALL youth have the support and resources they need to ensure their wellbeing.
- Production
- Event Management
- Art Curation
- Design & Marketing
- Organizing
- Out Of Home (OOH)
The Challenge
WE RISE sought to increase public interest and demands for deepening investment and resourcing of support for mental wellbeing across Los Angeles. We sought to unite the community in standing up and demanding a city, state, nation and world that prioritizes care over punishment and people over profit. Individual and collective traumas show up as addiction, gang affiliation, anxiety and suicide, and these traumas are pervasive. Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health asked TaskForce to help young people understand that mental health care is for everyone, not just those with diagnosed SMIs. WE RISE brought together activists and organizers from across the social justice and health justice communities to ensure attention is given to the mental health issues and stigma in Los Angeles County.
Our Approach
To build momentum and engagement at the grassroots level in the call for support for mental health, TaskForce combined a significant out of home campaign of unbranded billboards, wildposting, bus shelters, MTA ads, radio spots and a ten day festival that focused on engaging hundreds of active non-profits and activists already fighting for justice, dignity, safety and health.
With over 80 hours of public panels per event, community hubs for direct support engagement, dozens of mental health workers onsite throughout the production and event and an additional 100 hours of private school tours, private gatherings for stakeholders and elected officials, We Rise fused the organic nature of grassroots activism, the high impact attraction of popular culture and the arts with the careful consideration and care needed of a Mental Health Awareness Month Activation.
