Where

Three people in a room with photography equipment. The person in the foreground, with their back to the camera, wears a brown jacket with "Maintain Composure" written on it. Two people in front are taking pictures.

health equity

Three people posing in a studio, one sitting with a "Maintain Composure" sweatshirt, two standing, one in a hoodie, another in a jacket and tie.

meets purpose.

Maintain your composure.

OUR OriGIN STORY BEGINS IN ATLANTa

Born from the words of the late Hugh Thomas Douglas, Maintain Composure was established in 2024 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing mental health education and ensuring equitable access to support for all. At our core, we believe in the power of community to heal, uplift, and empower individuals—particularly Black, POC, and youth—by dismantling stigmas surrounding mental health and emotional well-being.

Our mission is to bridge the gap in mental health access and eliminate disparities faced by Black and Brown communities. We achieve this by forging strong partnerships with mental healthcare professionals, local businesses, and community organizations that share our commitment to equity and inclusion. Through these collaborations, we work to break down systemic barriers, provide essential resources, and create safe spaces where individuals feel seen, heard, and supported.

Maintain Composure recognizes that mental wellness is not a privilege—it is a right. That’s why we are dedicated to fostering environments of support, growth, and education through a variety of initiatives, including community-led programming, outreach , and advocacy. Together, we strive to create a future where conversations about mental health are normalized, resources are accessible, and every individual has the opportunity to thrive.

Colorful mural featuring a smiling man with glasses against a blue background, with "We Love You" and "Hugh Douglas '25" written above.

MEET OUR tEAM

chase brathwaite - FOUNDER & CEO

ALSO KNOWN AS ‘CHASE BRAT’ BY MANY, THE HARLEM-BASED, ATLANTA RAISED MULTI-DISCIPLINARY CREATIVE PRODUCER, WRITER, AND VISUAL DIRECTOR IS LEADING THE NEXT GENERATION OF MULTIHYPENATES PUSHING THE CULTURE. TRAINED AS A HEALTH DISPARITIES SCHOLAR AND SOCIOLOGIST DURING HIS TIME AT HIS ALMA MATER, MOREHOUSE COLLEGE, CHASE’S WORK DELVES INTO THE INTERSECTIONS OF NARRATIVE MEDICINE, CULTURAL MEDIA, AND STORYTELLING. HE IS THE FOUNDER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF MAINTAIN COMPOSURE, A COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH EQUITY ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO HIS LATE BROTHER, WHEN HE ISN’T SPENDING HIS FREE TIME AS A COMEDY WRITER ON BELI REVIEWING THE NY FOOD SCENE, CHASTIN IS DETERMINED TO CREATE SPACE FOR OVERTLY PASSIONATE HUMANS LIKE HIMSELF—JUST TRYING TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON THEIR WORLD.

EXECUTIVE bOARD

carrington brathwaite

Co-Founder/Chief Business Officer

Myrical ford

Social Media Coordinator

Marley ewell

Community Initiative Chair

deja showers

Project Manager

GENE HUGHES

Social Impact + Content Producer

chandler brathwaite

Education Initiative Chair

cyon brathwaite

Design & Digital Outreach

our Main INITIATIVES

HEALTH EDUCATION

OUR PRIMARY GOAL AT MAINTAIN COMPOSURE IS TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH LITERACY, REDUCE STIGMA, AND CREATE MORE UNDERSTANDING OF MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES ACROSS DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.

Key Focus Areas:

Develop and distribute culturally relevant educational materials to increase awareness of mental health conditions, symptoms, and resources.
Implement workshops, seminars, and community outreach programs to educate individuals about mental health.
Work with schools, workplaces, and community centers to integrate mental health education into their routines and policies.

Our Programs:

Grief Counseling
Group Threapy
“Conversations Among Us” Mental Health Talks (inspired by Joe Freshgoods)

OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN PROMOTING MENTAL WELL-BEING AND SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES.

Key Focus Areas:

Create peer-led support groups and community-driven mental health programs that allow people to share experiences and offer mutual support.
Involve community leaders and stakeholders in the development and implementation of mental health programs.
Support advocacy and activism in communities to reduce stigma and promote mental health policies.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

WE SEEK TO CHAMPION SYSTEMIC CHANGE TO ENSURE THAT MENTAL HEALTH CARE IS EQUITABLE, ACCESSIBLE, AND ADEQUATELY SUPPORTED BY POLICY AND LEGISLATION.

Key Focus Areas:

Advocate for mental health policy reforms that address disparities, including laws that support mental health parity, affordable care, and equal access to services.
Work with policymakers to ensure mental health is prioritized in public health frameworks and funding allocations.
Engage in research to highlight mental health disparities and advocate for the necessary legislative actions to address them.

ADVOCACY

Black people are far less likely to seek care. Statistics tell us that about 25% of African Americans seek mental health treatment, compared to 40% of white Americans.

Unequal access to health care is one major contributor to this disparity. Nearly 10% of Black people in the U.S. do not have health insurance, compared to 5.2% of non-Hispanic white people.

mental health should not be taboo.