1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. (where are you from, family, hobbies) 

I am originally from Waynesboro Georgia. My mom relocated and came to Charlotte NC after she lost her mother; I was the age of two. I come from a family of musical artist. Writing music and Singing is my passion. My music is also my healing process inspiring others.  

2. How has mental illness affected your life? 

Life has not been the same for me after losing 3 kings. My brother's life was taken due to gun violence and my son and his father died by suicide. As written in my published book, the trauma and experience affected my mood, shattered my thinking and provoked certain behaviors. I lost the desire to sing at one point and my heart seemed to only beat to a rhythm of pain, the kind of hurt that only a mother can explain of a loss.  I praise God for being my refuge because without him and periodically hearing my sons voice tell me to keep going and don’t give up. I wouldn’t have the desire to continue life with purpose. I’m a living witness that during trials what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger. All rights reserved.  

3. Why did you want to be a part of This Is My Brave? 

TIM Brave is the first opportunity that my daughter saw to express her story on stage about the recent loss of her loved ones. As she passed the info to me and her brother , we all figured that if all three of us auditioned for the event, it assures a great chance for one of us to be chosen. God obviously had a plan for all three of us to tell our stories because we all were chosen to be cast members on the show. I had just released my first single titled “charge it to the heart" on 23 platforms about the death of my son and Brave was the first open door for presenting my new song onstage. This opportunity not only inspired my team and I to come out of hiatus from serving our community but it’s also provided an opportunity for team AOG to perform. As a unite before our third member leaves on military duty. Although I am a director of an organization that provides an identical platform, it’s refreshing to be on the opposite side as a performer which relieves all the responsibilities of directing, producing etc. My song is my story and to be on a platform with others that have commonalities to make a difference is rewarding in itself. Since music is my passion , it’s a way for me to heal through expressing my arts and talents while embarking on a new journey to save souls.  

4. What inspires you to get or stay mentally healthy?  

Each day I wake up it’s Gods way of telling me that it’s another day to fulfill the purpose he designed for me. Staying busy is key but true healing comes from serving others. When you’re going through trials, service work takes your mind away from “ self” My children and my mother who are living also give me reason to keep fighting the fight on this journey because they too suffered the losses with me. They have gone above and beyond to keep me inspired to persevere so I must return the favor. God appointed me parent and steward to the son I lost and the the children who are still living “ on this side” with me. I could never provide the kind of love for any of my children the way God can, therefore it’s truly a blessing that he’s in better care on a higher journey that doesn’t have sadness or depression. I’m grateful for the 31 years, 5 months and 19 days God has allowed me to be in the presence of my son and I’m just as grateful for ones that are left behind along with me until we all meet him again.  

5. What do you hope the audience takes away from the show? 

I hope to touch the hearts of many by sharing my story to remove all doubt regarding death being the end. I hope to give inspiration that their loved one is very much alive. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. I hope to make an impact with sending a message to the audience that they are not alone on this journey and their loss is heavens gain. Many have suffered the loss of a loved one through gun violence or suicide but through my story I hope that my strength encourages another to find theirs. My experience have provided a test to be a testimony and I’m grateful for the opportunity to express that at CPCC through This Is My Brave.  

Thank you all for this opportunity!  

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. (where are you from, family, hobbies)  

HI my name is Sevhn Robinson. I am the only child, born in Hartford CT. I grew up in Newport News/Hampton, VA. I love singing, traveling with my husband, and hanging out with the grandchildren.  

2. How has mental illness affected your life? 

I've been negatively impacted mentally with the devastating loss of my first born child due to a vicious murder.  This loss has created heightened levels of anxiety as well as bouts of depression.   

3. Why did you want to be a part of This Is My Brave? 

I wanted this opportunity to be apart of THIS IS MY BRAVE to share my story in hopes to assist another family in their journey while fighting this epidemic.   

4. What inspires you to get or stay mentally healthy? 

My family inspires me to continue the battle in working on my mental health.   

5. What do you hope the audience takes away from the show? 

I hope the audience take away is knowing that it's a battle but it's ok to be open and share your story in order to HEAL.  My journal SEVHN STEPS 2 RESET was written while turning this PAIN into a PURPOSE. 

Come on I'll walk with you❤️ 

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. (where are you from, family, hobbies) 

I'm from Charlotte, NC and I have a wonderful husband with 2 growing boys. I have been in the education field for over 20 years and I enjoy watching TV, while researching more about how using our digital devices has an effect on our mental being. Another hobby is building the SociaLight Stars non-profit organization. The purpose of SociaLight Stars is to educate and empower the community on the effects of social media trauma and cyberbullying, while empowering the healing and resilience that comes after the trauma! SociaLight Stars officially started in February 2024. 

2. How has mental illness affected your life? 

Being diagnosed with major depressive disorder has affected my life in ways that I never thought could potentially happen to me. Also with the diagnosis of severe anxiety, it has not been an easy road. During my multiple episodes, I have experienced feelings of emptiness and hopelessness, as well as insomnia, angry outburts and multiple thoughts of suicide. Working a 9-5 job, I constantly had feelings of people hating me, due to the cyberbullying I experienced. I also constantly had feelings of hopelessness at work and at home. Placing in my mind that no matter what I do correctly, it won't matter because my past mistakes matter more than my present. 

3. Why did you want to be a part of This Is My Brave? 

I wanted to be a part of This Is My Brave because I wanted to share my story of healing and resilience, along with educating the community on the effects of social media trauma and cyberbullying. I was empowered to let the world know that even though you may have experienced social media trauma and cyberbullying, you can overcome it and you can heal from the trauma. 

4. What inspires you to get or stay mentally healthy? 

What inspires me to get and stay mentally healthy is my husband and 2 boys. I want to stay in this physical world for them and allow them to see my mental growth from the trauma. I also want to encourage the world through the SociaLight Stars non-profit movement and podcast that even though you were diagnosed with a mental disorder, your diagnosis does not define you as a person. 

What also inspires me is being able to go into our public school system and tell the SociaLight Stars story of trauma to triumph. 

5. What do you hope the audience takes away from the show? 

I would love for the audience to take away the following mindfulness from my show: 

*Before I post on social media or chat on my digital device I need to make sure of the following: 

-Is it TRUE 

-Is it HELPFUL 

*Is it INSPIRING 

*Is it NECESSARY 

*Is it KIND 

The final word is THINK 

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. (where are you from, family, hobbies)

I’m a 28 year old music artist, poet, and content creator from the Queen City where I was born and raised. I am the only girl of 3 boys. Since adolescence, art in every form has been my passion. I come from the world of theatre. In high school, I was a theatre major. I would recite many monologues and memorize 30 page plays, but school didn’t provide a platform for me to display my talents. Community did that. After graduating high school, I went to college, and received my bachelors degree in criminal justice & criminology. After that, nonprofit work and music became a huge part of my life.

2. How has mental illness affected your life?

Mental illness has affected my life in various ways, but trauma has been the source of it all. I thought being a survivor of sexual assault was the hardest thing I’d have to experience. I was wrong. Mental illness subsequently took two of the most important people from my life within a 3 year time span. I now visit their graves from time to time. I’ve dealt with anxiety disorder, panic attacks, depression, and I’ve struggled with existential anxiety specifically. There were many days I didn’t feel like myself. Mental illness has had its effect on me, but mainly, it has shown me the person I don’t want to be. I don't want to be a person that relies on drugs to “ease the pain.” I don’t want to be the person that lashes out on the people she loves. I do, however, want to be in control of my own body and mind. I do want to be strong. I do want to push through and I do want to be brave.

3. Why did you want to be a part of This Is My Brave?

It took me a while to get the courage to tell my story verbally. I’ve always had a very difficult time expressing my feelings verbally, so I would write things down. Music became my peace, but poetry was my therapy. After attending a support group for survivors of suicide loss, I learned that the more I talked about what I was going through, the more healing it brought. I want to be a part of This is My Brave because I want to give others hope that it does get better. I want to be able to inspire someone else with a similar story to keep pushing through.

4. What inspires you to get or stay mentally healthy?

First and foremost, God has been a huge inspiration throughout my mental journey and throughout my life. Without Him, I couldn’t do any of this. In addition to my relationship with God, my dreams, goals, and plans for the future inspire me to stay mentally healthy. Knowing that I am helping others and staying healthy for my family are all things that inspire me to stay mentally healthy. More importantly, my desire to break this cycle of suffering in silence is motivation for me to stay healthy.

5. What do you hope the audience takes away from the show? From the show, I want the audience to understand that your trauma does not define you. The bad things that happen in our lives can always be used for good and for a greater purpose. Don't let the pain hinder you. Let it drive you to your purpose.

1. Tell us a little about yourself.  

I am from Charlotte born and raised. Athlete turned artist. I enjoy reading, speaking to the youth, writing, painting, working out, cooking and spending time with my grandma.  

2. How has mental illness affected your life?  

mental health wasn’t a topic at home so it has allowed me the space to be transparent speaking out about overcoming what was going on allowing others to have space to be vulnerable it has allowed me to reach people who stay silent. 

3. Why did you want to be apart of this is my brave?  

I wanted people to see a living example of a true story. I would love for the story to touch someone inspiring them to keep going. 

4. What inspires you to stay mentally healthy? 

Seeing how far I’ve come, knowing how hard I worked to get here I feel free and this is the best I’ve ever felt and seeing the joy people feel when they are in my presence is inspiring, my grandma and love. 

5. Take away for the audience  

I hope the audience takes away something that resonates with them, inspiring them to look in the mirror and keep going.