How Can We Be Better Parents to Our Sons?

The SonRise Project creator Kelli Richardson Lawson introduces Dr. Halim Ali, who is the founder, Executive Director and President of the non-profit From the Heart Foundation. Dr. Ali is also an activist, mentor, motivational speaker and mental health professional devoted to uplifting boys and men in the Black community. In this episode Dr. Ali shares his own incredible personal story that led to a life of service and giving back. As the third son of five, he said he was constantly bullied. He learned to fight at an early age and was suspended from school 27 times in just 3 years. He went on to become a gang member and was shot in the chest at 19 years old. He became homeless and eventually grew weary of crime. Years later was he able to connect the dots of all the trauma and abuse he suffered in childhood. He says men don't want to admit they’re hurting. Many are raised in a hyper-masculine culture that does not allow them to cry or feel their emotions. Dr. Ali is working to change all that. He says it’s possible to heal and outlines his Wellness Recovery Action Plan including 5 key concepts including: hope, personal responsibility, self-advocacy, self-discovery and education.