On the evening of Friday, May 2, 2025, a profound cultural shift will take place in the heart of Washington, D.C., as changemakers, advocates, and allies from across the nation gather at the historic Watergate Hotel for the inaugural Project Blackbird Gala. Timed with Mental Health Awareness Month, this groundbreaking event signals far more than a celebration—it marks the rise of a nationwide movement determined to rewrite the story around mental health, especially in communities that have long been ignored.
At the helm of this movement is Alexandra Miles, Founder and CEO of Project Blackbird Inc. A Savannah, Georgia-based actor, producer, and nonprofit leader, Miles is no stranger to storytelling that transforms. With degrees in Business and Fine Arts from Boston University and SCAD, and a passion for narrative filmmaking, she has fused art and advocacy in a powerful mission: to dismantle the shame surrounding mental health and to open access to care for those who need it most.
A Purpose-Driven Evening with National Impact
The Project Blackbird Gala is not just an invitation—it’s a call to action. Backed by a new partnership with Talkspace, this event will directly fund free therapy for 10,500 high school students. Additionally, the Gala will help Project Blackbird double its annual reach, connecting over 20,000 individuals in 2025 with tools, education, and healing support.
This is not a quiet fundraiser—it’s a movement in motion. The night’s programming includes powerful activations, performances, and speakers addressing lived experiences and advocating for awareness and access to care. Voices from politics, entertainment, D.C. chefs, business, and healthcare will come together under one roof to push forward a vision of mental wellness for all—empowering the youth to become the next leaders.
Why It Matters—And Why It Needs You
Project Blackbird was created with a clear and urgent purpose: to bring awareness and access to mental health care to all individuals, and to make mental health conversations safe in all communities. The organization shines a light on eating disorders, trauma, anxiety, and depression in populations that have been excluded from mainstream mental health conversations for far too long.
Through live events—including the screening of its award-winning short film Blackbird, inspired by true events—Project Blackbird facilitates real conversations, reflection, and access to mental health professionals. These experiences are designed not just to raise awareness, but to deliver real, actionable support.
And now, with your support at this inaugural Gala, that work expands.
An Audience of Influence—A Moment of Momentum
Expected guests include influential policymakers, national mental health leaders, and cultural changemakers—all convening to signal a new era in mental health equity. Featured speakers such as Dan Gillison, CEO of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and Natalie Cummins, EVP of Talkspace, will share urgent insights and bold visions for the future. Demonstrations from D.C. chefs will be featured throughout the night as they, too, share their lived experiences with mental health challenges.
This is your opportunity to engage directly with the movement—whether you are an entrepreneur, philanthropist, policymaker, or passionate community leader. Attendees will leave not only inspired, but activated—with new networks, new strategies, and new purpose.
Where to Be When History Happens
Project Blackbird Inaugural Gala
Friday, May 2, 2025
6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
The Watergate Hotel | Washington, D.C.
Theme: #ShedShame Around Mental Health
This evening is for everyone who believes that access to mental health care should not be a privilege. It’s for those who want to move the needle on social change. It’s for those who are ready to create a future where no one has to suffer in silence.
Come to the Gala. Join the conversation. Fuel the movement. This is what transformation looks like.