Too often, hope is missing from many Tallahassee black neighborhoods because of persistent racism and economic inequality, says Bruce Strouble, executive director of Citizens for a Sustainable Future, Inc.

The Tallahassee Community Healing Coalition seeks to change that mindset.

Beginning Friday, the volunteer group is hosting events designed to create a dialogue of unity and to accent positivity under the banner “How to Build a Better Black Community.”

“We believe a lot of the rooted problems result from internalized racial oppression,” Strouble said.

The Tallahassee nonprofit, along with The Providence Neighborhood Association and the Association of Black Psychologists, is hosting the annual Tallahassee Community Healing Days events. The Community Redevelopment Agency awarded the group a $5,000 grant in August.

It’s the sixth year of the local initiative and is tied to Community Healing Days activities held this weekend in over 135 cities across the country.

The Tallahassee events begin 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at the Providence Neighborhood Center, 1908 Highland St.

Strouble, who is organizing the events with Huberta Jackson-Lowman, a psychology professor at Florida A&M University, said the focus will be on the link between mental health and crime and the relationship between black women and black men, including interpersonal connections and domestic violence.

“We want to come together to display the talent of the community and the ability work together,” said Strouble, an academic adviser at FAMU and adjunct history professor at TCC.

Tallahassee's high crime rate will be the backdrop for addressing mental health awareness, he said.

“We have a lot of people experiencing mental health challenges and not being treated,” he said.

“Our communities have been traumatized and we can’t allow it to go unaddressed or we will pass it on to the next generation.”

Contact senior writer Byron Dobson at bdobson@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @byrondobson.

The schedules of events:

Friday:

6 – 9 pm Providence Neighborhood Center, 1908 Highland St

• Excerpts from Play “Women Warriors” by SOMO Playhouse

• Community Talkback – Discussion on Domestic Violence

Saturday:

Providence Neighborhood Center-9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

• 9:30 – 10:30 am Yoga/Tai Chi

• 10:45 – 11:45 am Caribbean Zumba

• 12:00 – 1:00 pm African Dance

• 1:15 – 2:15 pm Nutrition Workshop/Energy Healing Workshop

• 2:30 – 3:30 pm Financial Literacy Workshop

• 3:30 – 4:15 pm Mental Health Workshop

• 4:20– 5:15 pm Community Healing Circle

• 5:30 – 8:30 pm Workshop: Creating Cultural Policy for

Healing & Uplifting the Black Community

Sunday (2 to 6 p.m.; Atunwa Psychological & Outreach Services

1512 Blountstown St.

Poetry/music/song and youth essay winners!

For information, contact tallhealingdays@gmail.com or Facebook: Tallahassee Community Healing