About Holistic+Kin
We are a wellness rooted community where Black men and boys reclaim wholeness, healing, and legacy.
For generations, Black men and boys have carried the weight of expectations, silence, and survival. Too often, the wellness conversation has overlooked or excluded them entirely.
At Holistic+Kin, we believe that wellness is not a privilege. It's a cultural, personal, and ancestral right. We exist to create spaces where Black men and boys can heal, grow, and reclaim their full humanity without shame or limitation.
Why the "+"?
The plus sign in Holistic+Kin isn't decoration. It's a declaration, symbolizing addition, expansion, and the interconnectedness of wellness and kinship. It reflects our belief that true healing happens when we come together, share our journeys, and uplift one another.
“When ‘I’ is replaced by ‘We,’ even illness becomes wellness.”
Malcolm X
Our Purpose
A world where Black men and boys feel seen, supported, and whole, leading the way for generational impact and collective transformation.
Our Mission
To change the narrative of Black wholeness and well being by providing relatable, secure, and culturally sound wellness content, resources, and providers through access, collaboration, and education.
Why Holistic+Kin?
Because healing is not one size fits all.
Holistic+Kin honors the unique experiences of Black men and boys. Our spaces, programs, and conversations are designed with cultural relevance, practical wisdom, and community care at the core.
We don't offer quick fixes.
We offer tools, kinship, and a pathway to long term, sustainable healing, because every Black man and boy deserves to thrive in his fullness.
The ACE Philosophy
Our approach to healing and empowerment.
Healing happens at the intersection of what we can reach, who we build with, and what we understand. The ACE Philosophy is how Holistic+Kin turns that belief into practice, meeting Black men and boys where the barriers actually are, not where the wellness industry assumes they are.
Access
We address the barriers Black men and boys often face when seeking support. Through our directory, programs, and partnerships, we connect our kin to culturally relevant, professional, and holistic resources that reflect their realities and needs.
Collaboration
We embrace a collective model that fosters connection, accountability, and shared growth. By collaborating with therapists, wellness practitioners, mentors, and cultural leaders, we build a network of care and wisdom.
Education
Misinformation and stigma have long shaped how wellness is understood in our communities. Our programming challenges myths, sparks honest conversations, and provides practical tools that help our kin make informed, empowered decisions for their healing journeys.
Our Team
Holistic+Kin is guided by a Board of Directors and clinical leadership committed to sound governance, ethical care, and community accountability.
Ashley Bradford
Board Chair + Treasurer*
Leads the Board of Directors and serves as its liaison to the Executive Director. Oversees budgets, financial reports, and financial controls.
Elaya Walker
Secretary
Maintains official minutes, records, and policies, and ensures compliance with notice, filing, and governance requirements.
Dr. Felicia N. Banks
Clinical Director
Provides clinical oversight for all programs, develops clinical policy, and upholds ethical standards across every provider relationship.
Rion Griffin
Community Fellow
Represents youth and community perspectives directly in program design and outreach, keeping Holistic+Kin's work grounded in lived experience.
Rai Gethers
Founder & Executive Director
Oversees day-to-day operations, implements Board policy, and leads staff and programming as a voting member of the Board.
*Combined due to our current organizational stage, with plans to separate these roles as the Board grows.
Together, we are whole. Together, we are kin.