A packed house of community members, educators, clinicians, politicians, corporate leaders and non-profit staff from across the area came out to Symphony Hall in Allentown, PA for a meeting of the minds in a crucial conversation around mental health.
Hosted by Dr. Hassan Batts, President of Batts Development Group and Executive Director of Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley, Dr. Batts invited Dwayne Jones, Chairman of The Preventive Measures Foundation and CEO of Preventive Measures Inc., for an intimate fireside chat.
The conversation centered around community empowerment and mental health advocacy, while driving home the need to eliminate stigmas and check in with each other. Mr. Jones shared his philosophies about giving back, servant leadership, and lifting others as you climb.
He also spoke about his journey in building a wellness enterprise and the intentional commitment to the development of others. His company, Preventive Measures, is an outpatient mental health and home health care provider with several hundred employees and locations in PA, DC, NJ, and GA. Much of the work in healing the mental health of our communities is facilitated through the services offered at these agencies.
With a determination to combine and scale the missions of mental well-being and philanthropy, he founded The Preventive Measures Foundation (The PM Foundation) in September 2022. Through the PM Foundation, Mr. Jones has been able to make an even greater impact in the community, with the Community Service Workers Program, scholarships for students in Human Services degree programs, and funding for other non-profit organizations that are aligned with The Foundation's mission. Dr. Batts was instrumental in the formation and early success of The PM Foundation, serving as a non-profit consultant for the first year.
The fireside chat was well received, with favorable comments such as, "enlightening" and "inspiring" being shared by those in attendance.
In a LinkedIn post, Mr. Jones also shared his thoughts about the event: "In today's fast-paced world, it was a valuable opportunity to pause and reflect on my personal and career journey in the mental health industry. As we continue to progress on our individual paths, I encourage everyone to dedicate time to nurture their holistic well-being."