Georgia Public Broadcasting to Premiere New Positive Mental Health Series Nationwide
Tuesday, September 21st, 2021
Hope Givers, a non-profit organization based in Atlanta committed to creating and producing meaningful content that uplifts the human spirit, is excited to announce the launch of its new documentary series of the same name. This mental health and wellness-centered programming debuts on Sept. 21 and is being distributed by Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB). It also will be made available to schools across the country thanks to a partnership with the Georgia Department of Education (DOE).
While the series will be distributed by GPB, it will be made available nationwide through PBS
LearningMedia this month. Hope Givers will be Health Standards Aligned for Excellence and
available to use in middle school and high school classrooms across the country free of charge.
“As Georgia’s educators, students, and families continue to face challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, resources that address mental wellness are more important than ever,” said GPB Director of Education Laura Evans. “GPB is thrilled to be able to offer Hope Givers with Tamlin Hall as part of our already robust collection of free digital learning resources.”
To celebrate the launch of this first-of-its-kind series, Hope Givers and GPB will be hosting a virtual and free GPB Community Event at 7 p.m. (EST) on Tuesday, Sept. 21. This digital premiere will feature screenings of episodes from the series, special guest panels, a ceremony honoring the Hope Giver of the Year and more. Registration is open to the public and available through EventBrite.
Hope Givers highlights hope and resilience across America, with each episode spotlighting an individual or group that has eschewed adversity and focused instead on having a positive impact on their community. Profiles in the eight-episode first season include Mr. 2-17, an Atlanta rapper and producer who focuses on uplifting messages targeted toward youth rather than negative lyrics, and Lily Moore, an actress and model with Down syndrome who stars in the hit NETFLIX series Never Have I Ever and speaks out against bullying.
Episodes also feature short original cartoons penned by Los Angeles-based Switchblade Comb Productions that more closely examine a particular topic being explored, student self-care activities performed in the Hope Givers studio, “Youth Across America” segments that showcase high school student produced films across America, musical performances from a diverse collection of artists in the Atlanta area, and a casual debrief with Dr. Reef Karim, a mental health professional who has previously been seen on several national television shows and networks, including Oprah, Larry King Live, Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil and CNN.
Working with PBS LearningMedia, GPB also intends to make available a complementary learning curriculum that educators, counselors, nurses and social workers can use for a deeper dive into some of the topics being discussed in each episode, such as mental wellness, human trafficking, discrimination, suicide, bullying and more.
Hope Givers was formed in 2018 with a goal of creating original, engaging content that could positively promote mental health, equity and well-being for all. Relying on the appeal and influence of arts, music, science and advocacy, it seeks to spread a hopeful message through a variety of artistic mediums, from the annual Hope Givers Music Festival, a family friendly event that promotes mental wellness, to the Hope Givers Film Challenge, spotlighting young filmmakers.
“The stresses, pressures and challenges of the past year have been tough on all of us, and it’s just one more layer for so many young people to have to deal with today,” said Tamlin Hall, the Executive Producer and Host of Hope Givers. “That’s why I believe so strongly in this project because it’s not only spreading joy and positivity, but it’s doing so through the stories, experiences and perspectives of some immensely talented, compassionate young people who want to make a difference. They’ve inspired me throughout the journey of filming this first season, and I’m so excited to share it with others.”
