Reflections from our interns My internship with the Flawless Foundation has been one of the most inspiring and eye-opening experiences of my life. Through the constant support at Flawless, I have had the opportunity to attend the Jed Foundation Gala and the Hope House ribbon-cutting ceremony, where I heard speeches and met people who exposed…
Details
This week we’re spotlighting our interns. As part of Intern Week, we wanted to feature a few of them doing meaningful work on the ground in our community, showing up for their neighbors with care and dignity. Below, our high school interns and Director of Strategy and Innovation share their reflections from a recent outreach…
Details
Three advocacy role models worth knowing before National Schizophrenia Awareness Day, this July 25th. Some words come with misconceptions before we have a chance to define what they mean. “Schizophrenia” may be the leader in this category. This Saturday, July 25, is National Schizophrenia Awareness Day. The awareness day was started in Britain by Rethink…
Details
By: Dr. Robin Jones What an incredible, high-energy day! On Wednesday, July 15th, the Flawless Foundation team, Carol, Ashley, Justice, Zion, and I headed to the 15th annual KidsFit Jamathon® at the South Florida Fairgrounds. We set up our Flawless Wellness Table right in the middle of the Silent Disco Room, and let me tell…
Details
Reflections from a July morning in Crotona Park, where Hope House celebrated its ribbon cutting. If you have been following our Flawless blog over the past few weeks, you know we have spent a lot of time in the courts: the treatment courts of Miami-Dade, the science of relapse and recovery, and the long family…
Details
Reflections from the Hope House on Crotona Park ribbon-cutting By Phoebe Strickland, Flawless Foundation High School Intern Attending the Hope House on Crotona Park ribbon-cutting was an unforgettable experience. Representing a cause full of hope, care, and the promise of a better future, the event highlighted the hard work and dedication of so many, a…
Details
It was such an honor to attend the All Rise: America 250 special event which commemorated 250 years of liberty, justice, and the rule of law. Walking into Osvaldo N. Soto Miami Dade Justice Center was exciting. Going through a security checkpoint, metal detector, then electronic security monitored elevator, was intimidating. Exiting the elevator to…
Details
I had the opportunity to tune into a live panel titled From the Margins to the Mainstream: Mental Health Over the Last Decade, hosted by the Ruderman Family Foundation, bringing together voices from film, athletics, medicine, and advocacy for a conversation about mental health. As an intern at the Flawless Foundation and as a teenager,…
Details
On June 13, the New York Knicks won their first NBA championship in 53 years. Five days later, a crowd estimated in the millions filled Lower Manhattan for a ticker-tape parade down the Canyon of Heroes. We celebrated alongside the rest of the city, and three moments from the week stayed with us. Each one…
Details
On Tuesday, June 16, the Miami-Dade County Commission approved the operating plan for the Miami Center for Mental Health and Recovery, and the vote was unanimous. After twenty-two years, the doors are going to open. We are overjoyed, and we are thinking of our neighbors who will walk through them. In America, the largest providers…
Details
By Dr. Robin Jones | Perspectives from the Frontlines | Published: June 16, 2026 Today, I sat inside the Commission Chamber at the Stephen P. Clark Center, in Miami, watching decades of relentless advocacy culminate in a single, unanimous voice of approval. It is a morning I will not soon forget. The energy inside the…
Details
Reflections from #JEDGala2026 Recently, the Flawless team attended the JED Foundation Gala in New York City. We came as attendees. We left thinking about what it means to stand alongside people who have decided that youth mental health is worth fighting for, and what each of us owes to that commitment. The evening opened with…
Details
By Dr. Robin Jones Director of Strategy and Innovation, Flawless Foundation Energy, community, and wellness took center stage at the recent School District of Palm Beach County School Board Meeting. It was a night of immense pride for us as our incredible partners at Digital Vibez received well-deserved recognition for their phenomenal, transformative work with…
Details
We Lost the Filmmaker. Let’s Not Forget His Cause. The mental health advocacy community has lost a quiet giant. Brian Lindstrom was a Portland, Oregon-based documentary filmmaker who devoted his career to telling the stories of people living with mental illnesses and the consequences of a judicial system that too often criminalizes them. He described…
Details
Miami-Dade didn’t just join the movement to treat mental illness as health problems instead of crimes. It started it. Back in 1989, Miami-Dade opened the first drug court in the nation, betting on the idea that people struggling with substance use deserve treatment and accountability instead of a jail cell. That model has since spread…
Details
You’re scrolling your phone. Your chest is tight, your jaw is clenched, and you can’t quite name why. Maybe something happened earlier. A tense conversation, a deadline, a piece of news that landed wrong. Or maybe nothing happened at all, and that’s the hardest part to explain. What you’re feeling has a name: nervous system…
Details
There is an idea at the center of Internal Family Systems therapy that, the first time you hear it, feels almost too gentle to be true. There are no bad parts of you. Not the anxious one. Not the angry one. Not the one that shuts down when life gets heavy. Each of those inner…
Details
Mental Health, the Justice System, and the Miami Center for Mental Health and Recovery Judge Steve Leifman is a retired Miami-Dade County court judge who continues his advocacy work through the Leifman Group. He sat down with us to talk about what brought him to this work, what Miami has built over the last twenty-five…
Details
Inside Our Somatic Movement and Chair Yoga Workshop at NAMI Special thanks to Jennifer Baez, our Wellness Facilitator, for sharing her experiences and reflections from the workshop. We’ve gathered her insights here to share them with our wider community. When the Flawless team arrived at NAMI Palm Beach County for our wellness workshop, the room…
Details
Today, we celebrate our dear friend and collaborator, Bernadette Pleasant. A grief educator, somatic healer, and creator of Femme!, Bernadette has spent her career building a practice in which movement and honesty do the work that words alone cannot. Certified in the Nia Technique, Nia 5 Stages, Ageless Grace, Somatic Healing, Reiki, and Integrated Energy…
Details
Step Away from the Screen to Reconnect with Yourself In today’s fast-paced, digitally driven world, it’s easy to feel constantly tethered to our devices. From scrolling through social media feeds to responding to work emails, the constant influx of digital information can leave us feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and disconnected from ourselves and those around us.…
Details
A Conversation with Commissioner Stanley Richards at the Citizens Crime Commission of New York City. On April 23rd, Flawless Foundation attended the Citizens Crime Commission of New York City Breakfast Forum, hosted by CCC President Richard Aborn and featuring New York City Department of Correction Commissioner Stanley Richards. The conversation centered on the people inside…
Details
March 30th marks World Bipolar Day, a global initiative dedicated to bringing worldwide awareness to bipolar disorders and eliminating the persistent stereotypes, myths and discrimination that surround them. The date itself is a tribute to the birthday of Vincent Van Gogh, a man whose vibrant paint colors and emotional landscapes changed the world. While Van…
Details
Help Instead of Jail for our Neighbors In the United States, jails and prisons have become the largest, de facto mental health providers. Facilities like New York’s Rikers Island, Los Angeles’ Twin Towers Jail, and Chicago’s Cook County Jail hold more patients with serious mental illness than any state hospital. Here in South Florida, the…
Details
Language has power. It can isolate or empower. By leveraging communications and digital platforms, we intentionally shape conversations about brain health to replace stereotypes with knowledge and myths with truth. Our work at Flawless Foundation centers on advancing informed perspectives around mental health in ways that are accessible and impactful. This message from our advisory…
Details
Valentine’s Day ‘26 Edition Our feeds are often filled with media messages that leave us feeling depleted, making it hard to see the incredible inspiration happening across the mental health landscape. But the truth is, hope is winning. In just the past month, we have witnessed historic funding announcements and high-level conversations at Davos that…
Details
We’re excited to share this note from Board Member Ross Szabo, originally featured in his monthly newsletter. A big thanks to Ross for allowing us to share his insights with our community! When I’m overwhelmed with stress and uncertainty I eat a lot of sweets. The escape to sugar has always been one of my…
Details
Use Your Emotions to Create the Life You Want Book Review by Consultant Abby Cooper In his new book, Dealing with Feeling: Use Your Emotions to Create the Life You Want, Marc Brackett, Ph.D., invites readers to rethink emotions not as distractions or weaknesses, but as valuable information that can shape our choices, deepen our…
Details
Imagine trying to discuss a critical medical condition, one that fundamentally obstructs treatment, only to have your writing tool flag the word as incorrect. This is the reality for advocates, clinicians, and families who use the term “anosognosia.” Anosognosia, the medical term for when a person is unable to recognize their own serious brain disorder,…
Details
By Abby Cooper Today is my last day working with the Flawless Foundation after six incredible years, and it feels impossible to sum up how meaningful this journey has been. I joined Flawless right before the start of my senior year of high school, not fully realizing how profoundly this work would shape my life,…
Details
Grief is something every person will experience, yet it remains one of the hardest things to talk about openly. Many people associate grief only with the death of a loved one. While that type of loss is profound, grief is far more complex and reaches into many areas of life that are often overlooked. People…
Details
November is National Family Caregiving Month: a time to honor the millions of people across the country who show up every day for loved ones in need. Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. adults (63 million people) are family caregivers, according to Mental Health America. Their experiences can vary widely, but the dedication, resilience, and emotional…
Details
By: Dalgis Mosqueda This week, I had the incredible opportunity of interviewing Jennifer Baez, a trauma-trained somatic coach, yoga teacher, mindfulness educator, and sound healer. Jennifer has been leading transformative Flawless Wellness Workshops at NAMI, creating nurturing spaces encouraging healing, self-reflection, and growth. During our conversation, Jennifer shared powerful insights about somatic healing, the body-based…
Details
I am from Belle Glade, Florida, part of what we call the “Muck,” a tri-city area that includes Belle Glade, Pahokee, and South Bay. Growing up, my life felt pretty normal. I was sheltered and did not fully understand what was happening in the community around me. As I grew older, I began to learn…
Details
The Flawless team returned for another unforgettable workshop led by the amazing Gina Barosy, whose boundless energy and vibrant spirit transformed the room from the moment the first song began. Thanks to our friends at Digital Vibez, this session reflected our shared mission of empowering communities through movement, music, and connection. As always, we opened…
Details
When I think about my time at Flawless, the first words that come to mind are gratitude and growth. From my very first day, I knew this was more than just a place to work, it was a space to learn, to connect, and to truly make a difference. One of the most impactful things…
Details
The Flawless team returned to NAMI Palm Beach County for another powerful workshop, this time led by the incredible Gina Barosy, whose contagious energy, rhythmic command, and powerful presence transformed the space the moment the music started. In partnership with our friends at Digital Vibez, this movement-based workshop aligned beautifully with our shared mission of…
Details
My name is Rashad Green. I’m a former Division I football player from Tulane University, where I majored in Kinesiology. I’ve always been passionate about health, especially staying physically fit. But since joining the Flawless Foundation, I’ve discovered a deeper interest in mental health. It’s become clear to me that healing the brain IS healing…
Details
Eliana Kazan My time at Flawless has been one of the most meaningful and transformative experiences of my life. I still remember when Janine welcomed me into the Flawless family at just 16 years old—I was completely starstruck by the incredible opportunity. Since then, so much in my life has changed, but one constant has…
Details
The Flawless team returned to NAMI Palm Beach County for a very special event, our Karaoke Celebration Party! his gathering marked the tenth wellness workshop in a series sponsored by the American Heart Association, and this time, we had even more to celebrate. We are thrilled to be part of the Let’s Move 365 movement…
Details
Our Flawless Board Member Ross Szabo is the Wellness Director at Geffen Academy UCLA. He regularly gets emails and offers to address all of the crises affecting young people. Schools are constantly asking him how to address technology, AI, social media, mental health, the dangers of porn, loneliness, young men’s masculinity, bullying and many other issues. …
Details
The Flawless team returned to NAMI Palm Beach County for another inspiring workshop, this time centered around The Power of Creativity. With a table full of recycled materials, coloring books, and an atmosphere of warmth, our friends explored how creative expression can help reduce stress, regulate emotions, and bring a deeper sense of self-worth. We…
Details
We brought another Flawless Workshop to our friends at NAMI, this time to explore how nature itself can be a powerful form of self-care. From the scents of fresh herbs to the comfort of shared meals, the energy in the room was calm, connected, and deeply restorative. It didn’t take long for us to dive…
Details
On World Meditation Day we had hosted another Flawless workshop at NAMI Palm Beach County. This time our focus was on the power of nervous system regulation. With a full room, open hearts, and expert guidance from trauma-trained somatic coach Jennifer Baez, the session brought together education, movement, and healing in a truly unforgettable way.…
Details
Graphic Credit: Full Life Comprehensive Care Here at Flawless, we are all about communications and digital media to change the conversation about brain health and promote educated awareness. This means we are on social media a good portion of our work days. It is what we do for Flawless and for our clients at Flawless Strategies.…
Details
At Flawless we believe that empowerment begins with connection, and we were reminded of how important this is during our recent visit with our new friends at Jeff Industries. For over 40 years, Jeff Industries has been providing amazing vocational training programs for people living with mental health challenges. Our visit started off with a…
Details
The Flawless Team was thrilled to attend the second annual NeuroArts Conference at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts on March 29, 2025. This groundbreaking event brought together leading neuroscientists, artists, and advocates to explore the profound connection between the arts and human well-being. As an organization committed to holistic mental health and wellness,…
Details
Last week we attended the Mental Health and Crime Symposium at Fordham University. This event summary is provided by the Citizens Crime Commission. Last week, the CCC, along with Northwell Health and Fordham University were proud to present Mental Health & Crime: A Path To Safety For All. Distinguished speakers and panelists took attendees through…
Details
In times of difficulty, we often seek solace in activities that bring us peace and purpose. During our recent interview with our Flawless friend Valerie Van Galder, she shared how tapping into creativity has been one of the most healing tools in her life. Whether knitting, baking, painting, or gardening, immersing ourselves in a creative…
Details
Our culture loves superheroes. We flock to their movies, buy their merch, and fill our walls with posters of them. They’re powerful, misunderstood, and carry abilities that set them apart from everyone else. Yet the same culture that celebrates superpowers is terrified of those who live on the edges of what society deems “normal”—those labeled…
Details
Sometimes, a simple gesture of kindness can have a ripple effect, touching the lives of many in unexpected ways and our Founder Janine’s recent experience is a testament to this. It all started with a generous donation of flowers from a wedding to the Flawless Foundation. Janine saw an opportunity to share this gift across…
Details
By Jalyn Simms From a very young age most of us are taught that to maintain proper health there arecertain things we must do regularly and without fail. To maintain proper gum health, you mustbrush and floss daily. To maintain your strength, you should have 3 square meals a day withsnacks in between. To maintain…
Details
Election Day can bring a whirlwind of emotions—hope, anticipation, and, for many, a fair amount of stress. With so much at stake and an abundance of news updates, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed or anxious. As votes are cast and results unfold, it can feel like everything is beyond our control. However, by focusing on…
Details
There’s something truly special about running a marathon. The physical endurance, the mental fortitude, and the sense of accomplishment when crossing the finish line make it one of the most inspiring challenges a person can take on. But what makes this past marathon in Budapest even more meaningful is the reason behind it: Daymon Cantave,…
Details
Halloween is an exciting time of year filled with costumes, treats, and playful scares. It’s a night when the streets are lined with pumpkins, kids roam door to door, and a fun atmosphere brings communities together. But while many children love the spooky spirit of Halloween, it’s important to remember that not everyone shares the…
Details
Halloween is a time for imaginative costumes, haunted houses, and all things spooky. But it also brings an opportunity to address some of the ways that certain portrayals—particularly around mental health—can perpetuate stereotypes and discrimination. As we celebrate the eerie and unknown, it’s worth examining the imagery and language we use and considering how Halloween…
Details
John Caruso | Flawless Foundation We had the incredible opportunity to attend the screening of America Unfiltered: Portraits and Voices of a Nation at the Kenneth Cole Gallery. This documentary is a powerful exploration of identity, mental health, and what it means to be an American today. It was a profound experience to witness the…
Details
Exclusively written for flawlessfoundation.orgby Janae Bromley For many, yoga is a calming, low-impact physical activity that helps them keep fit. At the same time, yoga’s spiritual and psychological aspects make the practice impactful for mental wellness. Based on a 2023 Frontiers in Psychology study, years of research indicate yoga’s psychological benefits, including an increase in overall…
Details
By: Dalgis Mosqueda I awaited the Hope in Harlem Conference with anticipation and excitement, and I am happy to say that the conference not only met but surpassed my expectations. The Hope in Harlem conference took place on September 14, 2024. Keynotes on mental health initiatives in Harlem and beyond, youth wellness, community building, and…
Details
By John Caruso, Flawless Fellow When I first joined Flawless, I had no idea how transformative the experience would be. From day one, it has been an amazing and influential learning process that has shaped my skills, perspective, and sense of community in ways I never anticipated. One of the most significant projects I’ve worked…
Details
By Eliana Kazan, Intern If you haven’t seen InsideOut 2 yet, what are you waiting for? This past weekend I had the pleasure of watching the new Pixar movie, Inside Out 2. Although it is a movie directed for a younger audience, the concept is extremely real and mature. If you saw the first Inside…
Details
New York Daily News | June 2, 2024 By Cheryl Roberts As the executive director of the Greenburger Center, I have listened while parents describe the terror and heartbreak of watching a child experience and respond to hallucinations, delusions or visual distortions. I understand not only their heartbreak, but the terror of their children. My…
Details
Originally published on the Huffington Post “Forget your perfect offering — there’s a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”— Leonard Cohen, “Anthem” It is officially Spring and we’re coming up on the holidays of Easter and Passover — a season of hope, renewal, and light. One thing I find very interesting about…
Details
My experience at my school for Random Acts of Kindness Day was extremely inspiring. Throughout the day my fellow ambassadors and I felt the love that a random act of kindness can bring. Our main purpose was to spread positivity to high school students by using the Flawless message and simple acts of kindness. It’s…
Details
With the Super Bowl just around the corner, excitement permeates the air as fans eagerly anticipate the pinnacle of American football. This year’s Super Bowl suite tickets have reached absurd heights, with prices soaring to staggering multi million-dollar amounts. The exorbitant cost has even made the best seats unattainable for family members of some of the…
Details
Dear Flawless Friends, We hope you had a lovely day of Giving Thanks and are ready to head into the holidays with ease and CONFIDENCE! We are thrilled to announce that Confidence Apparel is our Holiday 2023 Giving Sponsor. We met their team at the National Federation of Families Conference where their inspirational clothing was the…
Details
by Guest Blogger, Hannah Garcia When you’re feeling a little down in the dumps, it can be hard to find the motivation to get yourself up and going, in order to do something that will make you feel better. Despite what many people think, there are plenty of mood-boosting activities (that don’t require too much…
Details
The world mourns the passing of Rosalynn Carter, a beloved former First lady of the United States, who has dedicated much of her life to championing the cause of mental health. Mrs. Carter stands a true pioneer in the field of mental health advocacy, leaving an indelible mark on the discourse surrounding this important human…
Details
Collaborative post by Aniya Paige While it’s common to encounter stressors in daily life because of work, school, or family matters, chronic stress is increasingly becoming a health problem across societies. In the United States, for example, the American Psychological Association reveals that long-term stress is at an all-time high, mainly due to collective trauma from health…
Details
What does Flawless or Seeing the Perfection in every person mean to you? As a clumsy little girl, I would make mistakes in dance class almost every time. I would practice in the mirror of my bedroom after class, but could never perfect my technique. After hundreds of falls, picking myself up but never forgiving…
Details
It’s easy to overlook the foundations of a healthy and fulfilling life in a world bustling with modern conveniences. To embark on a journey of long-term wellness, it’s crucial to adopt healthy habits that invigorate your body and nourish your mind and soul. Below, our guest blogger, Dorothy Watson unveils a comprehensive guide to help…
Details
Our outreach day in New Orleans was a deeply fulfilling experience. Throughout the day, we witnessed compassion, connection, and the profound impact that small acts of kindness can have on the lives of others. Our main objective was to spread positivity and offer support to everyone we met. With water bottles in our Flawless insulated…
Details
One of our favorite projects at Flawless is our outreach work, especially at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center where we spread positivity and gratitude to veterans in our community. This is such a rewarding experience because of the genuine and kind responses we receive. Such a small gesture on our part makes a big…
Details
Thursday, May 18th was the third annual Mental Health Action Day. This event was spearheaded by MTV Entertainment Studios and TaskForce with more than 2,000 organizations, brands, government agencies, and cultural leaders collaborating to support this global movement. While May is Mental Health Awareness Month, Mental Health Action Day is an effort to shift the…
Details
Summer is a great opportunity for unwinding and enjoying the sunshine, but it’s also important to make sure you’re taking care of yourself. Self-care is essential all year round, but sometimes the warmer months can be especially demanding, what with all the extra social events on top of your regular commitments. To help you survive…
Details
The 95th Oscars Awards ceremony was a night to remember as mental health took center stage. As we reflect on this year’s Academy Awards, we can’t help but celebrate two standout moments that were shining lights on mental health in such a powerful way. First, the critically acclaimed film Everything Everywhere All At Once swept…
Details
Valentine’s Day is one of our favorite days of the year. For us it’s a time to practice self love and kindness towards those who might not be feeling the love. As we have done in years past, we are dedicating Valentine’s Day to Flawless Love. Today with gratitude, we celebrate the work of the…
Details
By Fiamma van Biema, Flawless Foundation Board Member As one of my favorite philosophers, John Dewey notes, “[it is] an illusion [to…] [be] able to stand and act alone […] a form of insanity which is responsible for a large part of the remediable suffering of the world.” At Flawless Foundation, we see firsthand that…
Details