From November 2011 through February 2012, MEE implemented Black Males Engaged and Empowered (B-MEE), a MEE/NStar Life pilot project aimed at overcoming the stigma among African American male adolescents and young adults associated with discussing mental wellness. The community outreach project, partially funded by the Scattergood Behavioral Health Foundation, used MEE’s trauma-informed CATs model to disseminate important behavioral health information in low-resource neighborhoods. A team of up to 20 young African-American males ages 17-21 worked on evenings and weekends doing peer-level community outreach in several zip codes that have low rates of usage of the City’s existing behavioral health services, and high unemployment, dropout and community violence rates. These were identified in conjunction with the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disabilities.

Through initial training and weekly "booster" sessions, the CATs members were prepared to engage Philadelphia youth and young adults in dialogue about 1) protective factors, positive coping strategies and mental wellness, with the goals of preventing mental health issues by promoting psychological strengths; and 2) overcoming the stigma associated with using behavioral health services. High-traffic locations in the targeted areas were serviced multiple times during the course of the outreach efforts.

MEE’s in-house multimedia design team developed and printed thousands of customized postcards that were distributed during outreach. The team also developed an interactive Website (www.meeproductions.com/bmee) where youth and young adults in Philadelphia went for more comprehensive information about mental wellness, along with a dedicated Facebook page. Youth were actively engaged in a "by and for" process in which their input and feedback was incorporated into the messages, focused on four primary content areas: promote physical and mental well-being; promote safety and peaceful environments; have a life plan; and engaging the system. Members of B-MEE's Community Action Team (CATs) also disseminated mental health content messages via text to their peer social networks, using the innovative GOBA (Go Out, Be Active) communications platform.