Throughout the year, MusiCares partners with providers of all kinds to bring vital services to the music community nationwide. These providers often generously offer their services to MusiCares at a reduced rate, allowing MusiCares to serve even more music people in need.

One of those providers is Licensed Clinical Social Worker Gary T. Taylor, owner of Uphold 31:8 and creator of Goodfellaz Project, a support group for Black men to focus on their mental health. His partnership with MusiCares began in May of 2024, providing a virtual safe space for Black men working in music to connect, vent and heal as a part of the Goodfellaz Project.

As a part of our "Provider Spotlight" series, MusiCares highlights Gary Taylor with an interview that dives deeper into his journey to social work and expertise on mental health and the Black Music Community.

How did you first become interested in social work?

I became interested in social work during my undergraduate studies at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, Virginia. I majored in Psychology and was looking for a Master's level program where I could expand my education and enter into a field that did not box me into one way of helping people. I then took an elective in Social Work 101, which set me on the path to pursuing the social work profession.

Why is mental health and stress management important to you, and how do you encourage others to prioritize it?

Mental health and stress management are essential to me because I know firsthand how not caring for those things affects you. Stress management, while trying to balance many aspects of life, can negatively affect our mental and physical health. It can lead to mental health disorders and medical conditions. We must learn how to manage stress for good mental health. If not, it will affect other areas of our lives.

The Goodfellaz Project provides Black men with a safe space to focus on and vent about their mental health and struggles. Can you tell us more about your approach and what inspires you?

Goodfellaz Project is a peer-style support group for Black men to vent and heal. I strategically left mental health out of marketing and promotional materials because I believe the stigma of mental health undermines the issues we need to work on. 

Ultimately, it is a space to discuss all the stressors Black men face. Doing so lets them know they are not alone in what they are dealing with and can provide coping tools. I am inspired by the different brothas I meet, sharing their stories and learning that they are not the only ones going through some of these life stressors. 

For many people, therapy can at first feel intimidating. How have you been able to create an environment that helps your clients feel both comfortable and safe?

My most significant strategy is establishing client trust, safety and rapport. I also provide some self-disclosure, assuring them that what they are feeling is normal, and I, too, also felt the same when starting therapy. Constant check-ins throughout our time together and providing them with choices in how they want their sessions to run has helped create a safe environment for Black men.

How did you first hear about MusiCares? What similarities do you see between your mission and MusiCares' mission?

I was not aware MusiCares existed until they found me. Theresa [Wolters, Vice President of Health and Human Services] reached out to me through a LinkedIn post I made, and my friend in Portland shared it. The power of networking! 

I was intrigued as I researched and learned more about the program. We both share similarities in wanting to help individuals gain access to care in a streamlined manner. We both are advocates and seem prime to address barriers around assisting people to reach the resources they need to live a healthy life. 

What can Black Music Professionals expect to learn or discover about themselves during MusiCares' sessions in partnership with Goodfellaz?

They can expect to learn new ways to address stress or build off existing coping mechanisms they have learned. They can also expect comrades amongst Black men and a shared understanding that they are not alone. Lastly, they will discover that it is ok to be vulnerable and it's OK to not be OK.  

Stay tuned to MusiCares' socials for more info on upcoming Goodfellaz sessions: @MusiCares on Instagram, Facebook, X | @MusiCaresFoundation on LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok

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