Charlotte, N.C./Aug. 4, 2023 – Public speaking is one of the most common fears shared amongst people from all walks of life. But Assistant Professor of Communications Arts Dr. Jasmine M. Corbett knows the skill of communication is the key that opens doors to bright futures.
That’s when she decided to partner with her colleagues in the Communications Arts program to start The VoiceOver Project at JCSU in hopes of engaging students in meaningful projects to improve their grades and become more comfortable with communicating.
“Back in the Spring we officially launched The VoiceOver Project here on campus,” said Corbett. “This project-based learning opportunity is meant to connect our students to their surrounding communities, as well help increase their grades, which is a plus!”
Some communications courses are required for all Johnson C. Smith University students. One of those courses dives into the topic of public speaking.
When Corbett noticed interest in the class was slipping, she teamed up with Dr. Rhunette Diggs, Markus Gray and Tiphanie Pate, all members of the Communication Arts staff, as well as George Buggs III, director of Biddle Institute. Together, they formulated the project, which was originally inspired by the Dear Nicheland Project, founded in memory of Nicheland Skipper who took his life at the age of 23 after suffering with depression.
The students in the Summer Biddle Institute Program divided into groups and formulated their own projects that focus on tackling the problem of mental health, especially in college-aged students of color.
“This project resonated with me because there is a significant need for discussions around mental health, especially for Black men,” said freshman Jamal Locke.
“We need to start bringing these conversations into the room,” added Kirsten Cantey. “Many of us have good outlets for dealing with our mental health, but some don’t. If we don’t start having these conversations now, things could bubble up.”
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Black men are statistically less likely to seek treatment through mental health services, resulting in suicide being the third leading cause of death among Black men ages 15 to 24. And, according to John Hopkins Medicine, Black women are also half as likely to seek help when compared to their white counterparts.
In March 2023, JCSU’s Social Work program hosted a Black Men and Mental Health symposium, during which speakers indicated systemic racism and a long history of generational trauma can make it difficult for people of color to find someone they trust to confide in.
But the more than a dozen students who are currently participating in The VoiceOver Project are determined to use their confidence and communication skills to talk about mental health in an effort to destigmatize mental illness, especially amongst communities of color.
The students have focused their efforts on working with Freedom School Partners, Seeds 4 Change, after school programs and the JCSU campus community.
“Although this was an assignment, it didn’t matter about the grade,” said Jaala Ross. “We were excited to be there and, after participating in some activities together, the students opened up about their lives and what they were going through. They knew we were there to help them.”
The group projects ranged from a vlogging platform, posters around campus about mental health, a mentorship program and community Zoom meetings.
The group agreed that focusing their efforts in the classroom on something as important and life-altering as mental health made a real impact on their interest in the class.
“This class has given me a second wind of confidence in the realm of communications,” said Locke.
Another student added that they weren’t very social before starting the class, but learned to put themselves in a mindset of learning how to discuss difficult topics while having the foresight to research and stay knowledgeable in their fields of interest.
The classroom, filled with aspiring psychologists, entrepreneurs, surgeons and performers, has been inspiring to Corbett, who has enjoyed watching her students growing in their public speaking skills while connecting deeply to a topic they all find important.
“What I like most about the project is that, even though the students are nervous, we as professors step back and let them lead,” said Corbett. “I really love seeing how they shine.”
For more information on the Communication Arts program at JCSU, visit the program online.
