Today we’d like to introduce you to Marilee Albert.
ONE VILLAGE GREEN is a nonprofit organization which promotes mental health and wellness in American kids and communities.
Founder: Marilee Albert.
About Marilee: Born and raised in LA, Marilee graduated from Yale University with degrees in philosophy and film studies, then worked in the film business in Paris, Rome and New York before returning to her hometown. Today she is a married mother of two, as well as a screenwriter, author, and mental health activist.
She started One Village Green™ for many reasons: the alarming rise in youth suicide, mass shootings, and homelessness, the lack of affordable mental health care (few in the field take insurance), and the overall diminishment of community in the United States.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My team and I are just getting started – we’re a relatively new organization. Talking about our plans, and supporting each other hasn’t been as difficult as genuine legislative change will be – but we are up to the challenge.
Parenting is hard on a good day – not to mention the quarantine, which has put an added strain on everyone. The challenges my friends and I have faced every step of the way was one of many motivating factors for starting One Village Green. Throughout my own parenting journey, I’ve discovered that (as corny as this might sound) it really does take a village to raise a child. Without community, I wouldn’t have had as easy (or as healthy) a time of it. And the journey is far from over… it lasts a lifetime (I’ve heard).
Please tell us about OneVillageGreen:
The mental health system in our country is in desperate need of reform, and the mental health of our youth so crucial to the betterment of society and its evolution. It crosses all socioeconomic, ethnic, religious (and every other) lines. Everyone – red, blue, liberal, conservative, progressive, as well as all nationalities and ethnicities – can agree: Children are our greatest resource, and their well-being our collective priority.
ONEVILLAGEGREEN™:
- Creates CONTENT: (TV, film, digital) — to inspire kids to make life-affirming choices. So much our children are exposed to these days is negative. OVG produces content across all media to explore sometimes dark and difficult themes, but with a conscious, positive intent.
- Builds better COMMUNITIES to support parents and children who might be going through a difficult period. No family should ever fall through societal nets – yet so many do. And many need support navigating often difficult-to-find mental health resources. Additionally, few in the field take insurance. We plan to address this problem legislatively. Our goal is for every parent in America to be one phone call away from mental health support in a crisis, or if just having a bad day (even healthy and high-achieving kids and families need support). We intend to provide anything a family might need for better mental health – resources, money, doctors, a therapist, a facility, or just a sympathetic ear.
- Forges COMMITMENT: by lawmakers to make mental health a priority – to increase funding for suicide prevention in our youth and reform mental health legislation. It’s long overdue. There are many ways our state and federal laws need to change to better support not just the mental health of our youth, but our collective mental health.
One Village Green™ is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit. All donations go to funding mental health support across a wide variety of platforms. Let’s work together to provide much-needed change.
Contact Info:
- Address: 23371 MULHOLLAND DRIVE Unit 359 LA CA 91364
- Phone: 3104354737
- Email: onevillagegreen@gmail.com
- Instagram: @onevillagegreen or @marileealbert
Image Credit:
Lauren Frances
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