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That Good Breaks Down Mental Health Stigmas in Black Creative Communities in Partnership with CAMH
The experiential marketing agency brought together comedian Hassan Phills, Drake producers Boi-1da and Nineteen85, fashion designer Spencer Badu and more for a special Black History Month edition of their Guess Who's Coming to Dinner series at the home of founder Catriona "Coco" Smart.
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In Toronto's music and creative industries, "community" is a term that is often used but rarely thrown into practice.
To wrap up Black History Month, creative agency That Good partnered with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) for a special edition of the intimate event series Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.
The dinner series, which arose out of the pandemic, brings together a special guest with a purposely chosen 30-person guest list of artists, entrepreneurs and creators to foster conversation and build connections around one long table. The event is hosted in the beautiful Forest Hill home of That Good founder and CEO Catriona "Coco" Smart, the experiential marketing company known for being the agency of record for Drake's OVO brand.
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This edition, which took place Thursday night (Feb. 26), was designed with the goal of breaking stigma around mental health in Black communities. The guest list featured artists like top producers Nineteen85 (Drake, Mariah The Scientist, DVSN) and Boi-1da (Drake, Travis Scott, Eminem, Canada Soccer), fashion designer Spencer Badu and CAMH ambassadors and content creators Sherise Cromwell, Jessica Muamba, Tychon Carter and photographer Wade Hudson.

The special guest was comedian Hassan Phills, the fast-rising Scarborough comedian who was recently sampled by Drake & PartyNextDoor on their $ome $exy $ongs 4 U album.
Between courses of the Jamaican-inspired menu of pumpkin velouté and pressed oxtail, he performed a special tableside comedy set that touched on therapy, mental health conversations and receiving a Facebook friend request from his father. His hilarious set combined his relatable Toronto energy with the themes of the evening.

CAMH speakers Dionne Sinclair and Jessica Muamba also spoke about the important mental health services and research CAMH provides, and why cultural sensitivity and awareness is so important in the work they do.
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Smart began the dinner with a welcome speech describing why the night was so important, in music communities and Black communities.
"People of colour don't always talk that much about mental health," she said. "We think we have to shut up and deal with it, to pretend it doesn't exist."
That Good was reeling from their own loss, someone they had worked with in the past who they didn't learn until later was dealing with mental health struggles. They lost her just a week ago.
"That's why it's so important to be in community and talk about these things, even when it seems awkward and uncomfortable," she shared, noting that even she felt it speaking in her own home. "Sometimes it's just a conversation to let you know you matter and you have someone to listen to. Everyone matters here."

Each table setting included a conversation prompt about mental health, like how to create a "safety net" of friends and family. There was also a card where attendees could write words of encouragement for other guests, which would get mailed to them following the event.
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Conversation flowed easily throughout the night, keeping a light and celebratory tone without shying away from difficult topics.
"Closing out Black History Month surrounded by Black excellence, allies, and real family energy felt incredibly special," said That Good's Donneyha Ellis in an email following the event. "The openness in the room, the willingness to speak honestly about mental health in our community, and the love everyone showed one another...felt like a step toward removing stigma in real time. These conversations have not always been easy or encouraged in Black spaces, which is why watching you all lean in with such vulnerability and care meant so much."
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Supported by sponsors Deciem and OLLY, the evening was an energizing reminder that even for artists at the top of the global charts, the foundation of success remains human connection.
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Published by ARTSHOUSE MEDIA GROUP (AMG) under license from Billboard Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Media Corporation.
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