The HEAL and RISE initiative expands into a tri-country movement supporting youth and women’s mental health through expanded awareness, advocacy, and community programs across three nations, by Beyond The Call 24/7.
— Beyond The Call 24 7, Inc. (BTC), a New York City-based nonprofit organization, has announced the international expansion of HEAL & RISE, a 2026 initiative centered on youth and women’s mental health. What began as a New York City convening has grown into a tri-country movement connecting communities in New York City, Scarborough, Canada, and Trinidad and Tobago, while extending across Europe through an immersive art collaboration that debuted in Warsaw, Poland.
The announcement marks a significant evolution for the organization, founded by Ozzie Stewart to extend the impact of the HARD ISSUES segment of the On The Call with Ozzie podcast. BTC operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and serves as the advocacy arm of the On The Call Podcast Network, addressing six interconnected areas of impact: abuse, addiction, human trafficking, homelessness, animal welfare, and climate change.
From Podcast Conversations to a Movement
For more than a decade, Ozzie Stewart has used her platform as host of On The Call with Ozzie to share conversations celebrating gratitude, Caribbean heritage, and the resilience of the human spirit. As those conversations increasingly explored abuse, addiction, trafficking, homelessness, and mental health, listeners began asking for more than awareness. They wanted community, hope, and practical ways to make a difference.
That realization led to the founding of Beyond The Call 24 7, built on a straightforward belief that awareness alone is not enough, and that stories should inspire action, healing, and lasting change.
“Healing begins when someone feels seen, heard, and reminded they are not alone,” said Ozzie Stewart, founder of Beyond The Call 24 7.
A New Model for Community Healing
What distinguishes BTC is its approach to healing as a shared, sensory experience. Rather than hosting a conventional conference, BTC creates immersive convenings designed to engage all five senses. Attendees do not simply listen to speakers. They experience healing through all five senses through powerful storytelling, survivor testimony, visual art, live music, Caribbean cuisine, film, meaningful dialogue, fellowship, a healing exercise and celebration.
The organization believes healing can be both deeply reflective and deeply joyful, and that shared experiences create the conditions for lasting connection. Each gathering is designed to reduce stigma, foster resilience, and encourage meaningful action long after the event concludes.
“We do not simply host events. We create experiences where conversations become connections, and connections become community,” Stewart said.
HEAL & RISE is a celebration! Stewart believes healing should not only acknowledge pain, but also celebrate hope, resilience, culture, music, laughter, and the joy of rebuilding community together. “We don’t gather because life is easy. We gather because healing is easier when we don’t do it alone.”
The Personal Story Behind HEAL & RISE
The inspiration behind this year’s initiative became deeply personal for Stewart. Someone she has known for nearly twenty years experienced a severe mental health crisis, and walking beside her through that journey reshaped her understanding of both mental health and caregiving.
Watching her progress from asking “What’s the use?” to “What’s my purpose?” reinforced a central truth that now drives the organization’s work. Healing is rarely a straight path, and the family members, friends, and caregivers who quietly carry the weight alongside those in crisis often need support and healing as well.
“Healing isn’t only about recovering from pain. It’s also about rediscovering joy, purpose and community.”
A Tri-Country Movement and The Healing Room
On September 24, 2026, HEAL & RISE expanded from a single New York City gathering into an international effort connecting three communities: TD Bank in New York City, for the second year, Changa House in Scarborough, Canada, and NAPA in Trinidad and Tobago. Each location reflects BTC’s roots in New York City and its inspiration drawn from Caribbean heritage, while bridging communities that are often overlooked in national mental health conversations.
The movement has also extended into Europe through The Healing Room, an immersive collaboration with internationally acclaimed artist Anne Plaisance. The installation debuted in Warsaw, Poland, and additional exhibitions are planned across the continent, including future installations in London and Paris.
“What began as one conversation has become a growing international movement connecting New York City, Scarborough, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, and now Europe through the shared language of healing,” Stewart said.
Details, photographs, articles, and a video recap from the organization’s 2025 proof-of-concept convening, Healing Abuse, are available on the Beyond The Call 24 7 events page.
Early Bird tickets and additional information are available through the HEAL & RISE Viewcy.com event page.
Building Cross-Sector Partnerships
BTC intentionally brings together healthcare, business, education, government, nonprofit organizations, artists, and community leaders. The organization believes that lasting solutions require collaboration across disciplines rather than isolated efforts, and that no single sector can address the scope of the mental health challenges facing communities today.
“HEAL & RISE is built on a simple belief: healing is not something we do alone. It happens when we choose to show up for one another,” Stewart said.
Measuring Impact Beyond Attendance
For Beyond The Call 24 7, success is measured by the conversations that continue after a convening concludes, the partnerships formed between organizations, the resources shared among participants, and the lives affected long after people leave the room.
Mental health remains one of the defining public health and community challenges of the current era. Across every generation and community, people are searching for spaces where they can feel heard, supported, and connected. BTC believes that healing begins when those spaces are created intentionally.
“Our goal is not simply to raise awareness. It is to inspire action, create hope, and build communities where healing becomes part of everyday life,” Stewart said.
Looking Ahead
The vision for Beyond The Call 24 7 extends well beyond 2026. The organization is working to create a sustainable international platform where communities can gather, learn, heal, and inspire one another throughout the year rather than through a single annual event.
Plans call for continued growth throughout North America, the Caribbean, Europe, and beyond, with additional convenings, exhibitions, and partnerships in development. At its core, BTC remains focused on a shared belief that connects every community it serves.
“Ultimately, our story is not about one organization or one founder. It is about building a global community where every conversation has the potential to restore hope, strengthen relationships, and remind people that no one should have to heal alone,” Stewart said.
About Beyond The Call 24 7, Inc.
Beyond The Call 24 7, Inc. is a New York City-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming awareness into action through storytelling, education, collaboration, and community engagement. As the advocacy arm of the On The Call Podcast Network, the organization addresses abuse, addiction, human trafficking, homelessness, animal welfare, and climate change. BTC accepts tax-deductible donations and adheres to equal opportunity principles. Information on its mission, team, annual report, sponsors, and donation options is available at the official website. Additional updates and content can be found through its YouTube channel and Instagram page. For inquiries, contact beyondthecall23@gmail.com.
Contact Info:
Name: Ozzie Stewart
Email: Send Email
Organization: Beyond The Call 24 7, Inc.
Website: https://beyondthecall23.org
Release ID: 89200015
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