PEORIA ( 25News Now ) - A local group is changing the conversation around mental health-especially among Black and brown men.

The Gro Community Mental Health Organization is focused on culturally grounded care. Leaders there aim to create safe spaces for Black and brown men to be heard, understood, and supported.

The group said its mission is simple: remove stigma, rebuild trust, and provide healing that meets real-life struggles, from emotional trauma to the pressures of daily survival.

After the tragic death of Dallas Cowboys Defensive End Marshawn Kneeland, it’s a reminder for Aaron Mallory, founder of Gro, that even at the highest levels, mental health can be silent and unseen.

“The leading cause of death for black boys between the ages of 0 and 35 is homicide,” Mallory said.

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