Lt. Governor Aruna Miller Joins David Banner, AAMWA, Movember for Real Men Real Talk at M&T Bank Stadium
Free event brings Baltimore men together for an evening of honest conversations about mental health, personal challenges and brotherhood.
BALTIMORE, MD — Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller joined the African American Male Wellness Agency (AAMWA), Movember, artist, actor, and mental health advocate David Banner, and over 100 community members Thursday evening at M&T Bank Stadium for Real Men Real Talk, AAMWA’s national initiative focused on creating space for Black men to have honest conversations about mental health, wellness and the challenges they face.
Lt. Governor Miller welcomed AAMWA and its partners to Baltimore and highlighted the Moore-Miller Administration’s work to improve the health and well-being of men and boys across Maryland, including the state’s Young Men and Boys Initiative.
“Too many men are taught to carry their challenges quietly, when connection and conversation can make all the difference,” said Lt. Governor Aruna Miller. “Through our Young Men and Boys Initiative, we’re giving families, mentors and communities the tools to recognize when someone is struggling and reach them before they reach a crisis. Real Men Real Talk is what that support looks like in action. Thank you to the African American Male Wellness Agency, Movember, and everyone creating spaces like this for Black men across Baltimore.”
Led and coordinated by the Governor’s Office for Children, Maryland’s Young Men and Boys Initiative represents an all-of-government response to concerning data trends showing young men and boys are falling behind in key areas. The Initiative strives to ensure young men and boys in the state of Maryland have the tools, relationships, and opportunities to reach their full potential.
To improve outcomes, the Initiative is organized around three strategic pillars where the data show boys and young men are struggling: ensuring they are mentally and physically healthy, prepared to compete in a diverse economy, and engaged in their families and local communities.
As part of that work, the Maryland Department of Health and Movember recently developed the Supporting Young Men & Boys wellness guide. The guide provides practical tools to help families, friends, mentors, and community members recognize signs of distress, start conversations, encourage help-seeking, and connect young people with mental health and wellness resources. It emphasizes the importance of regular check-ins, trusted relationships, connection and belonging.
“For more than 20 years, Movember has seen that some of the most important conversations about men’s health happen outside a doctor’s office — between friends, families, teammates, mentors, and within communities,” said Movember Co-Founder Travis Garone. “We’re proud to stand alongside Lieutenant Governor Miller and leaders across Maryland who are helping turn those conversations into action and making sure men and boys know where to turn when they need support.”
“We’re grateful to Lieutenant Governor Miller for joining us in Baltimore and for the Moore-Miller Administration’s leadership in supporting the health and well-being of Maryland’s men and boys,” said Movember U.S. Country Director Tim Gnaneswaran. “We’re especially proud to partner with the Maryland Department of Health on the new Supporting Young Men & Boys wellness guide, which gives families, friends, and communities practical tools to recognize when someone may be struggling, start a conversation, and connect them with support. Maryland is showing what’s possible when government and community partners work together to better reach and support men and boys.”
That work is particularly important in communities where exposure to violence can take a significant toll on mental and emotional health. According to Baltimore’s Community Health Needs Assessment, the city’s homicide rate is 43 per 100,000 residents, compared with nine statewide, and its firearm fatality rate is nearly four times the state and national rates. The assessment also identified a connection between high levels of community violence and poor mental health, with 38% of Black respondents naming mental health as a top community health concern.
Mental health challenges also disproportionately affect young men across Maryland. From 2018 through 2024, males accounted for 80% of suicide deaths among Marylanders under age 30. The Moore-Miller Administration’s work emphasizes reaching young men earlier, strengthening the people and communities around them, and making it easier to seek help before a challenge becomes a crisis.
“Real Men Real Talk is about creating a space where Black men can be honest about what they’re experiencing and the challenges they’re facing,” said African American Male Wellness Agency President Kenny R. Hampton. “David Banner has made our mission his own, encouraging Black men to Get Checked Out, Not Checked In and prioritize their health for themselves, their families and Baltimore.”
During the event, participants discussed mental and emotional well-being, the pressures facing men, and the importance of asking for and accepting help. Banner joined the conversation to share his own experiences and encourage men to prioritize their health and support one another.
The event is part of a multi-day activation leading up to Black Men’s Wellness Day taking place Saturday, September 26, which will provide free health screenings to men across the Baltimore community. Tickets can be acquired here and are free.
Real Men Real Talk is made possible through the support of Movember, Novartis, Bayer, Genentech, Dexcom, and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. Their support helps AAMWA bring preventive health and mental wellness resources directly to Baltimore residents.
For a video of the Lt. Governor’s remarks and b-roll from the event, please reach out to [email protected] and AAMWA Director of Communications and Public Relations La’Var Howell at [email protected].
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Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller
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About the African American Male Wellness Agency (AAMWA)
The African American Male Wellness Agency is a national nonprofit organization committed to improving the health outcomes and quality of life of African American men and families through education, prevention, advocacy, and culturally responsive programming. AAMWA works collaboratively with community partners to address health disparities and promote holistic wellness.
About Movember
Movember is the leading global movement working to change the face of men’s health. Since 2003, Movember’s community has raised nearly $1.5 billion, funding over 1,320 projects in mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer.
Committed to redefining the future of men’s health, Movember works alongside community members and expert partners to drive innovative research and scale evidence-based programs that address the most complex challenges facing boys, men and society today. To learn more, please visit Movember.com.