Stronger Than Stigma

05/17/2026

We did it. Actually, *you* did it. Thank you for buying the tickets, marking your calendars, and making plans to join us TOMORROW for our 4th edition of “Concert + Conversation.”

It’s gonna be rad 🤘 and even more so because every. seat. will. be. filled. for our SOLD OUT show!!! and .cat are going to knock your socks off—we can’t wait to make super-fans outta you!

Special shout out to our Believers: and ; and our Friends: for sponsoring our event and making all the details possible.

And to The Patron Saint of Music, … thank you for everything you do to help artists (and us!) succeed and grow under your roof 🙏🙌🫶 4EVA 🪩💙🔥 Let’s do this!!!!

05/06/2026

Now would be a great time to buy your tickets...
Hopefully, we'll see ya there 🕺💃

T-minus 12 days, baby!!

Stronger Than Stigma's signature event is back! Celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month with great people and great music.

04/26/2026

We “Mic’d up for Mental Health” with tonight. Michelle Pargman has been on our Advisory Council since Day 1; we’re so proud to support her as she works to raise awareness for , honoring the legacy of her late nephew, Manny, who loved all things music and karaoke. Grateful for the opportunity to spread the word about our upcoming Concert + Conversation event on Sunday, May 17th. Special thanks to our volunteer for manning the table and sharing our mission. Get your tix now and we’ll see you there! 💫

Peep the moment we saw Michelle & she saw us 🤩😍🥰 (candid camera for the win!!!)

05/14/2025

Meet our Mental Health Champion, Dr. Kent Wenger! He's been a member of our Advisory Council since Stronger Than Stigma®'s inception in 2013. He's kind of a celebrity in STS lore...he is our resident "Myth-Buster." After wowing an audience of 70 students at our first-ever event at UF in Gainesville, we kept him on speed-dial. A captivating speaker, an amazing listener, and an all-around encouraging human is who this person is. He saves lives daily, but that might not even come up in conversation. Thank you, Dr. Wenger!!

Read more about what makes him awesome:
Dr. Wenger is a private practice psychiatrist in Gainesville, FL and staff psychiatric consultant to the VA in Lake City, FL. He graduated from the University of California, Irvine's College of Medicine and did his residency at the University of Florida (Go Gators!). He's also a diplomate on the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He specializes in mood, anxiety, psychosis, and the human equation, using psychotherapy integrated with psychopharmacotherapy, with a special interest in hypnotherapy.

Read more about what makes him awesome:
Dr. Wenger is a private practice psychiatrist in Gainesville, FL and staff psychiatric consultant to the VA in Lake City, FL. He graduated from the University of California, Irvine's College of Medicine and did his residency at the University of Florida (Go Gators!). He's also a diplomate on the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He specializes in mood, anxiety, psychosis, and the human equation, using psychotherapy integrated with psychopharmacotherapy, with a special interest in hypnotherapy.

05/14/2025

Meet our Mental Health Champion! We are excited to honor Dennis Chan for his dedication to Stronger Than Stigma® over the years. This man has the biggest heart and has been in our corner since Day 1. He used to host our Board Meetings, feed us, and made us feel like part of the family. His unwavering commitment to mental health and to STS in particular is amazing. Thank you, Dennis!!

Read more about what makes him awesome:
Dennis Chan has been cooking since he was old enough to stand on a stepstool and watch his grandfather prepare meals in the family’s restaurant on the Southside of Jacksonville.

Seeing his grandfather add a unique twist by marrying modern American flavors with traditional Chinese ingredients fascinated young Dennis. And his food-centric upbringing sparked a passion for cooking that led him to the University of Florida and then the Culinary Institute of America. Following international travel, working in guest relations at the WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT, Managing restaurants, and an internship at Chef Ming Tsai’s Blue Ginger in Boston, he returned to his hometown and embarked on a successful career as a chef and restaurateur. He launched Blue Bamboo in 2005 and has been delighting a devoted clientele ever since.

Chef Dennis, also the bestselling author of Hip Asian Comfort Food, and Let’s Eat, is the 2018 winner of General Mills’ Neighborhood to Nation Recipe Contest and a frequent volunteer for community events such as Caring Chefs, which raises money annually to benefit Children’s Home Society. He and his wife Elizabeth are the proud parents of two boys.

05/14/2025

Meet our next Mental Health Champion! We are excited to honor Marvin Carter for his dedication to Stronger Than Stigma® over the years. Without even knowing who we were and what we stood for, Marvin put in HOURS to make a long-distance dream of ours a reality. Quite literally, TLR NYC would not have happened without you, Marvin! We are eternally grateful to you and to the angels who brought you into STS' life in the nick of time!

Read more about what makes him awesome:
Born in New Haven, Connecticut and grew up in Roanoke, Virginia. Graduated from high school and began working with Roanoke City transportation department. Met my beautiful wife in 2007 and relocated to Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina. Attended North Carolina Dental School and began working in the dental field. Spent the majority of my career in both transportation and dentistry. Started Axe and Ladder in 2022, living out every little boy's dream of having a fire truck. Continue to provide care and comfort to people in dentistry and fun and laughter to those on the Firetruck (rent it for all your firetruck party needs)!

05/13/2025

Meet our Mental Health Champion! We are excited to honor Dr. Chelsea Toler (she got her PhD, y'all!!) for her dedication to Stronger Than Stigma® over the years. This woman jumps in to help with her whole heart and it's evident in everything she does...case in point: she's flying in to be present for us and to receive her award IRL. The warm & fuzzies are alive and well. Thank you for being who you are and for taking STS with you wherever you go!

Read more about what makes her awesome:
Passion for supporting impact movements and accelerating impact journeys through community building and education has been the driving force behind Chelsea Toler’s career. Chelsea has always been excited about lifelong learning and helping the learner’s journey to ensure they have access to the mentorship, capital, technology, and support tools they need to succeed. Chelsea serves as the President of her Family’s Foundation focused on supporting sustainable philanthropy, next gen education, and intergenerational impact collaborations worldwide. Their newest initiative is focused on launching Logic Centers for Peace, Purpose, and Prosperity alongside some of the world’s leading philanthropic families. Chelsea also serves as the Co-Founder for Logictry focused on elevating a global network of top experts elevating human reasoning in the era of AI.

Chelsea grew up in Austin, TX where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Texas. Chelsea received her PhD in Professional Adult and Community Education with a research focus on next gen women inheritors. Chelsea has been able to help move $100+ million towards impact initiatives in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and served as the first fundraising team member for I Live Here I Give Here where she helped to raise $20+ million in 24 hours for 750 nonprofit organizations as a part of the Amplify Austin Day campaign.

It is most important to Chelsea that unparalleled next gen leaders like Gabrielle Magid have access to the mentorship, education, technology, expertise communities, capital resources, and platforms necessary to reach their full potential and to share their purpose with the world.

05/13/2025

Meet our Mental Health Champion! We are excited to honor Mr. Daniel Davis for his dedication to Stronger Than Stigma® over the years. Having a mentor, advocate AND friend in the business community is special. Daniel has shown unwavering support for STS and its innovative approach to mental health, especially for next gens. Just ask him to pitch what we do... you'll be sold! Thank you for everything, Daniel--you rock.

Read more about what makes him awesome:
Daniel was named President and CEO in 2013 and his focus on promoting business-friendly policy, growing an entrepreneurial culture and reaching out to our entire community has led to significant membership increases during his tenure.
Prior to joining the Chamber, Daniel was executive director of the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA), Florida’s largest local membership trade association representing the building and construction industry in Duval, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties.

Daniel previously served on the Jacksonville City Council and was elected President of the Council in 2007 – the youngest person to serve in this capacity. He also served for four years in the State House of Representatives representing District 15, which encompasses parts of Duval County.

Daniel serves on the board of several local and statewide organizations, including Space Florida, First Coast YMCA and the Monique Burr Foundation.

Daniel is married to his wife of 27 years, Rebekah Davis and they have 4 children.

05/13/2025

Meet our Mental Health Champion! We are excited to honor Eboné Holloway for her dedication to Stronger Than Stigma® over the years. She is a gift to all who know her and being a Mental Health Advocate is part of her DNA; she's been "all in" since learning about STS' unique mission that focuses on millennials (and all the next gens to come!). Eboné camped out TLR NYC showing her support daily, helped rally the community and even made sure her Mama got to experience the magic. We love you, Eboné, and we'll be singing your praises here in JAX on Thursday! Thank you for everything!!