Resident Leader Pioneers New Ways to Support Community Mental Health

March 1, 2022

In honor of Black History Month, Palm Health Foundation is spotlighting a resident leader in our Healthier Together network who is pioneering new ways to support community mental health and overall wellbeing. 

Kenya Madison, senior director of Healthier Delray Beach, a Palm Health Foundation initiative, has spent much of her life dedicated to service. A resident of Delray Beach’s “The Set” neighborhood, the city’s historic Black community, Kenya has focused on erasing the stigma of mental health, providing support to children and youth, and serving as a pioneer to create new channels for people to get the help they need in community-based settings—our schools and the faith community. 


In her early career, Kenya spent nearly two decades working in Delray Beach’s schools as a certified school counselor, and later as a specialist with the Department of Safe Schools assisting with the development of the School District’s School Behavioral Health framework. In her current role, she has been a leader in integrating mental health in the faith community of The Set and was recently invited to work with the Faith-Based Mental Health Initiative on a national virtual conference, presenting the nation's top psychologists, practitioners and individuals with lived experience to discuss the positive effect of faith on mental health. 


Kenya’s vision: A community in which access to mental health services is as common as urgent care centers on every corner. 


“When you don’t know what to do, there is someone who can help you make it to tomorrow. And no matter where you start, there is someone to ask how you are doing and help listen for the answer.” – Kenya Madison 

October 27, 2026
Three artists, a room full of caregivers, and a sway that follows them home.
October 19, 2026
As OJ says, “Sometimes, just showing up with patience and kindness can make all the difference.”
October 19, 2026
Community Greening has planted more than 30,000 trees in South Florida. Some of the volunteers were sent by their therapists.
October 19, 2026
Grace Notes Music Foundation is proving that music isn't just an art form—it’s brain science.
October 13, 2026
Reception unites nursing, mental health, and behavioral health students with the donors and fundholders investing in their education 
September 26, 2026
Dr. Roger L. Duncan III and Elisa Cramer join board of trustees; Dr. Paul Rashid appointed to Community Investment Committee
September 25, 2026
The Mike McNamara Scholarship Fund at Palm Health Foundation became her lifeline.
September 24, 2026
"Connected Along the Brain Coast" campaign brings brain science out of the lab and into Palm Beach County communities this October
August 26, 2026
New initiative activates South Florida's Brain Coast to help close 17-year gap between scientific discovery and impact. 
May 28, 2026
Aspen Institute spotlighted BeWellPBC , a Palm Beach County behavioral health movement supported by Palm Health Foundation, and their Community Connectors , a group of advocates that help improve the health and wellbeing of their neighborhoods by serving as a bridge between residents and private and public health services.  These Community Connectors are deeply trusted and have helped their communities navigate complex health challenges – like when one neighbor didn’t know what to do when her husband was admitted to a nursing home as his dementia worsened.