Inspiring Hope: Creative Change Counseling Honors Legacy of Hope Through Scholarship
Image courtesy of Creative Change Counseling.
BY SHELJA TOURI | On behalf of Creative Change Counseling Inc.
On Saturday evening, the Westin Hotel in Mount Laurel became a beacon of hope as Creative Change Counseling Inc. (CCC) hosted their Second Annual Christian Jackson Scholarship Banquet. The elegant affair, attended by community members and dignitaries, exemplified the organization’s commitment to “Inspiring Hope and Changing Lives, One Family at a Time.”
The evening’s centerpiece was the presentation of ten $5,000 scholarships—six to high school seniors and four to current college students—representing a $50,000 investment in educational access. Recipients hailed from New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and North Carolina, reflecting CCC’s expanding footprint and community impact.
The scholarship program carries profound significance for CCC’s leadership. During his keynote address titled “The Encounter: A Legacy of an Angel,” Dr. Bertee Thomas Jr., founder and CEO, shared the powerful origin story behind the scholarship fund. He recounted a pivotal moment from CCC’s first Olympic Day event on July 30, 2022, when Christian Jackson delivered an unforgettable message about responsibility: “It’s YOUR responsibility to make sure WE have a good time.”
That encounter fundamentally shifted the organization’s perspective on service and accountability, becoming the foundation for a scholarship program honoring Christian’s memory and perpetuating his values of selflessness and gentle strength.
Dr. Bertee Thomas Jr. (Left), and Kahreem Cunningham (Right) pictured with keynote speaker, City of Beverly councilman and founder of Free All Minds, Riccardo Dale. Photo by Bewear Photograpy and Darwin Williams Photography.
The scholarship program addresses critical educational access challenges across New Jersey, where 338,495 students are enrolled at the state’s 47 colleges and universities. With 58% of American families relying on scholarships to cover college tuition costs, and average in-state tuition reaching $16,000 annually, financial barriers remain significant. The Community Foundation of New Jersey alone awarded over $1.5 million to 276 students last year, demonstrating the substantial need.
CCC’s approach recognizes how educational barriers intersect with mental health challenges. Research shows high school students with depression are twice as likely to drop out, creating cycles where mental health challenges and educational access become intertwined obstacles to success.
While New Jersey leads the nation in meeting mental health professional needs—with 69% of demand met compared to a national average of just 28%—significant challenges remain. Despite having the lowest statewide mental illness prevalence at 16.19%, New Jersey still sees 27.7% of adults experiencing anxiety or depression symptoms. Among teenagers aged 13-17, 34% experience anxiety disorders, 16% face mood disorders, and 20% struggle with behavioral challenges.
CCC’s response reflects their innovative approach to behavioral healthcare—recognizing mental health cannot be addressed through clinical treatment alone. Their licensed clinicians provide evidence-based therapy, intensive in-community services, and specialized substance use disorder treatment, while community programs tackle social determinants that trigger or worsen mental health challenges.
This comprehensive approach is grounded in CCC’s philosophy that all human beings possess innate potential that often lies dormant. The organization’s core values—professionalism, impact, ethics, philanthropy, integrity, and diversity—guide their full continuum of services, from behavioral healthcare to peer recovery programs and therapeutic recreation.
“These scholarship recipients represent more than grades and test scores,” said Mr. Kahreem Cunningham, VP/COO. “They embody the innate potential we believe exists within all human beings. Through this scholarship program, we’re providing the inspiration and tools needed to help them rise above life’s obstacles and transform entire families and communities.”
The evening featured legislative citations from the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly to Dr. Thomas and Cunningham, recognizing their transformative impact on mental healthcare and community development. The citations acknowledged CCC’s remarkable journey from its 2013 spark at a Wegman’s in Mount Laurel—among four visionary founders—to today’s multi-state network spanning behavioral healthcare, substance use treatment, restorative justice programs, and innovative youth centers.
Keynote speaker Councilman Riccardo Dale brought his powerful story of overcoming homelessness, academic failure, and mental health struggles. At 28, Dale leads Free All Minds Academy, which boasts 100% high school graduation and college acceptance rates for boys of color. His organization has distributed over 10,000 meals and helped countless youth access educational opportunities—perfectly aligning with CCC’s community investment values.
CCC’s holistic model produces outcomes extending beyond typical mental health measurements. Their scholarship recipients often emerge from demographics most at risk for educational discontinuation due to mental health challenges—students from families experiencing financial stress and communities with limited resources. The selection process itself serves as intervention, requiring essays on core values that encourage students to articulate goals and connect with strengths during vulnerable transitions.
CCC’s comprehensive approach represents an emerging model bridging traditional clinical treatment with community-based prevention. Their trauma-informed approach extends beyond outpatient services to programs like The HUB’s restorative justice initiatives and The SPOT teen centers, recognizing that mental wellness requires addressing root causes: educational stress, family instability, and community disconnection.
This dual approach—clinical intervention paired with community prevention—positions CCC at the forefront of healthcare delivery treating the whole person within their community context, rather than viewing mental health as isolated medical issues.
Dr. Thomas announced ambitious expansion plans for the scholarship program. The organization has already expanded mental health outpatient services to Baltimore, Maryland, and Houston, Texas, through their Bright Beginnings program in 2025. “Next year, we plan to add five additional scholarships and commit to awarding at least two scholarships in every state we serve.”
This expansion reflects CCC’s recognition that educational access remains critical across all communities they serve, ensuring their investment directly benefits families and youth encountered through their behavioral healthcare programs.
The evening concluded with heartfelt gratitude to the Jackson family for sharing Christian’s legacy. His message of responsibility continues guiding CCC’s work, reminding everyone that with opportunity comes obligation to lift others.
For Creative Change Counseling, the scholarship banquet embodies their revolutionary approach to community mental health and commitment to building a legacy in service to humanity. By recognizing that educational access, family stability, and community connection directly impact psychological wellbeing, they’ve created a model addressing mental health challenges at individual and systemic levels.
Through their comprehensive services—from behavioral healthcare to innovative community initiatives—they demonstrate that true transformation occurs when people are empowered with proper tools, support, and compassion. Christian Jackson’s legacy of responsibility continues guiding this work, reminding everyone that with every life touched, they move closer to fulfilling their vision: inspiring hope and changing lives, one family at a time.
For more information about Creative Change Counseling’s programs and services, visit www.creativechangeinc.org or call 609 667 7354. For Media Relations or to learn about scholarship opportunities or make a donation / sponsorship to the Christian Jackson Scholarship Fund visit www.tinyurl.com/cccscholarshipfund or contact Shelja Touri 609 621 8113 or hello@creativechangeinc.org.
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