This week’s Conversation with Goodman guest is Brian Hansell, founder of the Paul Hansell Foundation, which he started in 2010 in memory of his son, Paul, who lost his life to suicide.

“The foundation has been established as a means by which we continue to promote programs that are aimed at the mental and emotional wellbeing of youth,” Brian says.

The Paul Hansell Foundation has important ties to the University through five separate Service-Learning projects at the Goodman School of Business and through a partnership with the Brock University Students’ Union to deliver Wellness Week activities and programming.

The Foundation has also partnered with the Goodman Accounting Students’ Association (ASA) through the Paul Hansell Competition Award which recognizes two accounting students each year who demonstrate active involvement in extracurricular activities and student competitions, much like Paul did.

Brian attended Goodman Business Students’ Association’s Recognition Night recently to present the award and is thankful for the support the Foundation has gained through various affiliations at Brock.

“We’ve been blessed with our association at Brock and there are so many people to thank, there are lot of heroes here,” he said.

In this podcast, Brian announces a new grassroots campaign the Foundation is starting called #ConvoPlate, which aims to start and maintain conversations about mental health. The campaign is a result of a partnership with an art therapy program at the Art Gallery of Burlington. Launching May 5, the campaign will kick off at a student play at Assumption Catholic High School where the first round of plates will be distributed. Recipients are encouraged to take creative photos with the plates and share them on social media to spread awareness.

This podcast is the latest in the Conversations with Goodman series which is produced by the Goodman Marketing, Communications and Alumni Relations team and features guests from the Goodman community.