Today we’d like to introduce you to Lamar Purnell.
Hi Lamar, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Lamar Purnell, and I started Live Benevolent alongside my business partner, Lavell Allen because I wanted to be a part of the change I envisioned for my community.
I was raised in the inner city of Baltimore, and I have watched many individuals suffer from poverty, drug abuse, violence, and many other painful things.
Many fail to realize the long-lasting effects of enduring these struggles, which take an immense toll on mental health and development. I realized that individuals in my community, including myself, acted as if these things we experienced were normal and never sought professional help. We were taught to just get through it and deal with it because it is normal; it is life. Since this trauma goes unaddressed, the effects of it continue to be passed down from generation to generation.
I have been a victim of passed down effects of trauma and unaddressed poor mental health. For generations, my family has endured the “normal” struggles previously mentioned. Even my entrance into this world was riddled with difficulties. I was a preterm infant born at five months that weighed two pounds eleven ounces, and the odds of my survival were slim.
A few weeks after my birth, I was stable and doing okay. Because of this, my mother was able to breathe a little easier until she found out her teenage son was murdered. He was a victim of gun violence, as many young men in our city still are today. The agony of these events haunted her and caused her to desperately search for an escape from her suffering. Feeling as if she had nowhere to turn for comfort, she began using drugs. The most hurtful thing about all of this was that it was normal. Most people in our community would not bat an eye at this because it is so common to lose loved ones to gun violence and live with substance abuse.
I am someone who wholeheartedly believes that everyone has control over their future, but l have had many despairing nights. Nights when I cried because I felt like I did not have control and could not do anything about my circumstances. I felt as if I was cursed and doomed to the same misery as everyone I knew. Nonetheless, I prayed, and I grind harder than I ever thought I could to beat the odds that were stacked against me. I told myself I would never be a VICTIM of my circumstances but a CHAMPION of them.
Eight years ago, my friends and I were inspired by the community we felt was severely neglected, and that’s when the idea of Live Benevolent was created. We wanted to help make a difference because we knew what it was like to feel lost, hopeless, and hurt. Fast forward to today, I am still carrying the same vision and doing what I can to help the community. Through Live Benevolent, we can tackle many of the issues our community has been facing for generations.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My entrepreneurial journey has been far from smooth. My business partner and I started Live Benevolent right before the pandemic began, an unforeseen hurdle that significantly impacted our operations. The pandemic’s prolonged duration caught us off guard, leaving our clinic with open doors and a scarcity of clients for weeks.
In response, we were forced to go door to door in some of the hardest-hit communities affected by the pandemic to inform them about our services. This experience proved to be both a blessing and a curse. On the positive side, it forced us to go out in the community, speak to people face to face, and let them know we were there to help with anything they needed, which allowed us to learn exactly what we could do to support the community. However, the downside was that many people felt lost and unsure about what the future holds when it pertained to the support they received before the pandemic. With a lot of places physically being shut down, the services provided by those places weren’t as accessible, which left people frustrated and angry.
Financial struggles compounded our challenges, stemming from the lack of clients and, at times, misguided decisions. Each day felt like a relentless battle for survival, testing our resilience. At the age of 24, on the verge of 25, the pressure was intense, reminding me of the challenges I faced growing up in an underserved community. Before starting the business, life was just getting good for me. I had a decent-paying job, and I just bought a house. And now all I could think about is that I’m going to lose everything I work for thus far and be financially damaged for years to come if I fail.
Despite contemplating the idea of giving up, the fear of living with regret kept me going. I would have always thought about what things could have been if I had seen things through. Furthermore, I had people depending on me, such as my clients and my staff, and I did not want to be the reason why they fell on hard times. So, I shifted my mindset. I stopped worrying about everything that was going wrong or could have gone wrong and decided to focus on everything that could go right if I continued to push through the tough times.
Thankfully, my business partner, Lavell, shared the same determination. We had already lost business partners, and giving up and regrouping didn’t seem like a bad option during that time, considering we had invested everything into Live Benevolent, and things still weren’t going well. I had invested my savings, 401k, and almost every check I received at my full-time job to make things work, and he had done the same.
Between juggling a full-time job and eventually quitting to focus solely on law school and Live Benevolent, our progress wouldn’t have happened without committing to the process and trusting that everything would work itself out. I would like to give a huge shoutout to our staff, consultants, mentors, and family and friends for their rock-solid support. We couldn’t have made it this far without them.
We’ve been impressed with Live Benevolent Behavioral Health Services, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Live Benevolent is a behavioral health clinic located at 6609 Reisterstown Rd. Ste 205. Baltimore, MD 21215. We offer outpatient mental health services, substance use disorder services, and psychiatric rehabilitation services for children, adolescents, and adults. Live Benevolent mission is to promote a healthy and productive lifestyle through individual, couple, family, and group psychotherapy. Our services are delivered by licensed therapists, psychiatrists, substance abuse counselors, and rehab coordinators.
At the core of Live Benevolent is a commitment to provide personalized and impactful client care. We invest time building connections with clients, gaining valuable insights into their experiences, and ensuring that the clinic’s services are continuously tailored to meet evolving needs. Furthermore, we are deeply committed to community engagement and advocate tirelessly for mental health awareness.
Whether participating in local events, speaking engagements, or collaborating with community organizations, our leadership extends beyond the clinic to foster a broader conversation about mental well-being.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
1. Collaboration Opportunities: We welcome collaborations with like-minded individuals, organizations, and mental health and wellness professionals. Whether you have innovative ideas, expertise, or resources to contribute, we believe in the power of collective efforts to create positive change. Reach out to us with your proposals or explore potential partnerships to enhance the impact of our shared goals.
2. Volunteer Program: If you are passionate about mental health and eager to make a difference, consider joining our volunteer program. We offer opportunities for individuals to contribute their time, skills, and enthusiasm to support various aspects of our clinic’s operations. Together, we can create a supportive environment for those seeking mental health services.
3. Financial Support: Your financial support is instrumental in ensuring the accessibility and quality of our services. Whether through one-time donations, recurring contributions, or corporate sponsorships, your financial commitment helps us reach more individuals in need. Your generosity directly contributes to the well-being of our community.
4. Advocacy and Awareness: Help us break down the barriers surrounding mental health by becoming an advocate for our cause. Share our mission with your network and engage in conversations that promote a stigma-free approach to mental health. By collectively raising awareness, we can foster a community that values and prioritizes mental well-being.
5. Client Referrals: If you know someone who could benefit from our services, consider referring them to Live Benevolent. Your recommendation may be the first step toward positive change in someone’s life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.livebenevolent.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livebenevolent_md/?hl=en
