Sustaining Hope: Alumna Toy Burton and the Power of Mental Health Access

Toy Burton, an Urban College alumna, founded DeeDee’s Cry, a suicide prevention and mental health resource organization, out of necessity.  

A friend had lost her brother to suicide and reached out to Toy, who shared a similar loss of her sister, DeeDee.  

While trying to find resources to share with her friend, Toy realized that none of the available sites were geared towards the BIPOC community. “I didn’t see myself in anything available online,” she recounts.  

That realization resulted in the founding of DeeDee’s Cry, named after Toy’s late sister. 

It's a sanctuary built on culturally sensitive approaches, a space where the lived experiences of those struggling are not just acknowledged, but deeply understood. 

Imagine stepping into a room where vulnerability isn't a weakness but celebrated as a strength. Where survivors of domestic violence and those wrestling with suicidal thoughts can lay down their burdens without fear of judgment. Toy has meticulously crafted this space, understanding that healing begins with feeling safe, seen, and heard. 

And to anyone reading this, anyone feeling the weight of despair, Toy's message is clear: You are not alone. Reach out. Dial 988. Let someone hear your story, let them help you carry the burden. 
 
Toy Burton's story is a beacon of hope, illuminating the path from grief to action, from loss to legacy. DeeDee's Cry stands as a testament to her unwavering dedication, a living tribute to her sister, and a powerful reminder that even in the darkest of times, connection can ignite the light of healing. 

Toy didn’t set out to create a mental health organization; she attended Urban College of Boston to earn her Early Childhood Education degree to become a preschool teacher.

Her path to a career in human services was not a linear one, but rewarding all the same.

"Choosing Urban College over other community colleges was a no-brainer. The people that attended Urban College weren't necessarily somebody who goes to college. These were older learners like myself. [For many students] English was their second language. But everybody felt comfortable there; everybody felt [at] home. And that's what I strive to do with DeeDee's Cry. To create a place of safety and comfort where people feel like they're being heard, no matter what language they speak." - Toy Burton

Thank you, Toy, for being a leader in your community and a bright light for so many!