Who We Are

Thrive Cooperative is a nonprofit, community-based virtual resource hub dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellness needs of communities of color in Centre County Pennsylvania. We understand that overall health and wellbeing is impacted by our access to a range of information and resources that affect our daily lives, decision-making, and care for ourselves and others. We connect individuals and families with licensed mental health professionals from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, working to close gaps in care and strengthen community support. We are also your gateway to other critical resources such as faith-based and community organizations, childcare and schools, money planning, crises management, fitness and learning activities. Let Thrive Cooperative ease the stress of working on your own to find what you are looking for in Centre County. Our mission is rooted in a deep commitment to improving access to mental health and wellness resources, fostering collaboration among local practitioners and communities, and making care a more visible feature of who we are, and what we do Centre County.

Thrive Cooperative began in January 2023, when four friends—Iyun Osagie, Felisa Preciado Higgins, Jennifer Hamer, and Savita Iyer—gathered over dinner in State College, Pennsylvania. Motivated by the urgent need to address mental health challenges affecting communities of color in Central Pennsylvania, they set out to create a space for connection, awareness, and support.

The spark for this work grew out of profound tragedy: the 2019 killing of Osaze Osagie, a young Black man with mental health needs, by a white police officer. His death, its traumatic effects on the Osagie family, and its impact on the State College community exposed critical failures in local systems and highlighted the deep intersections between race and mental health. It underscored the need for awareness, dialogue, and accessible support for communities too often left navigating these challenges alone.

In honor of Osaze and in support of this mission, Penn State University’s College of the Liberal Arts and its African Studies Program launched The Osaze Osagie Memorial Lecture in 2024. This signature series focuses on mental health across global Black communities. To date, the series has welcomed Sybrina Fulton—mother of Trayvon Martin—and Kevin Richardson of the Exonerated Five, both of whom shared powerful reflections on trauma, resilience, and justice.

The strong turnout at these events reflects both the importance of discussing mental health and race, and the community’s desire for meaningful support. Through these conversations, we have learned that many individuals in Central Pennsylvania are actively seeking mental health resources but may not know where to turn. We have also learned that there is a dedicated network of professionals ready to help.

Thrive Cooperative was made more possible by the generosity of local mental health practitioners, who worked for over a year with Advisory Board members to identify the needs of families, adults, and children in Central PA. They generously gave their time over coffee, lunches, and general meetings to the development of this resource hub.

Thrive Cooperative aims to strengthen that network. We serve as a link between culturally informed mental health practitioners and the communities who need them. We offer a platform for providers to connect and collaborate, and—most importantly—a welcoming space for communities of color searching for mental health support.

Thrive Cooperative is rooted in our deep commitment to the well-being of our community.  By connecting providers with their peers, and providers with communities of color, we hope to foster new connections, and create a strong, safe space that will help everyone thrive.