Drexil Smothers, the Founder, and leader of Let’s Go Ministry, delivered an inspiring presentation on human rights advocacy and driving societal change at the United States Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights (USIDHR) Black History webinar. Isabelle Vladoiu, the Founder of USIDHR, moderated the webinar, providing Drexil with an opportunity to share his experiences, projects, and aspirations for advancing human and civil rights on a global scale.
Isabelle Vladoiu’s introduction highlighted Drexil Smothers’ dedication to mentoring professionals and igniting positive change. Being an accredited human rights advisor through USIDHR, she noted, “Drexil has leveraged his training to increase awareness and advocate for crucial issues impacting communities globally.”
During the webinar, Drexil spoke about the significance of shifting the healthcare system from an illness-focused to a wellness-focused approach. He opined, “One of my initiatives is to assist in advocating for more awareness, education, and policy change to facilitate advanced healthcare for all individuals. If we can educate not only our citizens but also our policymakers and those in charge of developing laws and the healthcare system, we can better shape the future of healthcare.”
Furthermore, he recommended prioritizing women’s health, particularly during childbirth, as a cornerstone of comprehensive healthcare reform.
Responding to an audience question, Mr. Smothers addressed concerns about youth mental health, passionately calling for the implementation of regulatory measures on social media to protect vulnerable youth from harmful influences.
He vehemently stated: “My current concerns for our youth in mental health include the extreme use of social media and the lack of legislation to regulate and restrict some of the negative pressures that our youth are exposed to through social media. Our youth are vulnerable to impressions.”
When prompted to discuss specific initiatives or actions he has taken or is currently engaged in, Mr. Smothers replied: “As an innovative leader both locally in the DMV region and nationally, I have concentrated on introducing social-emotional learning skills, emotional intelligence, and mental health awareness programs to benefit our youth, adolescent males, and men aged 18 to 45, while also advocating for their global health and rights. In the last three to four years, I have organized a virtual national conference focusing on social-emotional learning skills and emotional intelligence to tackle mental health disparities among teenagers and adolescents across our nation.”
He concluded by sharing compelling statistics that drive his passion for his work. He expressed fervently: “According to the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), one in six US youths aged six to 17 experience mental health disorders. Seven out of 10 youths in our juvenile justice system have a mental health condition. One in five adults experience mental illness each year. These statistics fuel my dedication to the work I do.”
Drexil Smothers is a respected military veteran who has smoothly transitioned from frontline service to visionary leadership. From his pivotal role as a Combat Medic offering aid to troops amid conflict to his current position as the dynamic Founder and CEO of Let’s Go Ministries
