Our Story and Inspiration

Saving Space was born out of the powerful and necessary work started at Florida A&M University’s Counseling Center, where male mental health group sessions have been held since 2012. In 2018, that work expanded when the Counseling Center partnered with a student organization that our founder, Jabari Knox, was actively involved in. Those sessions weren’t just about addressing mental health needs; they were about building community, offering peer support, and creating spaces where young Black men could express themselves freely and feel genuinely seen. That experience shaped the foundation for what would eventually become Saving Space, rooted in the belief that these safe, affirming environments should exist on every college campus.

When our team later connected with students at the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities, we immediately recognized the same urgent need for culturally relevant mental health support and community for Black male students. It became clear that this was a shared experience for many young men across campuses nationwide, and it fueled our vision to expand these services beyond individual schools. Saving Space was created with the goal of building a national network of group therapy programs and support systems at both PWIs and HBCUs, fostering connection, self-expression, and mental well-being for Black male students everywhere.