Today we’d like to introduce you to Obelle Pluviose.
Hi Obelle, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Savesouls Inc. was born from a simple but urgent realization: too many people in Afro Caribbean communities were suffering in silence without culturally relevant mental health support.
In 2017, Obelle Pluviose was serving as a youth leader at her church when she organized a back to school mental health program for young people in her community. During the event, youth participants were encouraged to openly discuss their emotional struggles, anxieties, and personal challenges in a safe environment. Licensed psychologists and mental health professionals were invited to answer questions and provide practical coping strategies for the school year ahead.
What stood out most to Obelle was not only the openness of the youth, but the fact that many admitted they did not feel comfortable discussing their mental health with their parents. The experience revealed a significant gap: there was a growing demand for safe, culturally sensitive mental health spaces within the Afro Caribbean community.
Recognizing the need, Obelle expanded the initiative beyond the church walls by organizing a large scale, tri state mental health awareness conference series in partnership with church and community organizations. The series included events held across Florida, New York, and Boston, Massachusetts, reaching nearly 4,000 individuals and focusing on mental health education and awareness within the Haitian and broader Afro Caribbean communities.
At the same time, Patricia Desert, Obelle’s cousin, was conducting research focused on supporting survivors of sexual abuse and exploring community based healing frameworks. Their paths eventually crossed through conversations centered around their shared passion for mental health advocacy, healing, and community empowerment. As they discussed their visions for creating culturally responsive support systems for underserved communities, it became clear that their missions aligned. After much reflection and prayer, they decided to join forces, laying the foundation for what would become Savesouls Inc.
During the COVID 19 pandemic, the organization adapted its outreach online and began implementing a framework that Patricia describes as a vision given to her by God. The Self, Vision, and Community model was created to approach healing and empowerment holistically through three core pillars:
Self, focusing on mental health, emotional wellness, and healing
Vision, emphasizing personal growth, education, and professional development
Community, encouraging civic engagement, service, and access to resources
The framework was intentionally designed to be adaptable across different populations and needs, allowing the organization to tailor interventions to specific communities.
As the global mental health crisis deepened during Haiti’s second devastating earthquake, Savesouls Inc. launched the Savesouls Mental Health Relief Initiative (SMHR). The initiative focused on connecting volunteer therapists with survivors directly impacted by the earthquake, as well as members of the Haitian diaspora and individuals in the United States who experienced emotional trauma or were psychologically triggered by the disaster.
Through this initiative, mental health professionals from around the world donated their services to individuals who otherwise would not have had access to therapy, helping provide emotional support during an extremely difficult and traumatic time for Haitian communities globally.
The organization’s work evolved further as Boston became a major hub for Haitian immigrants and humanitarian arrivals. Many newly arrived families faced language barriers, trauma, housing insecurity, unemployment, and difficulty navigating systems in the United States. In response, Savesouls Inc. adapted its holistic framework into culturally responsive interventions specifically designed for Haitian immigrant communities.
Delivered in Haitian Creole, the intervention combined mental health support, professional development guidance, employment resource education, and community resource navigation. What originally began as a workshop eventually evolved into a structured intervention model that now includes 30 day and 60 day follow ups to ensure participants continue receiving support throughout their transition and healing journey.
Today, Savesouls Inc. continues expanding its mission to serve Afro Caribbean communities in Massachusetts, Texas, and around the world through culturally competent mental health advocacy, intervention programs, and professional partnerships.
One of the organization’s most impactful initiatives is the development of a global Afro Caribbean mental health directory designed to connect individuals with culturally aligned therapists and mental health providers. In addition, Savesouls Inc. offers cultural competency training for non Haitian organizations, clinicians, and community based organizations seeking to better understand and effectively serve Haitian populations.
The organization also addresses financial barriers to care through its therapy co sponsorship program, which covers the first six therapy sessions for qualifying Afro Caribbean immigrants across the diaspora. This initiative serves as an entry point for individuals who may have never previously considered therapy, helping reduce stigma while increasing access to mental health care.
At its core, Savesouls Inc. exists to bridge the gap between mental health services and underserved Afro Caribbean communities through culturally grounded healing, education, and empowerment.
With a goal of impacting over 100,000 lives by 2028, the organization continues building pathways toward healing, dignity, and long term community wellness, one person, one family, and one community at a time.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like many grassroots organizations committed to serving underserved communities, the journey has not always been easy. One of the greatest challenges Savesouls Inc. has faced is the overwhelming demand for culturally responsive mental health services compared to the limited resources available to meet those needs.
In many cases, the need for support has exceeded the organization’s operational capacity. During one community workshop designed to serve 25 participants, more than 60 individuals arrived seeking help and resources. While the organization has never wanted to turn people away, moments like these highlighted both the urgency of the mental health crisis within Afro Caribbean communities and the limitations that come with operating with limited funding and staffing.
Another ongoing challenge has been expanding awareness of the organization’s mission in order to secure the partnerships, funding, and community support necessary to grow its impact. Savesouls Inc. operates as a mobile organization, intentionally going wherever communities are in need, whether in Boston, Florida, New York, or beyond. While the organization has been able to serve many individuals throughout Boston, the long term vision is to expand services nationally and internationally across Afro Caribbean communities.
Despite these challenges, the organization remains grounded in the strength and dedication of its team. Much of the work has been sustained through volunteerism, donated time, and the passion of individuals committed to the mission. However, additional funding remains essential to increasing access to services, strengthening programs, and ensuring that the professionals and team members behind the work can be properly supported and compensated for the impact they create.
For Savesouls Inc., the challenges have only reinforced the importance of the mission and the urgent need for continued investment in culturally competent mental health care.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What sets Savesouls Inc. apart is the diversity and cultural depth of our leadership team. We are a multidisciplinary organization made up of professionals from various fields who all share a deep understanding of the communities we serve.
Our co-founder CEO, Obelle, brings experience in nursing, business, and project management, while Patricia Desert, president of Savesouls Inc., has a background in social work, entrepreneurship, and childcare leadership. Our broader team includes professionals with expertise in licensed mental health counseling, finance, education, law, public health, and community advocacy.
As Haitian and Afro Caribbean professionals ourselves, we understand the cultural nuances, barriers, and lived experiences within our communities. This allows us to design programs and interventions that are not only professionally informed, but also culturally sensitive, community centered, and rooted in trust.
What we are most proud of is our ability to combine professional expertise with lived experience to create meaningful mental health support for underserved Afro Caribbean communities locally and globally.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Above all, we want readers to know that Savesouls Inc. is committed to addressing the growing rise in mental health challenges and trauma within Afro Caribbean communities through culturally responsive support, education, and advocacy.
As we continue expanding nationally, we are calling on Afro Caribbean licensed mental health professionals who align with this mission to join our international mental health directory through caribtherapy.app, where applications are currently open for review.
We also provide culturally sensitive trainings for organizations and professionals seeking to better serve Haitian communities. At the core of our work is a mission to ensure people feel seen, supported, and empowered throughout their healing journey. visit us a savesoulsinc.org learn more about our programs by watching this video https://youtu.be/9NaWI6FNe00?si=oJQOO3yNVnoibcfn
Contact Info:
- Website: https://savesoulnc.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savesoulsinc?igsh=enJ0aTZkOXlwN2h1
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/9NaWI6FNe00?si=oJQOO3yNVnoibcfn
- Other: https://caribtherapy.app
