INTRO TO the
Foundation
The Burgett Legacy Foundation is a nonprofit organization built to support mental health, identity development, and collective healing through culturally affirming programs and research. We are the home of Burn the Cape and Break the Hammer, two initiatives that dismantle the harmful expectations placed on Black women and men and offer space to rebuild, rest, and reclaim joy.
Mission & Vision
The Burgett Legacy Foundation is dedicated to advancing Black mental health through culturally grounded healing initiatives, high-impact research, and compassionate community care. We work to dismantle systemic barriers and provide the tools necessary for collective liberation and generational wellness.
Our Mission
Our Vision
We envision a future where Black communities thrive with full access to healing, identity, and generational wellness, a world where every individual has the space to rest, reclaim their joy, and carry forward a legacy of liberation without the weight of societal expectations.
Our Signature Programs
RESEARCH
Data-Driven, Community-Informed
We don't just create programs, we study their impact. Through original research on Black identity, community wellness, and systemic stress, we build tools and data that support real policy change and practitioner training.
Why We Exist
OUR ORIGIN
"Our existence is rooted in the belief that rest, reflection, and restoration are birthrights, not luxuries, for Black communities."
— Dr. Raquel Martin, Founder
The Burgett Legacy Foundation is named after Dr. Raquel Martin’s great grandmother, whose home served as a safe haven for family and community. That legacy of care, protection, and shared responsibility is the blueprint for our mission. We are here because too many people carry burdens they didn’t choose, and too few spaces are built to help them rest, reflect, and rise.
FOUNDER
Meet Dr. Raquel Martin
Dr. Raquel Martin is a licensed clinical psychologist, researcher, and dedicated advocate for Black mental health. She founded the Burgett Legacy Foundation in honor of her grandmother, Ruby Burgett, whose lifetime of unyielding strength inspired a mission to ensure no one has to carry their burdens in isolation again.
With deep expertise in identity development and culturally responsive care, Dr. Martin leads the foundation's efforts to dismantle systemic barriers and provide authentic spaces for healing. Her work champions collective well-being, rest, and the reclamation of joy for the Black community.
Meet the Team
Dr. Raquel
Martin
President
Yolanda
Wearing
MSW
Yolanda Wearing, MSW is a seasoned social work leader with over two decades of experience advancing child and family servicing systems in Philadelphia. She holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Social Work from Temple University with a concentration in Social Administration.
Yolanda has held senior leadership roles overseeing large-scale programs, multidisciplinary teams, and multi-million-dollar budgets, with a consistent focus on workforce wellness, program quality, and community impact. A former adjunct professor, she is deeply committed to supporting helping professionals in sustaining meaningful, balanced, and healthy careers.
Vice president
Leah N Smith MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
Leah Smith is Nurse Practitioner based in Nashville, Tennessee. She is an alumna of Fisk University where she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing 2010. She furthered her education at Tennessee State University completing masters of science in nursing, family nurse practitioner program in 2019.
Since graduating with her masters, she has worked in diverse care settings, including pulmonary medicine and currently inpatient rehab rehabilitation. Leah is a healthcare advocate who takes pride and educating community members on disease, prevention and health maintenance.
secretary
Kaydian Williams
treasurer
Kaydian Murphy was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and raised in Mount Vernon, New York, where being raised by her grandparents instilled in her a deep appreciation for community, collaboration, and giving back. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics from the University of Tampa and a Master’s degree in Management and Leadership from Liberty University. A lifelong dancer, she developed discipline, creativity, and confidence that continue to shape her leadership style.
With nearly 15 years at GEICO, she now serves as a Claims Operations Director, overseeing multiple regional operations. Beyond her professional work, Kaydian is dedicated to community impact, serving on the Board of Directors for the Houston Area Urban League and advocating for equity and improved mental health access within the Black community.