Brit Cooper
RobinsonAs Seen On
About Brit
Brit Cooper Robinson (she/her) is a theater maker and writer living in Chicago, Illinois, on the stolen land of the Kickapoo, Peoria, Potawatomi, Miami, and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ peoples. The power of storytelling and the necessity of compassionate witness drive her work as she seeks personal and systemic change. She is co-producer of the storytelling series Unearthing Our Fire and co-devised the Folded Map Play. She is a contributor for Sixty Inches From Center, Our Bible App, Understory Quarterly, and runs Community Engagement for Rivendell Theatre Ensemble.
IG: @BritCooperRobinson
Twitter: @coopeRobinson
Medium: BritCoopeRobinson
High 5 Test Top Strengths
Empathizer
Believer
Storyteller
Coach
Deliverer
Why HMC is important to me
How Men Cry is the narrative shift I have been hoping for. I believe mental health is an urgent and universal need. Supporting my mental health and seeking to heal my trauma has saved my life and physical health. However, as a wife and mother, I saw a stark difference. It was much easier for me, as a woman, to find support and safe places to share about my mental health. I watched as my partner bravely overcame the generational trauma passed down to him – much of it stemming from the harmful narratives about what it means to be a man. But he did it without male support or understanding. We have worked together to encourage our children to shamelessly serve their mental health, but I dream of a world where it’s easy to heal. A world where healing and mental health support are as normal as discussing sports or teeth brushing. I’m a grateful part of How Men Cry because I want to actively work towards creating that world. Speaking honestly about the internal struggles of life, the pressure of cultural narratives, and the human experiences of emotion is a mighty step towards normalizing the support everyone needs.
I know How Men Cry’s mission is possible because my 8 year old proudly wears his How Men Cry t-shirt. I feel hope every time he excitedly tells a friend what his shirt means. How Men Cry has become another source in his life saying it’s okay to cry, to have big feelings, and to move through the world with empathy and sensitivity. We will keep going until every little boy (and grown man) feels the same confidence.