Taraji P. Henson Helps Lead $30 Million Transformation of Temple Hills Community Center Focused on Mental Health and Wellness

Prince George’s County is set to undergo a major transformation with a $30 million renovation of the Temple Hills Community Center—an ambitious project shaped by the influence and advocacy of actress and mental health activist Taraji P. Henson.

The initiative, a partnership between the county and the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, founded by Henson, will redefine what community spaces can be. Rather than focusing solely on recreation, the upgraded center will prioritize mental wellness, emotional healing, and the arts.

Taraji’s foundation, named in honor of her late father, has been a driving force in breaking the stigma surrounding mental health in Black communities. Through this collaboration, she continues her mission to ensure that mental health care is accessible, culturally competent, and rooted in compassion.

“This partnership represents a new way of thinking about community centers,” said one county official. “Taraji P. Henson’s leadership has helped inspire us to merge wellness, creativity, and community in one space.”

The renovated facility will feature traditional recreation amenities like gyms, multipurpose rooms, and art studios—but it will also introduce mental health resources such as counseling rooms, group therapy spaces, and dedicated areas for wellness programming. The goal is to make the Temple Hills Community Center a place where residents can strengthen both mind and body.

The project reflects Henson’s ongoing push to integrate mental health care into everyday environments. By bringing these services into a familiar community space, she hopes to make wellness support feel more approachable and less stigmatized.

Construction plans are currently being finalized, with efforts underway to keep parts of the center open during the renovation process. Once completed, the Temple Hills Community Center will serve as a model for future community-driven wellness spaces across the country.

Local residents have already praised the project as a turning point for Prince George’s County—crediting Henson’s impact for helping transform a recreation center into a center of hope and healing.