The healing power of community: Sam Alexander
“I think healing the scene is so important because as we heal individually, we also heal together. And that's just going to make everybody stronger.”
— Sam Alexander, HeartSupport donor and Furnace Fest stage sponsor
HeartSupport was founded with the simple idea that people in the metal scene can find healing for their mental health in community with each other. Perhaps no one epitomizes that idea quite as much as Sam Alexander.
“I think a lot of us are all drawn into this scene because we share a similar sense of like brokenness,” they share candidly. “The hardest part about it is once you're home from the show, the community kind of disappears. I know there are a lot of people who can only go to one or two shows a year. So that's the only time they're getting that sense of community, belonging, and support. I think that's what's so great about HeartSupport: you can have that community no matter where you are or how often you get to go to these shows.”
That consistent community has been a force in Sam’s own life. Hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio, Sam grew up in the heavy music scene. They developed a love for punk acts like Good Charlotte, quickly expanding into heavier bands like August Burns Red. It was an August Burns Red show in 2012 that brought HeartSupport into their awareness.
“I had been one of those kids who was always coming up to Jake after shows and talking to him,” Sam recalls. “When I saw that he had started this organization, I thought it was really awesome and really helpful. The first time that there were t-shirts out, I bought one that I still have.”
The immediate connection ran deeper than just the metal music for Sam. They were also someone with a long history of struggling in their own mental health.
They say, “Mental health has always been something that I've struggled with, my whole life. Music has always been the outlet that's helped get me through the really tough things. I have seen firsthand how the music scene really does create a safe and positive environment because of the community it builds.”
Once Sam became aware of the way that the heavy music community was rallying through HeartSupport, they were all in. They joined the volunteer team and started writing encouraging messages. Later, they’d volunteer as a replier, offering words of encouragement to people who shared their struggles. For Sam, it’s a way of passing along the gift that they have received from August Burns Red and Jake Luhrs, who have been a consistent source of empowerment for them.
“I think the thing that impacts me most is being able to see other people get that kind of support and relief,” Sam says. “That alone helps spur me on to want to keep doing positive things to bring hope into other people’s lives because I know what an impact it's had on me. Being able to share that impact with others is really important.”
For this metal fan, that cycle of hope has been a way of lending meaning to their own struggle. Knowing that they can transform their own hurt into help has offered a profound sense of purpose.
In 2022, the opportunity presented itself to work that transformation on an even bigger level.
Sam’s mom passed away in 2022, leaving her estate to Sam. While grieving, Sam also knew that this was an opportunity to make an impact.
“I was going to split half of it between HeartSupport and half of it between Furnace Fest, because in my mind Furnace Fest is the physical embodiment of the HeartSupport mission. When I brought up the idea to Elena, who is one of the Furnace Fest organizers, she said, ‘What if you sponsored HeartSupport to have a stage at Furnace Fest?’ And I was like, that is perfect. Then I'm giving a hundred percent to both instead of having to split it up,” Sam explains.
So Sam donated their late mother’s estate to fund HeartSupport’s stage at Furnace Fest. In addition to the encouraging presence of staff on the ground, the stage featured a QR code that connected audience members to the online support community. Through that mechanism, Sam was able to get real-time updates on how much of an impact the sponsorship was having.
“Friday night at the fest, Jake pulled me aside and was like, ‘I need you to understand the gravity of what you've done,’” Sam remembers. “He was like, ‘There are going to be 8,000 to 10,000 people here this weekend who maybe have never heard of HeartSupport and are all going to get exposed to it. There are people who are going to be replied to, and there are people who are going to see this QR code.’”
They continue, “Then when I was told how many people had been replied to that weekend and how many people had already scanned the QR code to get that encouragement? I was like, this actually was a really big deal. This is really impactful to other people. It really helped put it in perspective for me.”
Ultimately, Sam has realized that the impact of community-building like this goes beyond one event or even just the metal genre. It has the potential to change the world.
“I really think just the way that the overall world is right now, we all really need community and support and encouragement,” Sam muses. “You can find your community, no matter where you are.”
Sam speaks from experience, having found their community. They continue to be committed to healing the scene they love so much.
“I want to heal the scene because it's my home and it's my family,” Sam says. “It's something I've been a part of since I was 12 years old, and I have seen firsthand the impact it can have in people's lives. I know how much it can change you. Getting into this scene has taken me into a part of my life that I would never have come to if I hadn't gone to those first couple of shows in the metal scene. I would have never found the people who I surround myself with now. I probably wouldn't be in this mental health place at this moment. So being able to assist other people to get to this place is something that's really important to me.”
Always focused on that drive towards hope, Sam closes with this encouragement: “Whatever you're going through, you're not alone. You've got people who have your back, who can help you get through this. Life is always in a cyclical stance. So it might suck right now, but it'll get better.”
Sam’s commitment to healing the scene is what HeartSupport is all about. If you’d like to join them in inviting others into this kind of reparative community, consider making a tax-deductible gift today or becoming a monthly donor.
