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By Aanya Panchal, Senior, LakeView Technology Academy
On May 30, more than 100 community members came together at Petrifying Springs Park for the Stride for Minds 3K, a youth-led event focused on raising awareness and supporting student mental health. Students in the Youth Voice Project spent months planning and organizing the event, helping coordinate everything from logistics to promotion to ensure it ran smoothly. The program also featured guest speakers, including Miss Kenosha and Kari Foss from the Kenosha County Division of Behavioral Health Services, who spoke about the importance of mental health awareness and community support. In addition, Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman presented a proclamation recognizing the event, and students were honored with the Hearts in Action Commendation Award for their leadership and commitment to mental health advocacy. Community members of all ages participated in the walk and run, creating a strong sense of connection and encouraging open conversations about the importance of student mental health. Why it matters: Youth-led events like the Stride for Minds 3K create opportunities for young people to lead, raise awareness about issues that matter to them, and bring the community together in support of student well-being.  May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we are excited to invite you to support and participate in the Stride for Minds 3K on Saturday, May 30 at Petrifying Springs Park.
This event is being organized by students involved in Building Our Future’s Youth Voice Project, who have been working hard to bring this vision to life. After successfully leading the recent school board candidate forum, our students took the initiative to engage the Kenosha County Division of Behavioral Health Services as a partner around an issue they deeply care about: mental health awareness and community wellness. The Stride for Minds 3K is an opportunity to bring our community together through movement, connection, and purpose while uplifting youth voice and leadership. We would greatly appreciate your support by: • Registering to participate • Sharing the event with your networks • Encouraging staff, families, and community members to attend Event Details: 📅 Saturday, May 30 ⏰ 7:30 AM – 11:30 AM 📍 Petrifying Springs Park – near Biergarten 💙 Free for all ages Register here: Stride for Minds 3K Registration Thank you for continuing to support opportunities that empower young people to lead and create positive change in our community.  Our students from the Youth Voice Project did an outstanding job with writing questions, moderating discussions, and leading the conversation with confidence and thoughtfulness. We are so proud of their leadership.
Thank you to the candidates for engaging in meaningful dialogue, to Gateway Technical College for hosting the event, and to Upload Partners for making the livestream possible. We also appreciate coverage from Kenosha News and TMJ4, which helped amplify the students’ voices. If you couldn’t attend or watch live, you can view the forum here:
Special thanks to Destiny, Brandon and Maggie for their leadership—Youth Voice Project is five years in the making, and our students continue to shine each year as they host this forum. Let’s continue to amplify youth voices! |
Our Mission: Together we will engage our community to provide an environment in which all contribute and excel. Our Vision: Everyone achieving personal potential from cradle to career. |
