Co-hosted Young Minds Matter, a conference focused on Transforming Our Communities Collectively.

In collaboration with the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, we coordinated the convening of Texas leaders, advocates, and youth for Young Minds Matter, a day of conversations around supporting youth mental health through community transformation efforts. The core design team played an essential role in planning and hosting the conference, and included Hogg Foundation and Prevention Institute staff, community leaders, representatives of the 10 Communities of Care collaboratives, students across the Greater Houston Area, and partners from the University of Texas Houston School of Public Health and Harris County Department of Education.

The hybrid event drew in nearly 350 in-person and virtual participants, who benefited from the wealth of knowledge shared across an opening youth panel, poster presentations, and 25+ workshops and panel discussions. Key conference themes included engaging youth and community as change agents; lifting up youth voices for change; creating healthy community environments for youth and families; sustaining collective efforts and partnerships; preserving communities and culture; and advancing health equity and racial justice.

Watch this video to get a feel for the energy and commitment expressed at this conference, including by young people.

Funder: Hogg Foundation for Mental Health.

Image by Hunter Shackelford.