Celebrate Youth Mental Wellness with Art, Data & Fun

June 21, 2024

SPRINGFIELD, MA — Join us for a FREE celebration of youth mental wellness on Friday, June 21st, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. This youth-led event, hosted by Beat the Odds (BTO) youth advisory group to the Springfield Youth Mental Health Coalition (YMHC), is designed to raise awareness about mental health, problem gambling and self-care strategies; celebrate the healthy ways our young people manage their mental well-being; and connect youth and the community to valuable mental health resources. 


Several organizations will be tabling, including Gandara’s Impact Center and the Stop Access Coalition. Youth from Queen’s Narrative and Gandara’s photoVOICE project will share artwork and Beat the Odds youth will showcase creative data visualizations of the Springfield Public School District 2023 Youth Health Survey. 


“Art is a great outlet to express youth mental wellness and to understand public health issues that may be otherwise hard to digest,” said Tiffany Rufino, Youth Mental Health Coalition Manager at the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts. “We hope this event encourages our young people to make healthy choices by providing resources and information in a fun, interactive way.” 

Schedule 

  • 5:00 PM - Registration
  • 5:30 PM - Data Walk: Explore data visualizations of the 2023 Springfield Youth Health Survey created by BTO youth
  • 6:15 PM - Dinner 
  • 6:30 PM - Presentations & Performance (Will include representatives from the Mayor's Office & MA DPH Office of Problem Gambling Services, original song performed by BTO member, and awards). 
  • 7:30 PM - Celebration Activities (unstructured time for games, music, and fun) 
  • 8:00 PM - Closing Remarks 


We hope to see you there! Register now!

A poster for a youth mental health celebration on june 21 , 2024

share this

Related Articles

June 27, 2025
Access webinar materials from the June 25, 2025 webinar, Fighting for Air: Updates on the proposed biomass plant in Springfield : Recording Slides This webinar featured: State Senator Adam Gomez Attorney Michael Fenton, Springfield City Council President Rusty Polsgrove, Associate Director, Arise for Social Justice Dr. Matthew Sadof, pediatrician, Baystate Health Sarita Hudson, Senior Director of Strategy and Development, Public Health Institute of Western MA Learn more about the bills discussed in the webinar: An Act to remove woody biomass from the greenhouse gas emissions standard for municipal lighting plants An Act limiting the eligibility of woody biomass as an alternative energy supply Written testimony can be submitted via email to Benjamin Minerva at Ben.Minerva@masenate.gov and Caleb Oakes at Caleb.Oakes@mahouse.gov . When submitting written testimony, please send it as an attachment and use the following document title format: Bill# - Your Organization’s Name – Support/Oppose. View some of the media coverage of the event: Webinar held to address possible Springfield biomass plant, Western Mass News, 6/25/25 Battle over proposed Springfield biomass plant rages on, New England Public Media, 6/26/25 Foes, officials won’t shrink from fight to keep ‘Frankenstein’ plant out of city, The Republican, 6/26/25
June 18, 2025
Putting Resources Into Practice
June 6, 2025
Fighting For Air: Updates on the proposed biomass plan in Springfield