Trauma, whether it’s at home, school, or in the community, can take a toll on our kids. That’s why it’s so important they get help and hope. A block party in Parramore at the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida Levy-Hughes Clubhouse focused on children’s mental health.The event was packed with fun, food and face painting. It was all about supporting positive youth mental health. Orlando police Chief Eric Smith was invited to talk about making good choices.”We all know one wrong turn could ruin your life. Jumping in the car with someone who’s using drugs, drinking, or you get in a fight with somebody, now we’re going to find them and look for them. All of those are bad decisions that would really change your life,” Smith said.Since 2020, three members of this Boys & Girls Club lost their lives to senseless violence. But their peers said that there is hope here at this club, which is how the HOPE Circle was born.”When it happened. I didn’t want to talk to anybody, I was like crying and when I came to HOPE Circle. Mr. T like helped me move past it, and he helped me move on, and eventually, I was ok with what happened,” 12-year-old Chamar Brown said.HOPE stands for “Healing Oasis for Peace and Empowerment,” and the HOPE Circle meets at the Boys and Girls Club.”We meet every week with the young people thinking about how they’re coping, how they’re thriving, how they’re understanding traumas they’re taking place in their communities within their homes and then giving them strategies to fight that,” said Trenton Marsh, UCF assistant professor of urban education and HOPE Circle founder.Supporters released a public service announcement on youth mental health practices:”If you experience negative emotions speak up, try to get help.” The youth decided that this block party would focus on mental health awareness with vendors and counselors to help children and their families.The HOPE group offered policy recommendations to serve as a pilot program for ACE or the Academic Center for Excellence school in Parramore.The recommendations included access to counselors without hesitation.
Trauma, whether it’s at home, school, or in the community, can take a toll on our kids. That’s why it’s so important they get help and hope.
A block party in Parramore at the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida Levy-Hughes Clubhouse focused on children’s mental health.
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The event was packed with fun, food and face painting. It was all about supporting positive youth mental health.
Orlando police Chief Eric Smith was invited to talk about making good choices.
“We all know one wrong turn could ruin your life. Jumping in the car with someone who’s using drugs, drinking, or you get in a fight with somebody, now we’re going to find them and look for them. All of those are bad decisions that would really change your life,” Smith said.
Since 2020, three members of this Boys & Girls Club lost their lives to senseless violence. But their peers said that there is hope here at this club, which is how the HOPE Circle was born.
“When it happened. I didn’t want to talk to anybody, I was like crying and when I came to HOPE Circle. Mr. T like helped me move past it, and he helped me move on, and eventually, I was ok with what happened,” 12-year-old Chamar Brown said.
HOPE stands for “Healing Oasis for Peace and Empowerment,” and the HOPE Circle meets at the Boys and Girls Club.
“We meet every week with the young people thinking about how they’re coping, how they’re thriving, how they’re understanding traumas they’re taking place in their communities within their homes and then giving them strategies to fight that,” said Trenton Marsh, UCF assistant professor of urban education and HOPE Circle founder.
Supporters released a public service announcement on youth mental health practices:
“If you experience negative emotions speak up, try to get help.”
The youth decided that this block party would focus on mental health awareness with vendors and counselors to help children and their families.
The HOPE group offered policy recommendations to serve as a pilot program for ACE or the Academic Center for Excellence school in Parramore.
The recommendations included access to counselors without hesitation.