Thoughts About Thoughts:
A Youth Conference Discussing Mental Health, Support Strategies, and Taking Care of One’s Brain.
Saturday, June 4th, 10am Pacific Time / 1pm Eastern Time
Description:
Join us for this important conference on our mental health. Being a teenager isn’t easy, and these last two years have made things even harder. Want to have a better understanding of mental health issues – how it affects you, your friends, and family, we’ll explore these issues together?
Experts and girls around the country will share their own experiences, along with advice and strategies you can use to support yourselves and those around you. There will be games, workshops, and other activities to get us thinking more about our mental health and creating a brave space together online. We’d love to have you be part of this.
Conference Activities:
10:00 – Welcome / Intros
10:10 – Poetry Performance
10:15: Keynote Speaker
Dr. Wendi Williams is an author and educator, who has committed her life’s work to the intersection of education and psychology. Drawing from the legacy of Black women’s global and U.S.-based resilience Dr. Williams’ current work articulates leadership pathways for women and girls across diverse backgrounds and the promotion of health and well-being among youth, their families, and the educational and mental health practitioners who work with them. Dr. Williams is the Dean of the School of Education at Mills College in Oakland, CA, and the President of the Society for the Psychology of Women, Division 35 of the American Psychological Association (APA).
10:35 – Scavenger Hunt
10:45 – Break
11:00 – Workshop: Embodying Self-Compassion, by Donovan Taylor Hall
Do you ever feel like the pressures are too much to carry? Let’s explore how to show up for ourselves before we try to show up for others. We will reflect, share and try out the practice of self-compassion.
Donovan Taylor Hall is an educator, coach, speaker, content creator, and above all else, youth advocate. He believes deeply in youth empowerment as the way to move our society forward. He aims to equip kids with tools to build a positive relationship with themselves. Donovan helps kids grow through coaching, online content, workshops, and more.
12:30 – Building Up Self-Care Activities That Last, by Girl Advisory Board members:
What’s the difference between day-to-day self care and taking care of ourselves (and our friends) when difficult situations come up? In this workshop, we’ll explore creating our own affirmation, setting up routines that feel good for our day (including guided meditations), and talk through some more complex situations. What could we say or do in those moments to come back to a place that feels grounded and supported?
Self-Care Panel:
- Teagan (grade 10, AZ). Loves cooking, reading, rock climbing, listening to music
- Sofia (grade 10, CA). Loves reading, writing, hiking, solving Sudoku puzzles, theater, listening to music
- Nila (grade 12, NY). Loves dancing, listening to music, writing, playing the violin, and roller skating (I’m currently taking lessons!)
- Ava (grade 9, NY). Loves reading, baking, snowboarding, and hiking
1:30 – Loving Kindness Meditation, by Donovan Taylor Hall
1:45 – Closing Words & Gratitude
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