Register for the Youth Mental Health Resource Fair!
Join young adults (16-24 years old) from the Chicago area for an afternoon of keynote speakers, mental health resources, food, and vendors!
The event is designed to raise awareness and connect young adults to mental health supports in their communities. If you’re interested in attending, register today as spots are limited!
Date: December 3, 2022
Time: 11 am-2 pm CST
Location: Blue Door Neighborhood Center, 11840 S Marshfield Ave, Chicago, IL 60643
Event Features
• Free registration
• Youth mental health resources
• Keynote speakers
• Breakout sessions
• Free parking
• Free food
• Music and great vibes!
Healthy Minds is a cohort of young scholars participating in the National Solutions leadership program of Chicago. Read below for more information!
About National Solutions
National Solutions is a five-month, Chicago-based youth leadership and empowerment program. This project stems from a joint partnership between the National Youth Employment Coalition, MENTOR, and The JPMorgan Chase Foundation.
National Solutions provides young people with the support, encouragement, and resources to see themselves as makers, creators, and active, empowered participants in the world around them.
The inaugural cohort, spanning August 2022-December 2022, consists of six young adults: four high school students and two college students. This group created the Healthy Minds Resource Fair to raise awareness around mental health and connect youth in Chicago to mental health resources.
Anxiety ∙ Depression ∙ Caring Adults ∙ Body Image ∙ Bullying ∙ Healthy Living
National Solutions- Chicago Scholars
Livia Brown
Livia, 16, attends Brooks College Prep. Livia is interested in promoting youth mental health because there is a lack of mental health resources in certain communities and we, especially as youth, should learn more about mental health to identify and help our minds. Livia plans on studying physiology while attending college in the future.
Makilah Cooley
Makilah,16, attends Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School. Makilah is interested in promoting youth mental health because she wants her fellow young adults in this generation to be as healthy as they can be. She wants them to be able to have a stable and productive life. Makilah plans on attending Howard University and majoring in political science.
Marilyn Estrada
Marilyn, 17, attends Benito Juarez Community Academy. She is interested in promoting youth mental health because she wants to help other people understand what they are feeling inside and connect them to resources. Marilyn plans on attending Loyola University and majoring in International Business.
William Loaiza
William, 20, Columbia College Chicago. William is interested in promoting youth mental health because they feel it is important to take care of ourselves and have the resources to assist our mental health, especially through tough times. William is majoring in Game Design and minoring in Creative Writing.
DuWayne Portis
DuWayne is a 17-year-old senior who currently attends Lindblom Math and Science Academy, he plays basketball, is a journalist, screenwriter, and songwriter/musician.
Taji Young
Taji Young,19, is majoring in mechanical engineering. He seeks to support people with information to help them on their mental health journey. He hopes that he gives people more optimism to pursue healing themselves, or at the bare minimum gives them information that might change their perspective on their mental health for the better.
Jeremy Ly
Jeremy joins NYEC as National Solutions Coordinator. He is the Director of National High School Internship Programs at Urban Alliance, a non-profit providing paid work-based learning opportunities to high school seniors where he has served since 2013. Jeremy began his career in education teaching elementary school on Chicago’s South Side through Teach For America. Jeremy is a lifelong Chicago-area resident and earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Illinois State University.
Rashaun Bennett
Rashaun is the Director of Operations of the National Youth Employment Coalition. He is an adult-liaison with the Chicago youth scholars. Rashaun is interested in mental health because living a healthy life requires attention to how we handle stress, emotions, past trauma, and future situations.
Mental Health Resources
Browse the National Youth Employment Coalition's curated selection of national mental health resources for youth, employers, and youth-serving professionals.
The 988 hotline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.
Request services from the Community Counseling Centers of Chicago (C4), a behavioral health advocate and social service provider that provides comprehensive customer-oriented services tailored to the diversity of its consumers.
There are solutions for individuals seeking immediate care and support. The City of Chicago maintains a database of numbers you can call if someone is in need of immediate mental health support, suicide prevention, and/or domestic violence.
The City of Chicago manages several physical mental health centers with locations around the city with varying hours of operation. Should you need support please find the one closest to you.
Best practices and resources for employers who are aiming to improve workplace culture, and employee wellbeing. The resources here were designed by Mental Health America.
