Trauma takes a toll on children, whether it’s at home, at school or in the community. That’s why it’s so important that children get help and hope. A block party at the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida Levi Hughes Clubhouse in Parramore focused on children’s mental health. The event was full of fun, food and face painting. All to support positive mental health in youth. Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith was invited to speak about making good choices. “We all know that one wrong turn can ruin your life. If you jump in a car with someone who’s been using drugs or drinking or get into a fight with someone, now we’re going to find them and search them. These are all bad decisions that can really change your life,” Smith said. Since 2020, three members of this Boys & Girls Club have lost their lives to senseless violence. But the peers said there is hope in this club. That’s why HOPE Circle was born. I didn’t want to talk to anyone, I felt like crying, but I came to HOPE Circle. “Mister T helped me get through it, move forward, and eventually, come to terms with what happened,” said Chamar Brown, 12. HOPE stands for “Healing Oasis for Peace and Empowerment,” and HOPE Circles meet at the Boys & Girls Club. “We meet with the youth every week to figure out how they’re coping, how they’re thriving, how they understand the trauma that’s going on in their home communities, and then we give them strategies to combat that,” said Trenton Marsh, assistant professor of urban education at UCF and founder of HOPE Circles. Advocates presented public service announcements on youth mental health practices. “If you experience negative emotions, speak up and 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 Parramore’s Academic Center for Excellence Schools. The recommendations included having access to counselors without hesitation.
Trauma can hit children hard, whether it happens at home, at school or in the community, which is why it’s so important that they get help and hope.
The block party, held at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida Levi Hughes Clubhouse in Parramore, focused on children’s mental health.
The event was full of fun, food and face painting – all with the aim of supporting young people’s mental health in a positive way.
Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith was invited to speak about making good choices.
“We all know that one wrong move can ruin your life. If you get in a car with someone who’s using drugs or alcohol or get into a fight with someone, we’re going to find them and we’re going to search them. Those are all bad decisions that can be life-altering,” Smith said.
Since 2020, three members of this Boys & Girls Club have lost their lives to senseless violence. But their peers say there is hope in this club. That’s how HOPE Circles were born.
“When it happened I didn’t want to talk to anyone and I was crying, but when I came to Hope Circle Mr T helped me and helped me get through it and eventually I was able to accept what had happened,” said Chamar Brown, 12.
HOPE stands for “Healing Oasis for Peace and Empowerment,” and the HOPE Circles will be held at the Boys & Girls Club.
“We meet with young people weekly to see how they’re coping, how they’re growing, how they understand the trauma that’s happening in their home communities, and then we give them strategies to combat that,” said Trenton Marsh, assistant professor of urban education at the University of California, San Francisco, and founder of HOPE Circles.
Advocates have released public service announcements about youth mental health practices.
“If you experience negative emotions, speak up and ask for help.”
The youth decided that the block party would focus on mental health awareness to help children and their families, with vendors and counselors.
The HOPE group made policy recommendations that would serve as a pilot program for ACE, or Parramore’s Academic Center for Excellence, schools.
Recommendations included not hesitating to speak to a counselor.
