Events & Initiatives

What we have done and what we plan to do

Recent Presentations

35th Annual National Service-Learning Conference

We are grateful to announce we were able to hold a Showcase table and deliver Lightning Talks at the 35th Annual National Service-Learning Conference in Minnesota. Over 3 days, we talked to hundreds about the importance of mental health in athletics and the logistics of MHAYA, invited others to share their own stories, and handed out materials and resources to use. This experience was an incredible way to connect with passionate people from around the country to spread our message.

National NAMIWalks 2023/2024

We were a featured table at the National NAMIWalks for the Mercer County branch in 2023 and 2024, where hundreds of people in each NAMI Office around the country walk in one of the biggest fundraisers for mental illness. There, we could talk to numerous advocates and people who care deeply about mental health on our project's focus. We connected with various other organizations and businesses, and overall are so thankful to have been able to be a part of such an incredible cause.

NJ Regional Healthcare Symposium

We were able to hold a table at the Central New Jersey Regional Healthcare Symposium. This event featured many professionals and businesses that focused on the intersectionality between nutrition and mental health. We were able to share MHAYA's purpose with people who are experienced in the healthcare field, and could learn a lot from them as well.

Robbinsville Community Festival

We are grateful to have been able to be featured at the 2024 Robbinsville Community Festival this past summer. There we could speak with people from our community on the topic of mental health in athletics, and how they could get involved and more informed themselves. This opportunity allowed us to connect with people from all backgrounds, and educate them on our project's message and its importance.

Adolescent Mental Health Summit

We were able to speak at the Robbinsville Adolescent Mental Health Summit for Mental Health Awareness Month. This was an incredible opportunity to speak on the intersection between mental wellbeing and athletics, and to learn about mental health from various angles. We were able to work with officials from the Robbinsville community to come up with initiatives to push for mental health awareness and solutions.

Recent Collaborations

National Youth Leadership Council

We collaborated with the National Youth Leadership Council over April and May after featuring at the National Service-Learning Conference. We worked with them and their team to push for mental health initiatives in their programs, and displayed our project on their site. Additionally, we spoke on their esteemed podcast, The Power of Young People, about the story behind MHAYA and the objective of our organization.

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Mercer

We are currently in collaboration with NAMI Mercer as we have connected with their organization to deliver presentations, hold tables at events, and spread awareness to their audience. NAMI focuses on ending the stigma surrounding mental illness, which we combine with our focus on athletics to overall advocate for the cause of mental health awareness. Their national events and conferences are incredible opportunities to speak to a vast audience who cares about mental health, and to learn more about their cause.

The Davidson Academy

We are currently in collaboration with the Davidson Academy in Reno, NV as MHAYA was built with the Davidson Young Ambassadors Program. We typically interview their students on our podcast, and teach them about MHAYA. Additionally, we've featured at Davidson events such as their annual summits, and served as a panelist for their Alumni Student Panel on Sports. With the help of the Davidson program, we are able to connect with students and parents and teach them about mental health in youth.

Robbinsville Town Council

We are also in collaboration with the Robbinsville Town Council to help make an impact on the Robbinsville Community. We work with them to attend community events and help implement solutions for mental health crises in students, as well as spread awareness on this topic in schools and other community institutions. The council aids in reaching a large number of people in our local town, and allowing our message to be spread.

Aadhyaatmik

We have collaborated with Aadhyaatmik Robbinsville to attend their events and work with their advisors. Working with them has allowed us to speak to parents and students in our community, and further advocate for mental health in youth.

Initiatives

MHAYA aims to continue to spread awareness and advocate for mental health in young athletes through events, features, and collaborations. We actively continue to work with newer organizations and find new places to speak on our message.