Keeping Our Youth Well

According to YoungMinds, 67% of young people believe the Coronavirus pandemic had a negative effect on their mental health. Globally, youth are reporting notably less motivation to do things they normally enjoyed.

Last week, Dara and Dave were in Seattle to support Washington DECA’s Fall Leadership Conference, the first in-person program in over a year for close to 1,000 students. In partnership with DECA’s their ‘Team Extreme’ State Officer leaders and intern, DECA student Zac Sherrer, we facilitated multiple workshops for students and educators, as well as a well-being circuit with several activities as part #SharetheLOVEDECA, our joint initiative to promote positive mental wellness, personal and professional development. 

The goal was simple: cultivate a culture of appreciation, connection, and self-care with youth.

Each student received a free download of the DECA Cards (co-created with Washington DECA) for use in several interactive programs: 

• A Gratitude wall where students shared what they were grateful for.
• A competition to create Virtues Cards through art
• A game of Virtues jeopardy to feature lighthearted competition and learning.
• Reflection and teamwork by asking virtues-questions designed by, for and about students and their schools.

Check out the video highlights here.