🌿 Empowering Youth Voices: Fair Chance Initiative at Washington Montessori School’s Mental Health Day 🌿

This past week, the Fair Chance Initiative had the incredible opportunity to host and lead a Mental Health Awareness workshop at Washington Montessori School, designed to engage middle school students in open, honest, and stigma-free conversations about mental wellness. As a youth-led organization, this event was more than just a presentation—it was an opportunity to create a space for younger students to learn, reflect, and feel heard.

Photo Credits: Yuqi Qian

From the moment we stepped into the classroom, our goal was to foster a welcoming environment where students could connect with the topic on a personal level. Our team—made up of passionate high schoolers—presented on key areas of mental health, including:

Photo Credits: Yuqi Qian

✨ Understanding Stress:

We broke down what stress really is, the difference between episodic acute stress and chronic stress, and how these impact our minds and bodies. It was powerful to see students nodding along, realizing maybe for the first time that what they’re experiencing has a name—and that it’s valid.

A student making slime at our slime de-stressing workshop! Photo Credits: Yuqi Qian

🌈 Managing Stress in Healthy Ways:

We shared practical tools for coping, from taking breaks from social media to practicing daily gratitude. Simple actions like getting enough sleep, staying active, and talking to trusted friends can make a huge difference—and we made sure everyone left knowing they’re not alone.

Students working together on a collaborative mural. Photo Credits: Yuqi Qian

💛 Spreading Kindness & Being There for Others:

Our team led discussions on how to check in on friends, show empathy, and be a good listener. One of the most meaningful moments was when we talked about the power of small acts of kindness. Saying “hi” in the hallway or offering a genuine compliment can truly brighten someone’s day.

Students playing collaborative games together. Photo Credits: Yuqi Qian

👂 Active Listening:

Through storytelling and interactive moments, we emphasized the importance of listening—not to respond, but to understand. Being a good listener doesn’t mean having all the answers. Sometimes, just being there is more than enough.

Throughout the workshop, we were amazed by the students’ openness, curiosity, and thoughtful questions. They shared their own experiences, discussed their coping strategies, and even laughed with us as we navigated some tough but important conversations.

This event reminded us exactly why we started the Fair Chance Initiative: to give youth—especially minority youth—the tools, knowledge, and confidence to speak up about mental health. Stigma thrives in silence, but when we talk, we break down barriers.

We’re so grateful to Washington Montessori School for trusting us with this space and to every student who listened, engaged, and shared. You inspire us to keep going. Special thanks to Mr. Rosario, Dr. Bouffard, and everyone else involved in making this day happen!

Stay tuned—Fair Chance will only grow from here!

With care,

The Fair Chance Initiative Team 💜

P.S. Check out the gallery below for all the other photos we captured!