Speak Now | A Chicago Youth Mental Health & Self-Care Gathering

Connecting 100+ CPS youth with mental health researchers, clinicians, and advocates to build self-care toolkits and drive community care.

Co-created by Speak Now, a global youth-led mental health organization, alongside Walter Payton Prep NAMI and Northside Prep NAMI, this evening gathering at Logan Square’s Sip of Hope Coffeehouse brings together over 100 Chicago Public Schools students and local youth. Designed to educate, inspire, and break stigma, the event connects high schoolers with leading mental health and neuroscience researchers, educators, and clinicians for interactive keynotes and workshops on stress and emotional well-being. Attendees will take part in peer-led discussions, complete "Kindness Starts with You" Promise Cards, receive mental health bracelets, and access suicide prevention tools supported by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Illinois Chapter. Funding ensures accessibility by providing travel micro-scholarships for under-resourced youth across Chicagoland, free refreshments, and mental health resources and toolkits. By removing financial barriers, we are building a safe, empowering space where students leave equipped to protect their own mental health and support their peers.