Middlesex 4 Mental Health’s Previous Events
Explore highlights from our past events featuring expert panels, community conversations, and educational workshops. These gatherings foster dialogue around mental health, identity, and equity. Access recordings and resources to revisit key insights and continue the conversation.
Juneteenth 2025
On June 21st, the Woburn community gathered at the Public Library for the 5th annual Juneteenth Woburn celebration, hosted by SCI Social Capital Inc. in collaboration with local organizations and city partners. Over 400 attendees enjoyed a day of learning, remembrance, music, and culture. Highlights included a powerful speaking program with remarks from city and state leaders, a keynote by Dr. Adrian Mims of The Calculus Project, and a solemn name reading honoring enslaved individuals buried in Woburn.
Inside the library, guests explored a Black Artist Exhibit and Juneteenth history displays, while youth enjoyed crafts and storytelling. Outside, DJ Cakewalk provided live music, and visitors enjoyed Caribbean food, community vendor tables, and activities. SCI’s Leaders for an Equitable Tomorrow (LET) interns supported the event by helping with tabling, connecting guests with local organizations and resources.
The event was made possible by the dedication of volunteers, local leaders, and funding from the Woburn Cultural Council and other sponsors.
Mayor Michael Concannon issued the official Juneteenth Proclamation for the City of Woburn
Keynote Speaker, Dr. Adrian Mims
Kindness Day 2025
Woburn Kindness Day Activity in March – 110 engaged (60 attended): To celebrate the City of Woburn’s annual Kindness Day, the LET youth partnered with the Woburn Senior Center. The LET interns and volunteers organized a variety of activities and a community art display. This was an intergenerational event attended by approximately 15 seniors and 45 youth. When asked what they most enjoyed about the event, one senior remarked, “Socialization.” The senior then explained that they enjoyed “[knowing] that young people are maturing and becoming caring humans. I will need them in the near future, as the ‘world turns.’” “I loved hearing stories from the seniors,” shared a student in high school.
One of the standout activities was a community art display called “Roots of Connection,” inspired by Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree. This interactive display encouraged community members to write uplifting and kind messages to Woburn’s seniors. Several contributions were written in several languages, such as Spanish, Haitian-Creole, Khmer, and Mandarin, to reflect the area’s growing cultural diversity. Many notes were written days leading up to Kindness Day through the network of SCI’s interns and volunteers in the LET program, which expanded the reach of this Woburn Kindness Day event.The LET Work it Out event was held in October in partnership with Freddy Live Fitness in Winchester. This event focused on how physical health is connected to mental health. There were 25 youth at the event who participated in the event. The event opened with a 30-minute group workout, followed by 10-minute presentations from three speakers: a nutritionist, a physical trainer, and a police officer. The event closed with an open discussion and Q&A.
December Holiday Social 2024
Holiday Social in December – 30 attendees: The LET Holiday Social was held in December at the Woburn Public Library and was attended by 30 youth, about 15 of them were Haitian migrant youth. At the event, the LET interns shared information and resources related to mental health and their work with SCI’s LET program. A highlight of the event was a gingerbread building competition. To foster new connections, youth were randomly put into groups of 2-3 and were given conversation prompts. Prizes were given to the top three winning teams who were selected by the LET interns. One youth from a winning team shared what they enjoyed most: “being paired with someone I didn’t previously know and working together to secure gold.”
Work it Out 2024
The LET Work it Out event was held in October in partnership with Freddy Live Fitness in Winchester. This event focused on how physical health is connected to mental health. There were 25 youth at the event who participated in the event. The event opened with a 30-minute group workout, followed by 10-minute presentations from three speakers: a nutritionist, a physical trainer, and a police officer. The event closed with an open discussion and Q&A.
LET Fall Kickoff 2024
Fall Kickoff event in September – 30 attendees: The LET Fall Kickoff Event was held in September at the Woburn Public Library and was attended by 30 youth. At the event, the LET interns shared information and resources related to mental health and their work with SCI’s LET program. Youth were invited to do various crafts and activities that wove in topics related to mental health and community-building.
Summer Training 2024
SCI’s Leaders for an Equitable Tomorrow (LET) interns—Jacobsy Altman, Luke Sheldon, and Valery Verdier—spent the summer of 2024 engaging in meaningful programming focused on mental health, mindfulness, and social justice. The interns participated in a workshop led by the Network for Social Justice titled Self-Care and Mental Health: Support for Social Justice Work, where they explored self-care goals and created personalized watercolor pieces as a mindful activity.
Throughout the summer, the LET interns reflected on their personal well-being, planned future community initiatives, and strengthened their understanding of intersectional issues impacting mental health.
Field Trip to the Royale House and Slave Quarters 2024
In July, the interns also visited the Royal House & Slave Quarters in Medford, learning about Massachusetts’ history with slavery. Guided by Education Coordinator Toni Waldron, the immersive tour gave the interns a new perspective on the North’s role in slavery, often overlooked in historical narratives.
You, Me, and AI 2024
In May 2024, SCI and the Network for Social Justice (NFSJ) hosted You, Me & AI: A Multigenerational Conversation on Mental Health, Bias & Digital Technology—a workshop that brought together over 75 attendees of all ages to discuss the implications of generative AI (GenAI) on mental health, social justice, and community values.
The interactive event featured interdisciplinary speaker Dr. D’Nita Ghosh, who emphasized the importance of community voice and identity in shaping future technology use. Participants explored GenAI’s ethical and emotional impact through breakout sessions on topics like bias in AI, mental health, and cross-generational perspectives. The session encouraged reflection on personal connections to technology and ways to build mindful, informed engagement.
This workshop was part of the LET (Leaders for an Equitable Tomorrow) program’s focus on youth mental health, supported by local partners and funding from Winchester Hospital Community Benefits and others.
Pawsitive Minds 2024
As part of the Middlesex 4 Mental Health initiative, Serey Kremer (SCI Americor Fellow 2023-24) hosted an interactive, student-led event focused on the mental health benefits of pets. The event invited youth and community members to learn how furry companions can offer emotional support, reduce stress, and boost mental well-being. Attendees explored the science behind pet ownership’s positive effects, heard personal stories, and reflected on how animals can enhance routines and provide a sense of purpose. The program aimed to foster a deeper understanding of how pets contribute to emotional resilience and everyday happiness.
Healthy Approaches to Post-Highschool Pathways 2024
On March 25th, 2024, SCI’s Leaders for an Equitable Tomorrow (LET) program hosted a community panel discussion on navigating post-high school pathways with a focus on mental health and well-being. Held at the James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club in Woburn, the event welcomed local teens, parents, and community members for an insightful dialogue moderated by Emmy-nominated reporter Crystal Haynes.
Panelists from diverse backgrounds—including higher education, school counseling, and the tech industry—shared personal stories and offered strategies for managing stress, embracing non-linear career paths, and pursuing personal passions. Students were encouraged to prioritize their happiness, seek support, and stay open to opportunities.
The event concluded with students engaging directly with panelists to ask follow-up questions about their futures, reinforcing the panel’s message that success comes in many forms and starts with self-awareness and resilience.
Kindness Day 2024
On March 20th, SCI Woburn hosted its 2nd Annual Kindness Day at the Woburn Senior Center in collaboration with the Leaders for an Equitable Tomorrow (LET) interns. This intergenerational event brought together over 60 local residents, students, and volunteers to celebrate and spread kindness. Activities included creating a collaborative kindness tree and engaging in thoughtful conversations that built community connections across generations. The event emphasized the power of small, caring actions and honored the importance of compassion and inclusion.
December Holiday Social 2023
On December 2023, the SCI Leaders For An Equitable Tomorrow (LET) got in the holiday spirit with an evening at the Woburn Public Library’s teen room with local food, a gingerbread house competition, and prizes for their Holiday Social. Everyone left with goodies to promote mental wellness that featured fidget toys and resources.
SCI’s Leaf Raking Event
In November 2023, the LET Team volunteered for SCI’s Leaf Raking Event to help rake leaves for senior citizens in the Woburn area. They were able to help support SCI with assisting 21 seniors across Woburn and gathering hundreds of bags of leaves from their yards.
Social Media and Teen Mental Health
On October 2023, youth and parents attended a workshop led by Dr. Jill Walsh (expert in the field of Social Media and Teen Mental Health). We split up into two groups (parents and teens) and discussed how social media affects teens.
