Voices of Now: Youth Wellness Town Hall 2026

Something powerful is happening in Bowie — and you are invited.

My Neighbor's Keeper Alliance Inc. (MyNKA) proudly presents the 2nd Annual Voices of Now: Youth Wellness Town Hall, a free afternoon dedicated to the mental, emotional, and social wellbeing of our young people. After a tremendously successful inaugural event in 2025, we are back — bigger, bolder, and more determined than ever to create a space where youth feel safe, seen, and supported.

This event is designed for middle school through college-aged youth, their parents, and community members — with a special focus on youth of color navigating the very real pressures of today's world. Whether you are a young person struggling to find your footing, a parent searching for the right words, or a community member who simply believes in showing up — there is a seat here for you.

Admission is completely FREE. All are welcome.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

🎨 Youth Art Showcase — "What Does Wellness Look Like to Me?" Step into a gallery of healing. Local youth artists, painters, photographers, spoken word artists, poets, musicians, and dancers will fill the room with creative works that explore identity, resilience, and what it truly means to be well. Browse the showcase during pre-event mingling and let the art move you before the program even begins.

🎙️ Expert Panel Discussion — Real Talk, Real Answers Four panelists — including mental health professionals, community advocates, and faith-based leaders — will tackle the questions young people are too afraid to ask out loud. Audience members submit questions anonymously via Slido, and our panelists answer with honesty, lived experience, and compassion. No clinical jargon. No judgment. Just real conversation.

🌱 "Root It Out" — Interactive Wellness Activity In this signature MyNKA activity, every attendee receives a leaf card and writes one thing they want to root out of their life and one wellness goal they are planting. Leaves are added to our Tree of Wellness mural in a powerful, collective moment of community intention. It is brief, meaningful, and something you will not forget.

💰 Financial Literacy Mini-Session — Money Moves for Dummies A fast, practical, youth-friendly 10-minute session covering the money basics they never taught you in school — budgeting, credit, saving, and avoiding financial traps. Because wellness is not just emotional. It is economic, too.

🎁 Three Raffle Draws Walk in, participate, and you could walk out a winner. Raffle tickets are earned throughout the event by engaging with activities and visiting resource tables. Three draws. Real prizes.

🏥 Mental Health Resource Tables Connect face-to-face with local mental health organizations, family support services, and community partners. Leave with real tools, real contacts, and a gift bag — on us.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

✅ Middle school, high school, and college students ✅ Parents and guardians of young people ✅ Community members, advocates, and faith leaders ✅ Anyone who has ever felt lost, overwhelmed, or unsure where to turn ✅ Anyone who believes in the power of community to heal

WHY THIS EVENT MATTERS:

Young people — especially youth of color — are navigating a mental health crisis that too often goes unspoken. Social media pressure, academic burnout, loneliness, grief, and uncertainty are reshaping what it means to grow up today. MyNKA created Voices of Now because we believe every young person deserves a room where they can exhale, ask hard questions, and discover they are not alone.

Our 2025 inaugural event drew over 55 attendees and generated powerful, candid conversations that attendees said they had never had anywhere else. In 2026, we are creating even more space — for more voices, more healing, and more community.

Come experience it for yourself.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher My Neighbor's Keeper Alliance Inc.