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Meet "Teen Leaders for Change" Making a Difference in Walnut Creek and Beyond
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By Kara Navolio, Resident since 1991
Recently a group of six teens came together to create a club dedicated to “doing wellness right.” The club, Teen Leaders for Change, also known as TL4C, was formed as a result of each teen’s interest to change the way society views mental health and the approach to emotional well-being. They each believe in the power of Behavioral Fitness and how it taught them to see how they can support each other and themselves in healthy ways. Their motto became “Treating Depression doesn’t have to be Depressing.” The group’s mission is to increase emotional well-being in the communities they serve through education, technology, and having fun together.
The new club is starting off by focusing on a business plan that includes reducing the stigma around mental health, helping people work better together, and reducing anxiety and depression. They spend time discussing the best way to talk to the community about these issues. As club member Dylan Giesecke, a sophomore at Northgate High School (NHS) who aspires to give TED Talks, says,
TL4C has set up a website (https://www.comprehensivewellness.org/ groups/teens-change/), and pages on Facebook (wedowellnessright) and Instagram (wedowellnessright), and outlined roles and responsibilities for each member. Erfan Moradi, one of the founding club members, is committed to getting the club’s social media platforms active and a place for our community to go and learn more about how to get involved and learn more. This is where the group will post and recognize people in the community who are “doing wellness right.”
The club aims to create opportunities and events that encourage other teens to explore new and unique ways to become Behaviorally Fit. One of their first events was a workshop, called “Improv for Social Change,” taught by NHS teacher John Litten. Giesecke adds, “While improv is an awesome way to build relationships and have fun…. it can also be a great way to disrupt the status quo and propel new thinking. One of the goals of improv is to focus on how to set up your partner to look/sound great. You are really focusing on what it means to help someone else be their best self and what it feels like to have the same in return.”
The club also coordinated a Behaviorally Fit Drum Circle in which anyone who was interested, including parents, came together to try something new. No experience was necessary and each participant was taught to contribute to the whole in a meaningful way. “It’s very easy to jump right in,” says Savannah Ellis. They hope to make this a monthly event in Civic Park.
TL4C Club hopes that events like drum circles can bring the community together.
Other goals include completing three wellness initiatives by 2020, enlisting 25 business partners who will sponsor events, and growing the membership to 200 teens. They are excited about new people joining, coming to meetings and getting involved in their initiatives. “We plan to grow our membership here in Northgate and the 680/24 corridor,” adds Erfan. “And once we have a real handle on all that is involved, we would like there to be TL4C chapters in other communities. For now if people want o learn more they can like us on Facebook or Instagram and send us a message.”
says Charlotte Eirich, an 8th grader. Nicky DeJear, a junior who plans to study finance and make a career of helping people be financially fit, adds,
This group of brave young people is paving the way for people to come together and discover our similarities, embrace our differences, and build bridges so that all can experience a sense of well-being. As Jessica Long, a junior who plans to study psychology, says, “We are looking for nominations of adults that we can recognize for ‘doing wellness right.’ We are excited about recognizing you and your nominees for the awesome ways that people are being kind and not judging themselves and others, for example. There will be lots of ways to get involved and easily support our mission.”
Do you know a neighbor who has a story to share? Nominate your neighbor to be featured in one of our upcoming issues! Contact us at knavolio@bestversionmedia.com.
