Hello, my name is Maryjane Castro, and I am a first-year Political Science major and the 2026–2027 President of Active Minds at my College! My team and I are collecting funds to go to a mental health conference in Washington, D.C. We will go to the Capitol with the organization and advocate for specific policies!

My journey with mental health transformed from simply identifying my struggles to actively healing, processing, growing, and achieving academic success. Active Minds is the nation’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to youth mental health advocacy. We are asking for donations to attend the 2026 Active Minds Conference on July 17th in Washington, D.C. We would hope to receive $6.5k in donations to fund our officer team and our advisor!

This conference will bring together “young mental health advocates from across the country to engage directly with lawmakers on Capitol Hill and advocate for meaningful mental health policy reform. The conference focuses on innovative ways to prioritize mental health on campuses, in workplaces, and within communities.” As both an Active Minds chapter president and a Political Science student, I see this conference as a major opportunity for leadership development, advocacy experience, national representation, and campus engagement.

My team and I hope that you could take some time to hear our personal statements.

Active Minds Vice President, Lillian:

Before getting involved with the psychology clubs here on campus, I felt very lost, hopeless, and alone. My experience is typical for most first-year college students, especially since navigating every resource and institute on campus can be extremely overwhelming and even intimidating. Our mission as the Active Minds club has been to give students a safe space to comfortably process their emotions and offer support for every unique person and issue, especially when they attend our club meetings. We aim to advocate for mental health by challenging stigmas, informing people about different coping strategies, and giving every student the visibility that they deserve. I believe that donations to our Active Minds club’s officer team to go to the Active Minds Nonprofit Organization’s Hill Day & Mental Health Advocacy conference in Washington, D.C. on July 17th, 2026, will be an extremely important contribution to our cause. As the leading mental health club on our College’s campus, we want to do more than just help our club members for the 2026-2027 school year. The community that I have found here on campus has opened my eyes to the possibility of getting as many people involved in order to create an environment that strives for connection, visibility, and support. With the proper funding and experience, our leadership team can truly make an everlasting impact on our campus!

Active Minds Secretary, Yeshua:

“The minds of our officer team are dedicated to the prosperity and pursuit of mental wellness. This is entirely because of our involvement in the Active Minds club, and I can say with complete confidence that the people I work with are more than qualified to tackle this mission with passion and integrity.”

Active Minds Treasurer, Sam:

“This opportunity gives the team and me a chance to educate ourselves on the A.S.K Initiative. A.S.K is a program focused on peer-to-peer mental health support that focuses on helping friends/others in everyday contexts. According to ActiveMinds.org, “70% of young people say they want to help their friends with mental health, but do not know how to approach it.” The A.S.K Initiative provides a clear model and guide that anyone can follow (acknowledge, support, keep in touch), creating a support system that is based on mutual community support instead of having to go to specific bodies for support. I believe that we will be able to ask vital questions directly to the organizers of the movement at the conference, which will be invaluable to Active Minds being able to implement this movement here.”

Publicist, Aeneas:

“Active Minds has done so much for the mental health of youth nationwide, and this trip will allow all of us to make connections and learn more about our club. This will help our active minds chapter become part of something bigger. ”