More than 350 students gathered inside the Trophy Hallway at Omaha Burke High School on May 1 for a student-led mental health fair organized by Alejandra Wells, founder of Hiya (goshophiya.com).
Held during lunch periods, the event connected students with local mental health resources, peer-led activities and opportunities for conversations around well-being. The fair was developed with a school psychologist from Omaha Public Schools, who served as a point of contact alongside Wells to help coordinate logistics and ensure appropriate support was available throughout.
Several Omaha-based organizations participated in the event, providing information and engaging directly with students including Boys Town, The Kim Foundation, Methodist Health System, Inclusive Communities, and Omaha Teen Center, in addition to therapists from Omaha Public Schools.
“I was honestly blown away by the turnout,” said Wells, 18. “To see hundreds of students show up, engage, and support each other in such a real way, it just reinforced that this work matters and that young people are ready for these conversations.”
At the Hiya booth, more than 200 student volunteers assembled components for Hiya Care Kits by writing handwritten notes of encouragement. The kits are designed to provide peer-to-peer support through affirmations and mental wellness tools for young people.
The activity was supported in part by Hiya’s recent award through the Hershey’s Heartwarming Project Grant, administered by Youth Service America in partnership with The Hershey Company. For more information, visit goshophiya.com.