John Boonstra (he/him) is a local counselor, father, and stereotypical middle-aged Traverse City Man (sports a beard, drives a truck, and claims he enjoys biking while never actually seen biking). John graduated from Northwestern Michigan College in 2001; after graduating from NMC he drove south on 131 to claim his BS degree and then aContinue reading “John Boonstra to Speak at Elevate Northern Michigan Mental Health Summit #3”
Category Archives: We Fight
The 2022 Good Works Lab Annual Report
Our 2022 initiatives (more information and photos found in the annual report document):
Making a Promise To Do Better in 2023
“Young people don’t need to be our next crisis—but they do need us to do better.” One year ago, a small but mighty group of ordinary people came together to form We Fight Northern Michigan – a community with one agenda: leverage the Surgeon General’s Advisory to better protect the mental health of our young people. AndContinue reading “Making a Promise To Do Better in 2023”
Marvelous Mondays: Structured Play Program to Improve Well-being at Traverse Heights Elementary
Marvelous Mondays is a pilot program that provides fun, easy, structured play at Traverse Heights Elementary during recess. This program organizes play with Traverse Heights’ Roadrunner Club (community volunteers) to increase physical activity, encourage positive behaviors and improve well-being. Terrific Tuesdays provide fun, structured play at Central Grade School during lunch recess to increase physicalContinue reading “Marvelous Mondays: Structured Play Program to Improve Well-being at Traverse Heights Elementary”
Self-Compassion, Social Intelligence + Lifesavers in Support of Youth Mental Health in Northern Michigan
Earlier this month, We Fight, a self-organizing network of people who care, hosted Elevate Northern Michigan #2: A Mental Health Summit Series for Young Leaders — and Those Who Love Them. Elevate Northern Michigan aims to boost knowledge, shift attitudes, decrease stigma and build support for a Northern Michigan where everyone plays a role in protectingContinue reading “Self-Compassion, Social Intelligence + Lifesavers in Support of Youth Mental Health in Northern Michigan”
Meg Mertaugh-Graber to Speak at Elevate Northern Michigan Mental Health Summit #2
We Fight is excited to have Megan Mertaugh-Graber speak at our next youth mental health summit on November 1st at the Northwestern Michigan College. Here’s more about Meg in her own words: I was born and raised in Traverse City, Michigan, on Anishinaabe land known as Northern Michigan to settler colonial people. I am anContinue reading “Meg Mertaugh-Graber to Speak at Elevate Northern Michigan Mental Health Summit #2”
University of Michigan’s Peer To Peer Mental Health Program to Pilot at Traverse City High Schools
In June, Rotary Charities announced a $45,000 grant award to TCAPS to bring the University of Michigan’s Peer To Peer program to Central Hign School and West High School for 2022-23. Strong research tells us that teens are likelier to listen to their friends than to well-meaning adults. This is the first time UM will bring its award-winning program to Northern Michigan. Huge thanks to everyone involvedContinue reading “University of Michigan’s Peer To Peer Mental Health Program to Pilot at Traverse City High Schools”
We Fight Spotlight: Stay Well from the State of Michigan
At We Fight, we’re always aiming to put the Spotlight on resources that our members have found useful. With peer groups, workshops for identifying the signs of mental health struggle in teens, and more, Stay Well from the State of Michigan has certainly helped many We Fight members. Erin Wallace, Stay Well’s Project Manager, talkedContinue reading “We Fight Spotlight: Stay Well from the State of Michigan”
This local youth mental health story was published a year ago today
On August 8th, 2021, this story ran on the cover of the Traverse City Record-Eagle. One year later, have we made progress toward a northern Michigan where everyone plays a role in protecting our kids’ mental health? What’s going well? What isn’t? How can a self-organizing network of people who care like We Fight make a difference? HowContinue reading “This local youth mental health story was published a year ago today”
Teens. Outside. In the Woods.
The science is solid – we’re happier, healthier, and more creative when we’re off the couch, off the screen, and outside with friends. I’m stoked that We Fight is teaming up with the City of Traverse City’s Human Rights Commission to host a series of summertime hikes for our young leaders – and future leaders. The hikesContinue reading “Teens. Outside. In the Woods.”
Good Works Lab 