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The Californians for Justice team in Fresno organized a Student Wellness Fair on May 15th at Farber Educational Campus. The event, sponsored by local community organizations Chicano Youth Center and Maarte, focused on fostering connection and ensuring our students and communities have access to wellness resources offered in Fresno. 

The Fresno team, including youth, organizers, communications, and people & operations, brought the invitation directly to the community, going door-to-door in the neighborhood surrounding the Farber Educational Campus, inviting families to learn more and attend the event. 

Theresa Armstrong II, our CFJ Fresno core intern for the 25-26 school year, led the Student Wellness Fair. This event was brought to life from her vision to share more community resources with students in the Fresno Unified School District, especially foster or homeless youth, who may not be aware of what resources are available or feel embarrassed to ask for help. 

“Growing up, mental health was not talked about. [In adolescence] that’s when it really started to become important to me: it needed to be taken care of, it could not get swept under the rug anymore,” said Armstrong. “It’s good to give as much as you can, but it’s hard to give when you feel like your cup is empty– you don’t have anything to give but negative energy. So I think it’s important that everybody considers their mental health.”

The Student Wellness Fair hosted information booths from a variety of free or low-cost programs, including Wellness to the West, Marjaree Mason Center, One Hope Community Choir, Sound for the People, Rooted Wellness Collective, Beloved Survivors, and Integral Community Solutions Institute. Community members were able to browse the booths and connect with local organizations for wellness resources. 

Maarte founder Christine Rose led a community stretching session, inviting participants to slow down, focus on their body and breathwork, and take a moment for inner reflection and collective healing. Chef Ana at Maarte also catered dinner for the event. 

The fair also offered a variety of activity stations inside, giving the community a chance to decompress and learn healthy coping mechanisms with arts and crafts, including painting, journaling, zine designing, and slime making. 

Rey Vasquez, another CFJ core intern, stressed the importance of students having the resources to manage their mental health and take the time to do things that bring them joy.

“Most of the time [students] just feel overwhelmed. They don’t have enough time for the things they truly do enjoy, and they have no time to do them for themselves,” said Vasquez. “I think it’s important just having the resources to give them, and make them acknowledge that it’s okay to take a step back and prioritize yourself over something like academics or extracurriculars.”

The Fresno team’s goal is to plan their student wellness center campaign work before the next school year and continue to engage our youth in leading the process. 

As Mental Health Awareness month comes to a close, we at Californians for Justice would like to emphasize the importance of mental wellness in our communities. Mental health is not just a personal struggle, but a systemic issue stemming from political and social environments. In supporting youth wellness, you are championing youth leadership, racial equity in education, and people-powered change. Invest in the movement and donate to CFJ today!