I have wanted and needed answers about what resources and programs are available in our Roaring Fork Valley and in our schools to keep teens mentally healthy. I have needed to learn what to do when I question the behavior of my boys, their friends or other adult influences in their lives. I have needed to stand up and say no when other parents were saying yes, and to be empowered to hold my ground when it was crumbling beneath me, as I heard words from other adults that made me feel delusional, paranoid and very much alone on my own island with my parenting.
But the most important reason I planned this symposium in 60 days was that I felt the need to bring us all closer together to create that village, in a valley known for community and for stepping up to help others. I needed a clearer perspective on the health of the teens in our valley and a greater understanding of how we can work better together to weather the storm and become the village that changes social norms.
This past November, five high school students in a Tesla failed to make a curve near the T-Lazy-7 Ranch in Aspen, went off a cliff, hit a tree and landed in a frigid river. They all miraculously survived, though two were injured. According to the Aspen Times, the driver and his parents were later charged in connection with parties at their home that allegedly involved minors, drugs and alcohol.
With three teenage boys of my own, and as the aunt of one of the passengers in that crash, my concern for the health of teens in the Roaring Fork Valley escalated. As a blogger and community influencer, I knew the time was now to produce an Aspen Connect symposium to help families be more mindful and cohesive, and to help our communities bond together in a state with one of the highest suicide rates in the nation.
On May 20, at the Aspen District Theatre, the Roaring Fork Valley came together to hear the stories of parents and teens and to learn what local health professionals, prevention specialists, youth counselors, juvenile investigators and critical care physicians are seeing.
Taking the Leap
When you decide to take a leap, nothing prepares you for the work that follows. Preparing for this symposium was a whirlwind of staying in my genius and meditating so I wouldn’t sabotage my efforts by thinking “I can’t” rather than “I will.” Thank you to Gregg & Cath Photographers for keeping me from falling off the tracks. It was so rewarding to provide a platform for those bravely sharing their voices.
I’m so glad I listened to my intuition and produced this event in so little time, and I couldn’t have done it without our Roaring Fork Valley community, who stood up to make sure it would be an experience we could all share together. It was a long 60 days with my nose to the grindstone, but we got ’er done. I feel so rewarded for helping others and for proving to myself that I’ve got this. The world is now my oyster, and all of you helping others are my pearls.
We all must listen to our inner drive. It is of the utmost importance if we want to make a change in the world.
Thank You
To Cath Adams, who sent me leads to many of the people on the panel and to all the contacts at the schools. I know there are so many others helping the youth of our valley, and we’ll get to you. To our guest speakers, who were so stoic and brave in sharing their stories to help others. To Chris and Elana Royer for printing and hanging the posters and resource guide. To Christina King for coming to so many meetings with me to get to know the speakers on her panel, and for the crash course on counseling. To Sonja Linman, who rocked my world with her knowledge and passion for our youth. To Sheriff DiSalvo and Deputy Sheriff Cam Daniel; my admiration grows for you both with every meeting. To moderator Liz Means and the other invited guests, who devoted their time and advice. To Jonathan Geller for donating his time in the theater. To the Aspen Times for the ads and stories. And to Michael and Ariel Burns of CAV for providing the audio and visual so the evening’s important information could reach a global audience through our live feeds.
Thank you to our sponsors and partners: Along Their Way, Aspen Youth Center, Aspen Hope Center, Aspen Strong, the Family Counseling Center for Roaring Fork Schools and Stepping Stones, for jumping on board and opening my eyes to the many ways you help others, and for your patience with my technical difficulties as a one-woman band. Thank you to Heather Cramer for standing by our youth who make mistakes and giving them a second chance. To FirstBank for its Banking for Good campaign and for having boots on the ground in our communities. To Marcus Thackston at Blend Web for always answering my 911 calls. To Lindsay Lofaro of The Buddy Program for the outreach and for an incredible mentoring program for kids. And to Mountain Family Health for providing quality medical care with special consideration for the medically underserved.
Aspen Connect Ambassadors
Perhaps my favorite part of the evening was our Aspen Connect ambassadors, teens 13 and up, who greeted our guests with smiles and attended the event. I hope you all gained greater insight from this evening, and I look forward to growing the ambassador program in the schools so you can have a voice in all of this as we begin to change social norms.
