SL24 QuarterlyReportMay2024

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SL24 CLASSIC RECAP

TEEN WAREHOUSE SEAN’S ROOM UPDATES & MORE

“I am than an more athlete”

Zachary Ryan

Angela Pugliese

It started with somewhat typical high school awkwardness and a little posturing among rivals on the court Basketball players from teams in the 6th Annual SL24 Basketball Classic gathered to do a promo shoot and answer questions about mental health. Before the lights and cameras rolled, these young people were eating pizza and simply chatting after a long day of school, practice, and games. Once initial introductions were made, it was amazing how different young people with unique backgrounds, schools, and family dynamics could speak a common language of pressure. There can be so much on a young person’s plate. Sometimes it takes putting some pizza on the plate and talking openly about stress to alleviate it

These unheralded little moments of light make the SL24 Basketball Classic so special. It is people coming together outside of their routine to TALK about and BE about mental health. Every team gets a conversation in the locker room before their game. It is a “thank you” from Chris Locke on behalf of the Foundation. It is also a reminder to have fun. Finally, it is communicated that people care about you for more than what you do on the court -- for everything you are over a simple conversation with a plate of pizza.

Our Mission

E D U C A T E

To end the stigma, myths, and barriers to brave conversations regarding mental health and wellness.

A S S I S T

Through our SL24 Mental Health Scholarship program, providing uninsured and underinsured young people the means to get the critical and ongoing mental health services they need.

S U P P O R T

Youth struggling in darkness with trained Peer24 Team Members, Support Groups, and safe spaces like Sean’s House and Sean’s Rooms.

M E E T T H E N E W T E A M M E M B E R

A little about you...

I started out at Sean’s House as a Peer24 Specialist. After spending some time as a volunteer, I stepped into a Peer Lead role before taking over the Director of Operations position in March 2024. I am originally from Long Island, NY and graduated from the University of Delaware in 2022 with a degree in Sociology.

Operations?

I am in charge perations at

Why is SL24 important to you?

Growing up, I struggled with anxiety and depression. When I was younger, I always felt like I was alone with what I was going through. This is why SL24 and its mission are so important to me - I want to make sure young people out there know that they are not alone, and that they are cared for and important. As someone with a chronic illness as well as mental illnesses, having a space where people can feel supported and talk about what they’re going through is so important to me.

What are you most looking forward to in your new role?

I look forward to expanding our programming for Gather and Grow Dinners by having more activities geared toward mental health to really get people talking about their feelings and struggles. It is important to me that every person who walks through our doors feels comfortable and safe sharing their experiences.

M E E T T H E N E W T E A M M E M B E R

M I A D ’ A N T O N I

A little about you...

ted as a Peer24 specialist at Sean’s e in the Winter of 2022 before I me a Peer Lead. I shadowed Fallon e Sean’s Room Coordinator, and ally took over the position in March . I’m originally from Annapolis, MD graduated from the University of ware with a degree in Psychology.

at is Sean’ s Room Coordinator?

As the Sean’s Room Coordinator, I am the main point of contact at the Sean’s Rooms located in New Castle County.

Why is SL24 important to you?

I went through a large period of my life feeling like there was no one I could talk to about how I was feeling. It wasn’t until I walked through the doors of Sean’s House that I gained the courage to get help, and now I’m able to help other young people do the same! SL24 has not only saved me, it’s given me a purpose. I will forever be grateful!

What are you most looking forward to in your new role?

I’m really looking forward to introducing SL24 and Sean’s Room as a resource to teens who otherwise don’t have the means to travel to Sean’s House in Newark, DE. I love getting the opportunity to help normalize mental health conversations during this adolescent period of their lives.

O U R M I S S I O N T O

E D U C A T E

The Gather & Grow Experience

The goal of our Gather & Grow Dinners is to get groups of people in the community together to destigmatize talking about mental health, while enjoying a free meal from one of our local vendors At a typical Gather & Grow Dinner, guests are welcomed by our Peer24 Specialists and Peer Leads into either the dining room or backyard to enjoy their meal While they eat, one of our Peer Leads will talk with them about how our foundation was started, Sean’s story, and the resources we provide at the House.

Following the talk from the Peer Leads, we ask the group to participate in what we call “locks & lights.” This is an exercise where everyone in the group shares a “lock,” or something that has been limiting or holding them back recently, and a “light,” or something positive they have to look forward to. This activity allows people to feel seen and share any struggles they may be going through at the time. Following “locks & lights,” we have a multitude of activities designed by our own Peers and Interns to get people talking about mental health and how they are feeling, as well as connect with each other on a deeper level. An example of one of these is the Puzzle Activity. Each guest cuts a piece of paper into four unique shapes, writes four different words they would use to describe themselves, and puts an explanation of why they chose that word on the back. Once everyone has cut up and written on their shapes, the group takes turns sharing the pieces that make them who they are. Following our mental health activities, groups are welcome to enjoy the space however they see fit and are invited to tour the House, whether it is their first or fifth time here

At Sean’s House, we host a lot of Gather & Grow Dinners for local fraternities and sororities. To further support our Greek Life community, we invite representatives from atTAcK addiction, Impact Life, and Face the Facts to train these guests in Narcan administration. Getting trained in opioid overdose reversal, especially for groups on college campuses, is a life-saving resource. Our goal is to continue this training with all groups who come to the House.

As these Gather & Grow Dinners progress, we hope to continue our outreach within the community by providing a safe space to gather and connect with others about mental health Having a space to feel comfortable and safe in is important for one’s mental well-being, and we hope to continue to be this for all of our community members

Gather + Grow events at Sean’s House

Gather + Grow event attendees

Visitors Narcan trained at Gather + Grow events

all data recorded as of April 30, 2024

article credits: Fallon Hoffman

R E C E N T W O R K S H O P E D U C A T E

Supporting Teens Through Communication

Through our partnership with Nemours Children’s Health, we have developed a speaker series for parents and young adults on mental health. This first installment was held at our Saint Mark’s High School Sean’s Room. We are grateful to both Nemours and Saint Mark’s for partnering with us on this important initiative to educate our community.

In this talk, titled “Supporting Teens Through Communications,” parents and guardians learned more about:

Adolescent development and the impact on risk

Risk-taking behaviors and communication

Assertive, strength-based communication skills

Strategies for setting boundaries in collaborative ways

Skills for active listening that provide a positive environment for open communication.

SPEAKER

DR.LIANLIUPh.D. NEMOURSCHILDREN’SHEALTH

WEDNESDAY

APRIL24TH

TIME

SAINTMARK’S HIGHSCHOOL 4:00PMTO5:00PM

SEAN’SROOM

HOSTED BY:

O

U R M I S S I O N T O

A S S I S T

The 6th Annual SL24 Basketball Classic

The lights in the Chase Fieldhouse shut off as Chris Locke described the months after he had lost Sean. At that time, community was in state of a darkness, grief, and confusion How could this have happened? Then, one by one, people began to share their light. Friends and family members wanted to give people a space to celebrate Sean, athletes, and specifically basketball while shining light to guide those in that same darkness that Sean suffered. The path that was lit led to sports as an avenue to have meaningful conversations about mental health and suicide Poignant talks in the breaks of the basketball games continue to dispel the stigma around suicide and that athletes don’t face these issues.

As Chris described the first “light” in the SL24 Classic story, a single light shined from the Fieldhouse balcony It was appropriate that this light would come from Trevor Cooney, an SL24 Board Member. Trevor was a friend of Sean’s, a successful college basketball player at Syracuse, and was instrumental in making the 1st SL24 Basketball Classic come to life Next, more friends, family, and people who knew Sean shined their cell phone lights as Chris continued the story. Dozens leading to hundreds of lights would shine when the crowd was asked if they or someone they know has been affected by depression or mental illness. This moment was a powerful testament to the legacy of Sean’s light and the importance of SL24's ongoing mission.

The 6th Annual SL24 Basketball Classic was the highest attended, most watched on livestream, had the most teams participating, and raised over $600,000 in funds for youth mental health in Delaware. The lights in the stands and throughout the state continue to grow. It is appropriate that we would hit these new heights in 2024 - the year with Sean’s number, 24. This number is not just in our name, but reminds us that we are all a part of Sean’s Team. It reminds us that while it might take a single light create a spark, it takes a team of light to actualize change We cannot wait to see our team back for the 7th SL24 Basketball Classic.

U P C O M I N G O P P O R T U N I T I E S

A S S I S T

Light the Night 5k

Join us for an evening of light! The annual Light the Night 5k, through the support of Fusion Racing, is the only evening run of the summer in Newark Whether you are walking, running, pushing a stroller, or just there for the community, we would love for you to join us.

Awards will be given for the largest group, fastest male and female in Greek Life, and fastest overall in different age groups and genders. Sign up to volunteer or join a team here.

THURSDAY

MAY9TH

TIME

CARAVEL ACADEMY

5K 5K LIGHT THE NIGHT

MAY10 FRIDAY TIME 100INNOVATIONWAY NEWARK,DE 7:30PM

Starlight Softball Showcase

Get ready for another historic first for SL24 UnLocke the Light when you join us for The Starlight Softball Showcase. We love any opportunity we can get to talk to athletes and their families about mental health. This feature match-up has Conrad High School against home-team Caravel Academy for softball action.

There will be games and raffles to support SL24 and special apparel for players for the event. All of this is to communicate to players and families the essential theme of “MORE THAN”. Their unique light is more than the error or the strikeout or even their successes. There is so much bright light illuminating the story of their lives.

O

U R M I S S I O N T O

S

U P P O R T

Sean’ s Room at The Warehouse

The Warehouse is a community center located in the Riverside neighborhood within Wilmington, Delaware that is centered around teen engagement and innovation They provide countless resources that support various dimensions of the teens’ overall wellness Each of these services are reviewed and approved by the teens themselves

One of the programs they offer is known as RISE, in which cohorts of teens and young adults acquire the skills and support they need to become successful professionals. Much of the cohort consists of young people from Northeast Wilmington’s historic Riverside neighborhood, an area heavily impacted by decades of structural racism and poverty, making them at higher risk of being exposed to adverse childhood experiences In opening a Sean’s Room within The Warehouse, these teens have better access to peer support and other mental health resources that may be challenging for them to reach otherwise.

Within Sean’s Room at The Warehouse, teens and young adults are able to receive peer support from our licensed peer support specialists on Tuesday and Fridays from 3-7pm If they wish to speak to a Peer on days the room is not open, they are able to fill out a form to schedule a time to come to the room for support the next time it’s available Similar to Sean’s House in Newark, Sean’s Room has a wide array of snacks, books, games, and other activities available for use, with the goal of making the room a safe and welcoming space for all who enter. While guests are free to just hang out and relax, various mental health and wellness activities are offered and encouraged by Peers to those interested. Recent activities have included a personal journal decorating and workshop, writing letters to future selves, a playlist activity that allows guests to have a say in what music is played on our speaker in the room, and more.

number of visitors to Sean’s Room at The Warehouse in 2024

All data recorded as of April 30, 2024

In the future, we aim to utilize our partnership with Nemours by hosting educational workshops and mental health discussions in Sean’s Room at The Warehouse. We are currently working to start hosting Gather and Grow dinners within the room for the various RISE cohorts as they progress through their 12 week program, similar to the ones we’ve hosted at Sean’s House Since the opening of the room at The Warehouse, the teens have been amazing to work with They are extremely eager to continue to have conversations surrounding mental health, how to navigate various challenges in their lives, and normalize talking about their mental health journeys The resilience of these teens is incredibly inspiring, and their appreciation for the support we provide makes me extremely excited for what the future holds for SL24, Sean’s Room, and The Warehouse.

P E E R 2 4 T E A M G R O W S

S U P P O R T

Peer24 Training

We are excited to welcome our incoming Peer24 Training cohort for the Summer of 2024! Our 8 week training will run from May 13th until July 15th. This program is offered virtually in order to be accessible to as many members of our community as possible We are so grateful to be able to work with the Academy of Peer Services of New York as well as the University of Delaware’s Healthcare Theater organization to help prepare candidates to support members of our community who come into Sean’s House.

During training, our staff covers a wide range of topics including active listening, self-disclosure, risk protocol and more as it relates to Sean’s House. Through the Academy of Peer Services, candidates are able to complete self-paced modules on a wide range of mental health, social work, and peer support topics. Through Healthcare Theater, they are given the opportunity to put the skills they have learned into practice through role play with members of UD’s Theater Department.

Our Peer24 team allows us to provide 24/7 support to young people in our community, and we can’t wait to have our next 70 individuals to learn about what peer support looks like at 136. As we celebrate the newest members of our team, we also love to highlight the continuing paths of the peers who are taking their next step. Many of our staff members who are graduating are entering graduate programs, including professional counseling and social work. We pride ourselves on providing experience for our peers to have one on one experience with guests, and help give them information to make an informed decision on their next steps. article credits: Allison Burns

TRAININGDATES FULLYVIRTUAL MAY13-JULY15

For questions or further information, please contact

Chris Locke, Co-founder chris@langdevgrp.com

Zach Ryan, Executive Director zach@unlockethelight.com

Angela Pugliese, Director of Sean’s House angela@unlockethelight.com

facebook.com/UnLockeTheLight facebook.com/SeansHouseNewark instagram com/unlockethelight instagram.com/seans.house

linkedin.com/company/sl24-unlockethe-light

youtube.com/@SL24UnLockeTheLight