On Thursday, October 19, more than 1,400 Hope Squad members from across Texas gathered for the Texas-Sized Hope Squad Conference to connect and learn from others how to break the stigma of mental health and provide help and hope to their fellow students and communities. Attendees came from 120 campuses and 23 school districts, charters and private schools. Alex Boyé, a multicultural, multigenerational, global artist and musician and creator of the inspirational “I Am a 10!” song and video, gave the keynote.

The conference, hosted at the Curtis Culwell Center, featured a day of dynamic speakers emceed by Janeé Hill with Unbroken and included a visit from PINK the Bus. The Hope Squad Conference was presented by a collaboration of Grant Halliburton Foundation, Grace Loncar Foundation, and The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation, local nonprofits founded in memory of a loved one lost to suicide.

Hope Squads are the eyes and ears of a school, students trained to watch for at-risk peers, provide friendship, identify warning signs, and seek help from adults. Hope Squad works with school advisors to train students identified by their classmates as trustworthy peers to serve as Hope Squad members. Through evidence-based training modules, Hope Squad members are empowered to seek help and save a life. Hope Squad members are not taught to act as counselors, but rather, are educated on how to recognize signs of suicidal ideation, and how to get their peers connected to a trusted adult.

"I'm proud of these young individuals who, through the simple acts of service, kindness and leadership, are saving lives and helping their peers," Kevin Hall, president of Grant Halliburton Foundation, said. “This conference provides Hope Squad members an opportunity to learn more about how they can provide a safe and supportive space at their schools for students struggling with mental health and help reverse staggering statistics.”

Currently, there are more than 3,000 Hope Squad members on more than 200 Hope Squads across North Texas. The Hope Squad students were invited to the conference to connect with members from other schools around the state, build a network of support and learn and collaborate with one another.

“According to the most recent Texas YRBS survey, 1 in 8 Texas teens contemplated suicide in the last year,” Matt Vereecke, CEO of The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation, said. "Students selected to be members of Hope Squads are an essential part of reversing these troubling numbers. The Hope Squad conference is a place for them to learn, stay connected with their peers and get additional support for this important work."

The conference sponsors include Lyda Hill Philanthropies (Hope Sponsor); Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation and Doing Life Unbroken Together (Gratitude Sponsors); Dallas Stars Foundation and Vincent Genovese Memorial Foundation (Kindness Sponsors); Cook Center for Human Connection, Cook Children’s and Children’s Health, YAM, Youth Aware of Mental Health (Encouragement Sponsors); All4Cheer, Bumble Bee Yoga, Dallas Wings, Hope Squad and Texoma Health Foundation (Friend Sponsor).

By T.J. Griffin
Senior Director of Communications