During the 2022-2023 school year, we were fortunate to be able to utilize HERRF funding to finance a number of professional speaking events on mental health-related topics. We showcased five speakers from the world-renowned organization Active Minds, who covered topics that included handling the pressure of social media, preventing deaths by suicide, coping with anxiety, dealing with work- and school-related pressures, and managing intrusive thoughts. We also hosted a successful attorney/SUNY Alum who spoke with our community about overcoming poverty. The events were well-attended and well-recieved.

During the 2022-2023 school year and also the 2024-2025 school year, we contracted with a certified "Lego Serious Play" specialist who used Lego blocks to teach us all about the meaning of resilience (2023) and perseverance (2024). During the 2024-2025 school year we contracted a renowed speaker, Briana Hansen, to present our students with a workshop called "Sex Rules" all about sexuality and sexual consent. Both of these speaker events were well-attended, and recieved rave reviews from participants. Unfortunately, due to our very limited events budget for this year ($5,000) we had to ask for money from the SUNY Orange Foundation to finish paying for the "Sex Rules" event. These two events have depleted nearly all of our event budget.

We would like to expand on the success of these events by offering more events for the next academic year, and to have the ability to finance them with our money and not have to ask the Foundation for assistance. Ms. Loretta Veney, the Lego Serious Play specialist, is eager to return and present on new topics and reach even more people. Brian Hansen has also expressed her desire to come back next year and work with new and returning students. We would also love the opportunity to be able to seek out renowned speakers on other heath-related topics.