On a August morning in 2026, an unusual creative gathering unfolded inside Belize City’s Welcome Resource Center. What looked on the surface like a standard paint-and-sip workshop carried a far more special origin story: the entire event was conceived and organized by two high school students, who set aside a traditional classroom assignment to build a community space for open conversation about mental health.
Thirteen-year-old Arianna Grant and 14-year-old Jahmia Lodge, both currently enrolled at Saint Catherine Academy, launched their initiative under the name “Every Mind Matters.” The core of their concept was deceptively simple: create a low-pressure environment where adults could pause their daily routines, create a piece of art with their own hands, and speak openly about their mental well-being without judgment. Beyond organizing the art session, the pair also arranged for donated food and hygiene products to distribute to guests of the center, adding a practical layer of community support to the day’s activities.
The project first took root in July, when the two teens reached out to the Welcome Resource Center seeking a way to contribute to local community life. As they learned more about the population the center serves, the focus on mental health through art emerged naturally, according to center administrator Beatrice Vernon.
Vernon noted that the event brought a completely new type of experience for the center’s guests, most of whom are between 35 and 65 years old. “It was a surprise, and it’s another form of activity outside of what they’re used to,” she explained. “So for them, I know that it was an excitement for something like this happening here today with them, not only just painting but also with getting a little treat at the end of the session.”
For many participants, the experience carried unexpected emotional weight. One guest mid-session summed up the feeling simply: “I feel like I’m young again.” Vernon expanded on that reaction, explaining that the activity was far more than just a fun afternoon out. For many attendees, picking up a paintbrush allowed them to reconnect with creative joys they had set aside in childhood, and offered a rare unhurried moment to focus on themselves amid daily life stresses.
For the center’s leadership, the initiative represented a striking example of young people stepping up to address gaps in community support. “It was truly a blessing when they first came to me with the idea of being a part of the centre, bringing awareness to the community,” Vernon said. “And as young people, it was truly, truly grateful on our part that these young people saw and took the initiative of bringing awareness. They were able to bridge the gap between those that we at the centre were unable to reach.”
Vernon says she now holds out hope that the teen-led project is just the start. She expects it will inspire more young Belizeans to engage in local community action, while also helping chip away at persistent stigma and misconceptions surrounding mental health in the country. A full, in-depth look at the “Every Mind Matters” launch event will air this evening on News 5 Live at 6 o’clock.