#create-connect-care A Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Campaign
About Us
Introduction to
#CreateConnectCare
Launched by Creative Visions in 2023, #CreateConnectCare is a year-long youth mental health and well-being initiative that empowers youth ages 11-18 to share their stories, build empathy, and spark change through creative expression. By sharing their mental health experiences and perspectives, young people can raise awareness, foster empathy, and inspire action.
Creative Visions was founded to leverage the power of the arts, advocacy, and creative action to effect social change while supporting, nurturing, and amplifying the voices of artists, filmmakers, musicians, and young creative changemakers.
Select a Focus Area: Identify a specific area related to mental health, such as awareness, stigma, connection, or self-care.
2
Choose a Medium: Express your ideas through a creative medium such as literary arts, media arts, performance arts, visual arts, or STEM.
3
Share: Create your work and submit!
Recognition & Awards
Celebrate the creativity of young people passionate about mental health
Awards will be given in the age categories of 11-12, 13-15, and 16-18 across mediums such as Literary Arts, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Media Arts, and STEM.
Let your creativity shine, and be part of a movement that promotes well-being and positive change!
Creative Changemaker
$500 recognition
This award recognizes exceptional creativity, innovation, and a deep understanding of youth mental health and well-being.
Visionary Spark
$250 recognition
Celebrates work that offers a fresh and innovative perspective on youth mental health and well-being.
Imagination Catalyst
$150 recognition
Recognizes work demonstrating a creative and thoughtful approach to addressing youth mental health and well-being.
The meaningful work done by educators and students through #CreateConnectCare is supported by individuals and organizations helping young people make a difference in their generation and beyond.
Explore the CreateConnectCare Gallery, which showcases the creative works of young people who are passionate about improving mental health and well-being.
Lunch and Loneliness
By Justin S.
Media Arts
Lunch and Loneliness
Artist
Justin S.
Arts activity type
Media Arts
Reflection
The symbolism of the burger shows a sense of isolationism and a sense of urgency and moral complexity.
Reminisce NLMG – Blackout Poem
By Tristan K.
Literary Arts
Reminisce NLMG – Blackout Poem
Artist
Tristan K.
Arts activity type
Literary Arts
Reflection
My poem is from the perspective of a prisoner or an insititute, looking back on their days at the establishment. I hope that others will be able to relate to it in their own way.
Memories
By Carlie S.
Visual Arts
Memories
Artist
Carlie S.
Arts activity type
Visual Arts
Reflection
I painted a heart, chains, lock, and key to symbolize not forgetting. The key is broken to say that no one else will be accepted into the heart. This person’s heart doesn’t want anyone else. I hope viewers feel empathy and know that they are not alone. Some people refuse to let go of memories they had with a person they used to love (orstilldo). To them, it helps them feel like they are still there, even though they are long gone.
The unspoken change.
By Jiaming C.
Literary Arts, Visual Arts
The unspoken change.
Artist
Jiaming C.
Arts activity type
Literary Arts, Visual Arts
Reflection
My submission is a black out poem from chapter 2 of the novel Never Let Me Go, the main theme of the novel is about the change that people were forced to put under, and the truth that were hidden from the people around us, which is similar to the concept of social isolation. I hope others can feel the negative effects of isolation within society, and think in other people’s perspectives, when they were kept from learning the truth.
An Unforeseen Shift
By Ingrid O.
Literary Arts, Visual Arts
An Unforeseen Shift
Artist
Ingrid O.
Arts activity type
Literary Arts, Visual Arts
Reflection
When others look at my drawing connected to the poem, I want them to feel the sense of urgency that society can make switches at any time. No one will always be able to make everyone happy, but being truthful to oneself is how we can live in peace.
The Eyes on The Other Side of The Screen
By Delilah A.
Your hate is strong
But our similarities are inviolable.
We do not share the same perception;
Our eyes are different colors,
They’re pulled in opposite ways,
They’ve seen different sights.
But, they’ve both shed tears
They’ve winced at bright lights
They’ve dilated in the dark
They’ve widened in admiration,
And they’ve squinted through wide-reaching smiles.
Through your device, you see a million eyes.
Exposed, open, and raw.
They look unlike your own,
An uncomfortable sight…
Your fingers begin to fly without thought.
Across a screen, their eyes cry,
While yours stare blank
with a subconscious kind of hate.
Hate that was taught, through scrolls of normalization.
You know that it is wrong,
but each rowdy participant’s eyes
are squinted in laughter,
As the victims well with tears.
You want to laugh
You don’t ever want to be
The eyes on the other side of the screen.
Literary Arts
Your hate is strong
But our similarities are inviolable.
We do not share the same perception;
Our eyes are different colors,
They’re pulled in opposite ways,
They’ve seen different sights.
But, they’ve both shed tears
They’ve winced at bright lights
They’ve dilated in the dark
They’ve widened in admiration,
And they’ve squinted through wide-reaching smiles.
Through your device, you see a million eyes.
Exposed, open, and raw.
They look unlike your own,
An uncomfortable sight…
Your fingers begin to fly without thought.
Across a screen, their eyes cry,
While yours stare blank
with a subconscious kind of hate.
Hate that was taught, through scrolls of normalization.
You know that it is wrong,
but each rowdy participant’s eyes
are squinted in laughter,
As the victims well with tears.
You want to laugh
You don’t ever want to be
The eyes on the other side of the screen.
The Eyes on The Other Side of The Screen
Artist
Delilah A.
Arts activity type
Literary Arts
Reflection
The Eyes on the Other Side of the Screen is written to remind students to be conscious as they comment on hateful rhetoric online, despite its normalization. It reminds them that the eyes they watch on the other side of the screen belong to a fellow human being who has experienced the same feelings of highs and lows as they have. It aims to foster connection through those shared experiences, despite differences.
Alouette
By Justine G.
Alouette
Alouette gentille alouette
The lyrics transcending time and place
Despite its undertones
Alouette, je te plumerai
A dismembering
One by one
Pluck
Pluck
Pluck
Do you ever think of how the poor bird screamed?
The rattle of a fence
A chemical reaction
The beautifully weaved rope
Just like the feather
Gone one by one
Poof.
Forever a song
There’s power in the name
it‘s a re-
Membering
Alouette, gentille alouette
Lark, nice lark
Lark, beautiful lark
Lark, kind lark
Lark, I’ll remember you lark
Lark, I am here lark
Alouette?
Alouette.
Literary Arts
Alouette
Alouette gentille alouette
The lyrics transcending time and place
Despite its undertones
Alouette, je te plumerai
A dismembering
One by one
Pluck
Pluck
Pluck
Do you ever think of how the poor bird screamed?
The rattle of a fence
A chemical reaction
The beautifully weaved rope
Just like the feather
Gone one by one
Poof.
Forever a song
There’s power in the name
it‘s a re-
Membering
Alouette, gentille alouette
Lark, nice lark
Lark, beautiful lark
Lark, kind lark
Lark, I’ll remember you lark
Lark, I am here lark
Alouette?
Alouette.
Alouette
Artist
Justine G.
Arts activity type
Literary Arts
Reflection
Connecting current mental health occurrences with an age old French nursery rhyme, this poem explores the ability to recongnize and change meanings and undertones. i want people to read this poem and see the ability to change how they experience their own lives and their mindsets.
Individualism
By Isabella C.
Literary Arts
Individualism
Artist
Isabella C.
Arts activity type
Literary Arts
Reflection
My submission is a black out poetry and it portrays society as a whole and how individualism can effect it.
Our Resources
Get the Facts
Looking for more information about youth mental health and well-being? Creative Visions has joined forces with trusted organizations to share resources to help educate youth about mental health and inspire self-care and connection. Additional resources will be added throughout the campaign.
Through partnerships with local and national organizations, #CreateConnectCare’s Wildfires Wellness section offers a comprehensive collection of mental health resources for young people, educators, and parents. Explore tools, find support, and share your story through creative expression.