More than 8,000 youth from the Maritimes and Maine will descend on Saint John in May for a powerful event.
WE Believe Saint John is a day-long event focused on mental health and the importance of volunteering.
Dan Foote, a local teacher who organized the event, said the youth will hear from empowering speakers and musicians.
“We believe that when people come together, especially youth, positive change can and will take place. That’s really the crux of what WE Believe is all about,” Foote said in a recent interview.
WE Believe Saint John began as a registered charity in 2016 to provide educational programs and materials to youth, families and communities.
Foote saw a need to support youth in our communities and for them to hear from people who have gone through similar struggles to show they can make a difference.
The first event in 2018 filled TD Station in Saint John and saw more than 80,000 students and educators around the world watch online via livestream.
“It was an amazing event. The kids were super-empowered. They still talk about it five years later,” said Foote.
The second event was supposed to be held in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced organizers to postpone it until this year.
Reflecting on the pandemic, Foote said they are seeing more youth who are being challenged by mental health, family issues and personal issues.
“We’re seeing students feeling that they’re very isolated and that they’re dealing with things alone, not realizing that other people have walked this road too,” he said.
“We want to put people on stage that the kids can relate to, that they can talk to.”
One of the speakers in 2018 was Katie Strout from Maine. The Bangor High School student founded a suicide awareness walk after several suicides at her school.
Bev Foote said they did not know the impact Strout had until three years later when she was doing a sponsorship with a local car dealership.
“I had a gentleman tell me his daughter was saved because of Katie. His daughter had a plan for suicide and she connected with Katie the day of WE Believe after her speech and all the way through today,” said Foote.
“That speech saved one person that we know of, but how many more has it saved as well.”
This year’s speakers include an America’s Got Talent finalist who will share a story about the importance of family.
Another speaker will share his personal story of prison and drugs and how he was able to turn his life around.
“All of our speakers we know personally,” said Foote. “When they share their story, no matter where they come from, we know what’s gone on behind the scenes.”
Students cannot purchase a ticket to WE Believe Saint John. They must earn their way in by doing something positive, both locally and internationally.
Foote said they would love to have more sponsors come forward to help support the event.
WE Believe Saint John will take place at TD Station on May 18 and will also be livestreamed.
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