A Space to Heal: 2025 Resilient Lehigh Valley Conference Centers Mental Health and Connection
On May 14, about 150 youth leaders, educators, advocates and community partners gathered at Cedar Crest College for this year’s Resilient Lehigh Valley Conference: Lehigh Valley Speak Up! – Empowerment, Voice and Choice in partnership with United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and sponsored by Lehigh County, Crayola and Lehigh Valley Health Network part of Jefferson Health. Themed “Building Community Resilience Through Community Connections,” the conference highlighted a truth at the heart of Resilient Lehigh Valley’s mission: When we come together, we don’t just survive—we thrive.
Throughout the day, participants engaged in powerful conversations around trauma, resilience and mental health, reminding us that everyone holds the power to foster connection and care in their schools, workplaces and communities.
“This gathering is proof that our strength lies in our ability to connect, to support one another and to heal together,” said Ashi Singh, Director of Community Resilience at United Way and lead staff for the Resilient Lehigh Valley initiative. “Resilience isn’t something we build alone. It’s something we grow, nurture and sustain in community.”
From breakout sessions on restorative practices and digital wellness to interactive workshops on gratitude, youth voice and emotional regulation, the conference created space for both learning and healing. Participants explored tools for reducing toxic stress, practiced mindfulness together and left with a shared understanding that resilience doesn’t mean avoiding hardship. It means having the relationships and resources to rise through it. Everyone has been impacted by trauma in some way—whether experienced firsthand or through the struggles of someone they care about—and this conference made space for those shared realities to be acknowledged, honored and met with support.
Among the many young voices present at the conference, 17-year-old Jean, junior at Louis E. Dieruff High School in the Allentown School District, stood out for his willingness to open up. Speaking during a session on digital wellness, he reflected on how the environment created by Resilient Lehigh Valley helped him feel safe enough to share.
“There are a lot of things I want to say, but I don’t ever get to say them,” Jean shared. “But here, I felt comfortable speaking because I knew everyone in the room had a shared understanding of mental health.”
Jean described how public speaking usually triggers intense anxiety, but the sense of safety and understanding in this space gave him the courage to speak up. He also shared that attending the conference gave him something even more lasting: a glimpse of the person he hopes to become.
“One thing I’m taking away is the opportunity to be someone I’ve always imagined myself being in five, ten, maybe 25 years,” he said. “It’s hard to be your authentic self, especially with anxiety and trauma. But I think just being here gave me hope that I’ll find a way.”
That sense of possibility was woven throughout the day. Even in the face of challenges, we have the power to come together and create something stronger.
The day also spotlighted emerging strategies for strengthening community wellness. In one session, participants experienced Integrated Community Therapy (ICT), an evidence-based method of group dialogue designed to foster peer connection and community problem-solving. As one participant shared, “Sometimes it’s just nice to know you’re not the only one going through something.”
In a world that often moves too fast and connects too little, the 2025 Resilient Lehigh Valley Conference offered more than just a moment to pause. It created a meaningful space where community members of all ages could learn, reflect, and reimagine what’s possible when we prioritize mental health and collective care.