WORCESTER—Mental health isn’t new—and neither is Shine. For two decades, the Worcester-based nonprofit has been helping young people talk about mental health early and often, equipping schools and families with the tools to do the same.
On Friday, June 20, Mechanics Hall hosts Shine’s Golden Era Gala, a roaring ‘20s-themed celebration of the organization’s 20th anniversary. It’s expected to be Shine’s biggest event yet—but behind the music and dancing is a serious message.
Seventy-five percent of lifetime mental illness begins before age 24. Three out of five people with mental illness don’t seek treatment. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people ages 10 to 24. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in central Massachusetts, Shine is central to the conversation.
Shine educates youth and young adults about mental health, offers access to local resources, and works to end the stigma surrounding these common illnesses. Under the leadership of Executive Director Charisse Murphy, Shine partners directly with students, faculty, and caregivers in schools and communities to treat mental health with the same urgency as physical health.
The nonprofit has a presence in every Worcester public middle and high school, and its impact continues to grow. In 2024 alone, Shine’s program team—Marissa Young, Julia Freitas, and newcomer Tessa Glennon—presented to more than 1,600 students.
Shine doesn’t just deliver talks—it facilitates student-led wellness groups called Mindmatters Teams, and the Mindmatters app allows young people to assess their mental health, get support, and discuss topics like stress and healthy boundaries, all from their phones.
This March, Shine hosted its annual Mindmatters Youth Mental Health Summit at the DCU Center, where more than 250 students gathered for workshops on mindfulness, music and mental health, restorative justice, and more.
Shine wasn’t founded by clinicians, teachers, or therapists. It began with employees at Fidelity Bank who wanted to support youth mental health research. When they realized how slow research could be, they decided to make a more immediate impact by funding local mental health efforts. By 2016, Shine had evolved into a direct-service organization, offering its own school programs under the guidance of community engagement director Jessika Zequeira.
The mission, though, hasn’t changed: Healthy minds in young people.
Fidelity Bank remains a partner and will be among the 20 honorees at next month’s gala. But maintaining Shine’s momentum takes more than community goodwill—it takes funding. Federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) have been critical to Shine’s expansion in Worcester, and with those funds under threat, community support matters more than ever.
Mark your calendar for June 20. The Golden Era Gala at Mechanics Hall will celebrate Shine’s legacy and future with a seated dinner, live music, dancing, and auction prizes—all in the style of the Roaring Twenties.
Stigma thrives in silence. Talking about mental health doesn’t have to be scary—and it doesn’t have to be somber, either. Sometimes, it looks like a dance floor.
Tickets are on sale now, and sponsorship opportunities remain available.
Abby Salois is a member of the Shine Initiative Board as well as a member of the Board of the Worcester Guardian
