On May 30, 2026, the Prime Time Youth Advisory Council gathered at Ocean Ridge Hammock Park in Boynton Beach to honor Mental Health Awareness Month. The teens organized a mindful walk through a scenic, mangrove-lined trail, followed by a local beach cleanup. It was the perfect way to support Palm Beach County's "Get Your Green On" campaign, connecting in nature while doing something positive for the ecosystem.
"The scenery was my favorite part of the event because it made me feel connected and grounded," said council member Isaiah Williams.
These early-rising teens independently led a group of 30 participants through a morning well-being circle practice to allow everyone space to connect before heading out on the nature walk. To top off the event, the youth and supporting adults dedicated an hour to cleaning up the beach as a way to give back to the community.
"Spending time in nature and focusing on yourself can improve your mental health. I believe this experience could help many people, not just me...The mindful walk and activities helped me reduce stress, focus more and appreciate the importance of taking care of both myself and others," said Langston Roundtree.
The Power of a Well-Being Circle
Why start with a well-being facilitation circle?
Mental health awareness is a top priority for educators, afterschool and summer programs. Well-being strategies aim to teach youth sensory perception, which helps youth to focus, stress management, emotional awareness and responsible decision-making.
"The well-being circle helped me understand how breathing really helps me calm down," noted participant Lorah Bennett.
From the "Be Well Cafe" to the Beach
The inspiration for the event stems from the Be Well Cafe, a virtual space where afterschool and summer camp professionals gather every Thursday morning to practice mindfulness and awareness exercises. Led by Well-being and Life Skills Specialist Knellee Bisram, these sessions allow adults to start their week with a healthy, empowered mindset.
The Be Well Cafe: Teen Edition was officially born during an April youth advisory meeting. Council members wanted to plan an event that promoted teen self-care for the "Get Your Green On" campaign, using nature as their backdrop. To prepare, Knellee Bisram trained the council members to become "mental health ambassadors," essentially flipping the script so that youth were equipped to lead peers and adults in a powerful oceanfront well-being circle experience and give them emotional resiliency tools to bring back to their own friendship circles and communities.
"The Be Well Cafe on the Beach is something that can get you in the right headspace, and it makes you feel very good about nature and your surroundings," said Jasmine Saintil.
Sydney Caceres added that the Teen Edition "created an opportunity to show that finding your inner calm is possible multiple ways. This is especially good for teenagers, as they may struggle with stress from school or life."
Leadership, Service and Community Impact
As always, the Prime Time Youth Advisory Council members received community service hours for their leadership and coordination.
"Participating in the beach clean-up made me feel happy because I know my community appreciates having a clean environment," said Christopher Clarke. "I think events like this are important for teens because they help us better ourselves, learn new things and connect with our community."
Mental health challenges remain some of the most critical issues facing teens today. Prime Time Palm Beach County applauds the Youth Advisory Council for answering the call to action and meaningfully spreading mental health awareness.
Learn More and Join
To learn more about the Prime Time Youth Advisory Council email Gillian Pridgen and visit the Prime Time Palm Beach County website. Prime Time is actively welcoming new members in grades 6-12. View our Youth Advisory Council invite.
Learn more and join the Be Well Cafe community by clicking here.
