You’re Never Alone When You Have A Crew
You’re Never Alone When You Have A Crew
You’re Never Alone When You Have A Crew
Welcome Home
Welcome Home
Welcome Home
Why Happy Crew Exists
Colorado ranks 41st in the US for youth mental health treatment access, with 26% of teens reporting persistent hopelessness. These aren't just statistics—they're stories waiting to be rewritten. Since 2007, Happy Crew has been showing teens they matter and belong, creating spaces where feeling alone transforms into finding community.
Founded by Amy Mays, drawing from her 30+ years of youth development experience, Happy Crew understands that every teen carries both challenges and possibilities. Through weekly meetings, we share practical tools for building emotional resilience while creating genuine connections that help teens become the heroes of their own stories.
Today, over 75 students gather each Monday night to discover they're not alone in their journey. In these moments of authentic connection, something extraordinary happens: teens find more than support—they find community, strength, and their own path forward. Here, everyone matters, and everyone belongs.
Colorado ranks 41st in the US for youth mental health treatment access, with 26% of teens reporting persistent hopelessness. These aren't just statistics—they're stories waiting to be rewritten. Since 2007, Happy Crew has been showing teens they matter and belong, creating spaces where feeling alone transforms into finding a community.
Founded by Amy Mays, drawing from her 30+ years of youth development experience, Happy Crew understands that every teen carries both challenges and possibilities. Through weekly meetings, we share practical tools for building emotional resilience while creating genuine connections that help teens become the heroes of their own stories.
Today, over 75 students gather each Monday night to discover they're not alone in their journey. In these moments of authentic connection, something extraordinary happens: teens find more than support—they find community, strength, and their own path forward. Here, everyone matters, and everyone belongs.
Colorado ranks 41st in the US for youth mental health treatment access, with 26% of teens reporting persistent hopelessness. These aren't just statistics—they're stories waiting to be rewritten. Since 2007, Happy Crew has been showing teens they matter and belong, creating spaces where feeling alone transforms into finding community.
Founded by Amy Mays, drawing from her 30+ years of youth development experience, Happy Crew understands that every teen carries both challenges and possibilities. Through weekly meetings, we share practical tools for building emotional resilience while creating genuine connections that help teens become the heroes of their own stories.
Today, over 75 students gather each Monday night to discover they're not alone in their journey. In these moments of authentic connection, something extraordinary happens: teens find more than support—they find community, strength, and their own path forward. Here, everyone matters, and everyone belongs.
Our Journey
In 2014-2015, Douglas County Colorado, our county, experienced a tragic spike in teen suicides, with eight teenagers lost in one school year.
Determined to make a difference, a group of high school students, decided to take action with one unified voice: “No more on our watch.” They gathered at Einsteins Bagels in Castle Rock, where they met with students in a relevant, authentic way, handing out candy bars emblazoned with the words “YOU MATTER.” Through listening, laughing, and connecting, they started a movement where everyone belongs.
Our Journey
In 2014-2015, Douglas County Colorado, our county, experienced a tragic spike in teen suicides, with eight teenagers lost in one school year.
Determined to make a difference, a group of high school students, decided to take action with one unified voice: “No more on our watch.” They gathered at Einsteins Bagels in Castle Rock, where they met with students in a relevant, authentic way, handing out candy bars emblazoned with the words “YOU MATTER.” Through listening, laughing, and connecting, they started a movement where everyone belongs.
Our Journey
In 2014-2015, Douglas County Colorado, our county, experienced a tragic spike in teen suicides, with eight teenagers lost in one school year.
Determined to make a difference, a group of high school students, decided to take action with one unified voice: “No more on our watch.” They gathered at Einsteins Bagels in Castle Rock, where they met with students in a relevant, authentic way, handing out candy bars emblazoned with the words “YOU MATTER.” Through listening, laughing, and connecting, they started a movement where everyone belongs.
Looking Ahead
Currently, Happy Crew serves over 75 students at each weekly meeting, with more than 180 different teens finding community through our programs this year alone. With the launch of Happy Crew Coffee House in 2025, we're reimagining how communities support youth mental health. This innovative model creates a premium coffee house where teens are valued members of a larger community, while continuing our weekly Crew nights. Through this sustainable model, we project reaching 500 students by 2026 and 1,000 by 2027.
Currently, Happy Crew serves over 75 students at each weekly meeting, with more than 180 different teens finding community through our programs this year alone. With the launch of Happy Crew Coffee House in 2025, we're reimagining how communities support youth mental health. This innovative model creates a premium coffee house where teens are valued members of a larger community, while continuing our weekly Crew nights. Through this sustainable model, we project reaching 500 students by 2026 and 1,000 by 2027.
In 2023, The Happy Crew served 171 students. Space limitations at our current location have hindered our ability to expand. With the upcoming Kākou Coffee House, we aim to reach 500 students by the end of Year 2 and 1,000 by the end of Year 3, through holding Happy Crew meetings three nights a week and welcoming high school students from all area schools. significantly increasing our impact.
1,000 Students by Year 2027
1,000 Students by Year 2027
1,000 Students by Year 2027
Future Reach
Future Reach
Future Reach
Happy Crew Coffee House will help us support 1,000 students by Year 2027, broadening our community impact.
Happy Crew Coffee House will help us support 1,000 students by Year 2027, broadening our community impact.
Happy Crew Coffee House will help us support 1,000 students by Year 2027, broadening our community impact.
5X Growth in Youth Impact
5X Growth in Youth Impact
5X Growth in Youth Impact
Impact Growth
Impact Growth
Impact Growth
From serving 180 students today to reaching 1,000 students by 2027, Happy Crew Coffee House enables our largest expansion of youth impact yet.
From serving 180 students today to reaching 1,000 students by 2027, Happy Crew Coffee House enables our largest expansion of youth impact yet.
From serving 180 students today to reaching 1,000 students by 2027, Happy Crew Coffee House enables our largest expansion of youth impact yet.
Learn More About Kākou Coffee House
Learn More About Kākou Coffee House
Learn More About Kākou Coffee House
Testimonials
Nathan
Swipe
"Happy Crew is a place, for me, where I belong and can express my emotions openly without any hesitation, whether I'm at a happy point in my life, or a low point in my life, I always feel like Happy Crew is the place to be. From the awesome community built from a positive environment, everyone who comes to Happy Crew is always so supportive to everyone around them. Also Happy Crew has helped me become more social and less awkward when I am in challenging environments where I don't feel comfortable. I really believe that Happy Crew has strengthened my social mentality in every aspect."
Julia
"Happy Crew allows me to get involved in my community, it has changed the way I interact with people significantly. Happy Crew has not only helped me discover myself: it has helped me understand people better."
JD
"Being involved with Happy Crew, I have learned so much about mental health and the ways it affects everyone in their daily lives Since Joining, I've never felts like I was alone because everybody is so welcoming and kind, it truly is a place where everyone belongs. Being able to work with these amazing people and do what we do to help the community is an opportunity I'm so glad to have taken, and I hope others will continue to do so in the future."
Yash
"Being part of Happy Crew has allowed me to feel more comfortable discussing and getting through various mental health struggles. It has giving me a positive support group that I love to be around, and has taught me various skills to combat my own, and others mental health issues. More than anything, it is giving me the opportunity to give back to our community. We pride ourselves on making sure that everyone feels that they matter and they belong, and that responsibility has allowed me to impact, others lives in a positive manner. I couldn't be more grateful and happy to be a part of Happy Crew."
Dharmik
"Happy Crew really helps me get myself in a positive state for the rest of the week. Happy Crew has helped me feel like I have a community and that I am not alone there's always someone willing at Happy Crew to listen to what I have to say!"
Railey
"I love being involved with Happy Crew, because it has taught me how to step out of my shell and become a more authentic person. The community is incredibly supportive and permits growth on an individual level that may be difficult to find in every day life."
Parsa
"I love Happy Crew because I love other people and have fun. I love to socialize and make things fun for everyone. And, we're doing it for a good cause! I believe Happy Crew is important, and it helps me be able to help others."
Sophie
"Happy Crew has been such a positive light in my life and has helped me open up. I struggled with social anxiety for years and happy Crew has helped me learn not to be afraid. I have learned so many coping, skills and techniques to help Myself and others. I couldn't be more grateful for this community."
Nathan
Swipe
"Happy Crew is a place, for me, where I belong and can express my emotions openly without any hesitation, whether I'm at a happy point in my life, or a low point in my life, I always feel like Happy Crew is the place to be. From the awesome community built from a positive environment, everyone who comes to Happy Crew is always so supportive to everyone around them. Also Happy Crew has helped me become more social and less awkward when I am in challenging environments where I don't feel comfortable. I really believe that Happy Crew has strengthened my social mentality in every aspect."
Julia
"Happy Crew allows me to get involved in my community, it has changed the way I interact with people significantly. Happy Crew has not only helped me discover myself: it has helped me understand people better."
JD
"Being involved with Happy Crew, I have learned so much about mental health and the ways it affects everyone in their daily lives Since Joining, I've never felts like I was alone because everybody is so welcoming and kind, it truly is a place where everyone belongs. Being able to work with these amazing people and do what we do to help the community is an opportunity I'm so glad to have taken, and I hope others will continue to do so in the future."
Yash
"Being part of Happy Crew has allowed me to feel more comfortable discussing and getting through various mental health struggles. It has giving me a positive support group that I love to be around, and has taught me various skills to combat my own, and others mental health issues. More than anything, it is giving me the opportunity to give back to our community. We pride ourselves on making sure that everyone feels that they matter and they belong, and that responsibility has allowed me to impact, others lives in a positive manner. I couldn't be more grateful and happy to be a part of Happy Crew."
Dharmik
"Happy Crew really helps me get myself in a positive state for the rest of the week. Happy Crew has helped me feel like I have a community and that I am not alone there's always someone willing at Happy Crew to listen to what I have to say!"
Railey
"I love being involved with Happy Crew, because it has taught me how to step out of my shell and become a more authentic person. The community is incredibly supportive and permits growth on an individual level that may be difficult to find in every day life."
Parsa
"I love Happy Crew because I love other people and have fun. I love to socialize and make things fun for everyone. And, we're doing it for a good cause! I believe Happy Crew is important, and it helps me be able to help others."
Sophie
"Happy Crew has been such a positive light in my life and has helped me open up. I struggled with social anxiety for years and happy Crew has helped me learn not to be afraid. I have learned so many coping, skills and techniques to help Myself and others. I couldn't be more grateful for this community."
"Happy Crew is a place, for me, where I belong and can express my emotions openly without any hesitation, whether I'm at a happy point in my life, or a low point in life, I always feel like Happy Crew is the place to be. From the awesome community built from a positive environment, everyone who comes to Happy Crew is always so supportive to everyone around them. Also, Happy Crew has helped me become more social and less awkward when I am in challenging environments where I don't feel comfortable. I really believe that Happy Crew has strengthened my social mentality in every aspect."
Nathan
"Happy Crew is a place, for me, where I belong and can express my emotions openly without any hesitation, whether I'm at a happy point in my life, or a low point in life, I always feel like Happy Crew is the place to be. From the awesome community built from a positive environment, everyone who comes to Happy Crew is always so supportive to everyone around them. Also, Happy Crew has helped me become more social and less awkward when I am in challenging environments where I don't feel comfortable. I really believe that Happy Crew has strengthened my social mentality in every aspect."
Nathan
