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 faces a mental health crisis among its youth, ranking 46th in the prevalence of depressive episodes and 41st in access to treatment. Adolescence is a crucial time for mental health, setting the stage for future well-being. Alarming statistics show that 26% of teens feel persistently hopeless, 11% seriously consider suicide, and 7.2% have attempted it. Stress, trauma, bullying, and academic pressures are major contributors to this crisis.
Happy Crew was formed in 2007 by Amy Mays who has been working with teenagers for over 30 years, as a youth director, counselor and life coach. Happy Crew understands teenagers, we “get” them, and we are passionate about supporting them and changing the statistics. We equip students to become the heroes of their own story and share their impact with others.
Every Monday night from 7-8pm, the Crew meets to share tools for riding emotional waves and building inner strength and resilience. During these meetings, teens bridge the gap from feeling alone to fitting right in. They discover that they are no longer solo in their battles, finding connection, belonging, and their own path right here.
At Happy Crew, we create a community where everyone matters and everyone belongs. It's straightforward: through our support and shared experiences, teens find a place where they truly fit in and feel valued.
Colorado faces a mental health crisis among its youth, ranking 46th in the prevalence of depressive episodes and 41st in access to treatment. Adolescence is a crucial time for mental health, setting the stage for future well-being. Alarming statistics show that 26% of teens feel persistently hopeless, 11% seriously consider suicide, and 7.2% have attempted it. Stress, trauma, bullying, and academic pressures are major contributors to this crisis.
Happy Crew was formed in 2007 by Amy Mays who has been working with teenagers for over 30 years, as a youth director, counselor and life coach. Happy Crew understands teenagers, we “get” them, and we are passionate about supporting them and changing the statistics. We equip students to become the heroes of their own story and share their impact with others.
Every Monday night from 7-8pm, the Crew meets to share tools for riding emotional waves and building inner strength and resilience. During these meetings, teens bridge the gap from feeling alone to fitting right in. They discover that they are no longer solo in their battles, finding connection, belonging, and their own path right here.
At Happy Crew, we create a community where everyone matters and everyone belongs. It's straightforward: through our support and shared experiences, teens find a place where they truly fit in and feel valued.
Colorado faces a mental health crisis among its youth, ranking 46th in the prevalence of depressive episodes and 41st in access to treatment. Adolescence is a crucial time for mental health, setting the stage for future well-being. Alarming statistics show that 26% of teens feel persistently hopeless, 11% seriously consider suicide, and 7.2% have attempted it. Stress, trauma, bullying, and academic pressures are major contributors to this crisis.
Happy Crew was formed in 2007 by Amy Mays who has been working with teenagers for over 30 years, as a youth director, counselor and life coach. Happy Crew understands teenagers, we “get” them, and we are passionate about supporting them and changing the statistics. We equip students to become the heroes of their own story and share their impact with others.
Every Monday night from 7-8pm, the Crew meets to share tools for riding emotional waves and building inner strength and resilience. During these meetings, teens bridge the gap from feeling alone to fitting right in. They discover that they are no longer solo in their battles, finding connection, belonging, and their own path right here.
At Happy Crew, we create a community where everyone matters and everyone belongs. It's straightforward: through our support and shared experiences, teens find a place where they truly fit in and feel valued.
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
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.
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.
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 3
1,000 Students by Year 3
1,000 Students by Year 3
Future Reach
Future Reach
Future Reach
Kākou Coffee House will help us support 1,000 students by Year 3, broadening our community impact.
Kākou Coffee House will help us support 1,000 students by Year 3, broadening our community impact.
Kākou Coffee House will help us support 1,000 students by Year 3, broadening our community impact.
484% Increase in Students
484% Increase in Students
484% Increase in Students
Impact Growth
Impact Growth
Impact Growth
Our new venue will allow us to expand our reach by 484%, providing critical support to more teens.
Our new venue will allow us to expand our reach by 484%, providing critical support to more teens.
Our new venue will allow us to expand our reach by 484%, providing critical support to more teens.
Testimonials
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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 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."
"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."
"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."
"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