A few words
About Us
Why Us Kids?
Mission Statement
My mission is to raise awareness about the youth mental health crisis and to empower kids and young adults to speak out about their traumas. The current goals of our organization include advocacy for mental health and trauma counselors in an elementary school setting.
We deserve a great chance to grow up be healthy and productive adults.
Gracie Parker...
is a remarkable young girl who has experienced firsthand the devastating effects of substance use disorder and related death. Despite this, she has channeled her grief and pain into becoming a powerful advocate for mental health and harm reduction. At the age of 5, Gracie and her grandparents began volunteering with Smoky Mountain Harm Reduction, and she delivered her first speech at the Night of Hope in 2018, where she spoke about losing her mother to drugs when she was only 6 months old.
At the age of 7, Gracie organized a fundraiser for the unsheltered in Macon County, which raised $637 for emergency housing through SMHR. She continued her activism and advocacy at the age of 9, when she began speaking out about the need for trauma counselors in every school and became a voice for children’s mental health.
Gracie’s advocacy has not gone unnoticed. She has spoken at the 1st Trial of Truth, organized by Truth Pharm, in front of the Capitol Building in Washington DC, met with NC Senator Kevin Corbin, and challenged her fourth-grade classes to collect items for angel blessing bags for the unsheltered. She has also spoken at several MCSB meetings and county commissioner meetings, and even met with the City Police Chief to request permits for her Youth Mental Health Help Rally.
On April 30th, 2023, Gracie held the first youth-led Youth Mental Health Help Rally in downtown Franklin, NC, leading a march from the County courthouse to town hall and pinning a resolution at town hall. Her efforts were covered by WLOS Ch 13 out of Asheville and local newspapers. Gracie’s unwavering dedication to mental health advocacy and harm reduction is an inspiration to us all.
Why Us Kids
Board of Directors
Elke Kennedy
Executive Director, Why Us Kids?
Founder and Executive Director of Seanslastwish
Gary Shields
Chair
Macon County Commissioner, Former School Board Member, High School Principal and Veteran.
Danya Ledford Vanhook
Vice Chair
Local Attorney, Former Judge and Community Advocate
Brittney Lofthouse
Secretary
Local Journalist and Community Advocate
Chris Baldwin
Member at Large
Macon County Schools Superintendent
Achievements
Gracie is a brave and inspiring young lady who has been working tirelessly to promote mental health awareness and combat bullying. She has organized several rallies and events to raise awareness on the issue of youth mental health and the need for trauma counselors in schools. At her rallies, she has invited a host of speakers, including politicians, law enforcement officials, and educators, to speak on the issue. She has also launched a signature campaign to get trauma counselors back in all schools, especially elementary schools, with a goal of collecting at least 15000 signatures.
Gracie’s efforts have not gone unnoticed as she has been featured in several publications, including USA Today and the “Laurel of Asheville”. She has also been invited to speak at various events, including the Drug Awareness event at Lake Junaluska and the Macon Light Summit. Her advocacy has not only impacted Macon County but also other Western Carolina counties like Haywood, Jackson, Burke, and McDowell. Her goal is to get 50% of residents’ signatures in these counties and beyond.
Gracie’s efforts have been recognized by the City Council members of Franklin, NC, who unanimously approved her Youth Mental Health Help rally as a yearly event to take place in downtown Franklin, NC, on the last weekend in April or the first weekend of May. Gracie’s passion and dedication to promoting mental health awareness and combating bullying are truly inspiring. It is evident that her advocacy will continue to make a positive impact on the lives of many young people.
Gracie...
Photos: Gracie’s 1st Meeting with Senator Corbin, Highlands Rotary Club Meeting, MCSB Meeting in Nantahala
Gracie is an
inspiring young activist who has been making strides in the area of youth mental health. She was invited by Senator Kevin Corbin to speak at a town hall meeting in Cherokee, NC, alongside other notable figures such as Chief Richard Sneed, EBCI Secretary Vicky Bradley, Kody Kinsley, NCDHHS Secretary, Casey Cooper, CIHA CEO, Senator Kevin Corbin, District 50 and Senator Jim Burgin, District 12. Gracie spoke about the urgent need for trauma counselors in all schools, particularly in elementary schools.
Following the town hall meeting, Gracie traveled to Hendersonville, NC to meet with Congressman Chuck Edwards to discuss her project and request to speak to other US House of Representatives and US Senators while in Washington DC on September 23rd, 2023, at the second Annual Trail of Truth. Her passion and dedication to the cause attracted the attention of Yolanda Faye, a collaboration-focused and design-centered community leader from San Francisco, California, who invited Gracie to meet with her during her stay in NYC.
Gracie’s advocacy for youth mental health has not gone unnoticed. She was invited to speak at the Franklin Business Forum on June 23rd, 2023, and her story and project were featured in the “Laurel of Asheville” magazine on July 1st, 2023. Her story will also be a part of a book to be published this summer called “Shattered”. Despite her hectic schedule and demanding workload, Gracie maintained an “A” average and was even promoted to 5th grade. Her determination and hard work serve as an inspiration to us all.
Check Out Gracie's Article with The Laurel of Asheville...
Shattered:
Stories of Lives Broken by Substance Abuse and How We Put the Pieces Back Together
Shattered
is a compilation of personal stories revolving around substance abuse and how this disease has impacted our lives. Several of the writers lost loved ones to drugs and alcohol, some have dedicated their lives to helping those in need, some have battled their addiction, recovered and come out stronger than ever, and all of them have witnessed the effects on family and friends...
Available through Amazon Prime
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