Nutrition is essential for child brain development, which lays the foundation for lifetime attention, emotion, and behavior regulation, and overall mental health.  Essential nutrients that support brain development and mental health include:   Vitamins: A, B, C, D, & E.   Minerals: Magnesium, Zinc, Iron, Selenium.   Fatty Acids: Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs).   Dietary Fiber. Studies also identify harmful […]

By Kalyahn Varanasi, 11th Grade, Boulder CO As you may have read in a previous EmpowerGEN article; Gen Z: Rising Up for Climate Action and a Sustainable Future  “Many Gen Zers have lost faith in our ability to solve problems as a nation – leading them to believe that humanity is doomed and there is […]

For this EmpowerGen article, I am proud to highlight the story of Emma Kraft, a 20-year-old Boulder native and Berkeley student, who cheered herself up during covid by innovating a revolutionary, patent-pending sunscreen to regenerate the coral reefs. In the heart of Boulder, a city renowned for its blend of innovation and natural beauty, we […]

May 9, 2024: On “Mental Breakthroughs” on the Mental Health TV Network, host Patricia Wu is joined by guest Heidi Cuppari who shares her passion for empowering young people to create change. Watch here: Empowering Youth: How Young People Can Change the World – MHTN Key points: Find Your Passion Helping young people discover what brings […]

January is Mental Wellness Month, a time to raise awareness and take action to improve the mental health of children, adolescents, and young adults. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, the Covid-19 pandemic has worsened the existing mental health crisis among America’s youth, with increased rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide. On top of that, […]

  For this issue of EmpowerGen, we asked Athena Sapourn, a 17-year-old Senior in Boulder, who is aspiring to study child psychology, to write about something she felt was important to discuss when it comes to her generation.  She settled on Social Media, its impact on teen girls, and what we can do to understand […]

For the next issue of the EmpowerGen Column, I invited Rachel DeStigter to write an article about something she’s passionate about. Rachel is a young leader and dedicated international studies graduate who is seeking to earn a Ph.D. in sociology and perform innovative research on the sociology of neurodiversity. Rachel worked closely with me at […]

As a parent of a first-year student at CU, I have experienced both the joy and the pain of sending my child into the world. (Please refer to the last article, Sending Your 18 Year Old Into The World). My daughter, Summer, has always been my sunshine, and I was proud of her for choosing […]

I found it hard to write the EmpowerGen article these past couple weeks (Last article here). As I stand on the precipice of one of the most significant rites of passage as a parent, the emotions swirl within me like a tempestuous sea. The moment has arrived to bid farewell to my 18-year-old daughter, Summer, […]

I grew up surrounded by art.  My father was born in Italy and was inspired by nature to become an artist. Growing up in New Jersey surrounded by a large Italian family and guided by a strong German mother, I would sit and paint with him as he meditated on the inspiration coming to him. […]