Following a powerful community conversation on youth suicide prevention earlier this year, Angelina Siders, advocate and founder of the nonprofit Love Dahlia, invites community members to continue the dialogue at a follow-up event focusing on building a culture of wellness, connection, and prevention.
That meeting is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, June 25, at the Oceola Township Community Center, 1661 N. Latson Road in Howell.
Siders lost her 12-year-old daughter, Dahlia, to suicide in November 2024. She started Love, Dahlia, a nonprofit, to honor her memory and “spread kindness, encourage creativity, and make the world beautiful.”
Since then, Siders has been speaking out about sharing resources for teens and families struggling with grief and mental health issues. It was after she helped the families of two other teen girls through their own losses to suicide that she hosted the first community-wide event earlier this year.
The meeting comes as Howell continues to heal from recent teen suicides and seeks to move beyond crisis response toward long-term solutions that strengthen mental health, belonging, and community support for young people.
“Our first conversation showed that our community cares deeply and wants to help,” said Siders. “Now we have an opportunity to build on that momentum by creating a culture where wellness, connection, and mental health are part of everyday life. Prevention happens in relationships, in conversations, and in the small actions we take every day to make sure our young people know they are seen, valued, and supported.”
The June 25 meeting will focus on lessons learned from the community’s first gathering and the importance of shifting from awareness to action. A key feature of the evening will be a teen panel discussion, which will provide community members with direct insight into the experiences and needs of local youth.
The event will also highlight practical actions individuals and organizations can take to promote wellness, reduce stigma, strengthen relationships, and create environments where young people feel connected and supported before a crisis occurs.
All community members are encouraged to attend, including students, parents, educators, mental health professionals, faith leaders, business owners, elected officials, and anyone committed to supporting the wellbeing of Howell’s youth.
This gathering represents the next step in Howell’s ongoing effort to create a community where mental health is treated as an essential part of overall health, where meaningful connections are prioritized, and where every young person has trusted adults they can turn to for support.
For more information, community members are encouraged to attend. REGISTER HERE to participate.
