MINDFUL
EXCHANGES
Hosting thoughtful & engaging
mental wellness seminars for youth
Our Purpose
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We are Mindful Exchanges, a global nonprofit that hosts free mental health seminars for youth in various communities, especially those who are underserved, underprivileged, or experience stigma. We started out of Yale University in 2020 -- since then, we have taught over 1,000 students, spanning teens in Bangladesh and Japan, to teaching the mental health curriculum for an inner-city high school in CT, to grassroots organizations for underserved elementary/middle schoolers and cultural spaces where mental health is heavily stigmatized. We were invited to speak on youth mental health at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Teen Action Fair, as well as an international panel reaching 2,000+ viewers and the #1 public high school in the US.
We would like to hold a free mental wellness virtual seminar on a Zoom link for your community center. Communicating and learning about mental health is essential for youth. We are passionate about mental health outreach, and would love to bring one of our fun & engaging seminars to your community!
We currently offer two seminars (see below), but can also hold a seminar on a topic of your request. Scheduling is very flexible on our side.
Zoom mental health seminar with Bangladeshi high schoolers
Weekly in-person summer wellness programming for the Boys & Girls Club of New Haven, funded by the Manzella Foundation
Current Seminars
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Each seminar is a one-time, 1 hour interactive experience
We will display our content through a well-designed presentation, prompt discussion and self-reflection amongst students, and include games/crafts.
No prior experience needed to participate in any of these seminars!
To request a session, fill out the contact form here or email us at mindfulexchanges@gmail.com with the following info:
1) your community center name, city/state, and age of members,
2) which seminar option (see below) you would like,
3) the date & time you want to schedule the 1 hr session
Seminar Options
Mental Health 101
Mental Health and Wellness in the Age of COVID-19
Request your own topic
This is our introductory course on mental health. We will discuss the basics of mental health, brainstorm how it manifests in students’ own lives and communities, and exchange ways on better taking care of one’s mental health.
We hope to provide tools for students to successfully think about and care for their own and collective mental health in the unique challenges and circumstances created by COVID-19. We aspire to see more students being proactive about caring for their own mental health, and also caring for the mental health of those in the communities they are a part of.
If there is a topic related to mental health that your community center would benefit from, we’d love to know! We will create interactive content tailored to your specific topic requests.
About Us
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Katherine Du
Founder & Director
Katherine is a medical student in Pittsburgh and graduate of Yale College. She is passionate about promoting mental health on campuses and in the global community. She previously served as a Senator for Yale College Council and as the Outreach & Communications Director for Yale Student Mental Health Association, working on mental health-related policy projects and organizing outreach efforts for students to serve in mental health centers, respectively.
Vivian Wang
Founder & Director
Vivian is a senior at Yale University studying cognitive science. She currently serves on the leadership board for the HAVEN Free Clinic, a student-run clinic that aims to provide uninsured adults in New Haven with access to comprehensive health care free of charge. As a member of the Yale Student Mental Health Association, she is passionate about serving her community and developing educational programs to promote mental health awareness.
Lead Community Organizers
Karen Ayoub
Karen is a sophomore at Yale University studying psychology. She is passionate about mental health and wellness, supporting neurodivergent children, and ensuring that we are incorporating strategies for children from all backgrounds. Currently, she serves on the board as the Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator for Yale Student Mental Health Association (YSMHA), acting as a liaison between YSMHA and outside communities and schools.
Gabriella Gutierrez
Gabriella is a senior at Yale University studying psychology. She is passionate about addressing the rising issue of mental health stigma in student populations, as well as normalizing the discussion of mental health on campus. Aside from serving as the Outreach Coordinator for the Cushing Society, she is also the co-director of the Yale Student Mental Health Association where she helps organize events to promote mental health awareness on campus and provide mental health resources for the Yale community.
Christine Ramirez
Christine is a senior at Yale University studying neuroscience with a certificate in Spanish. She is passionate about facilitating discussions about the importance of mental health and getting youth engaged in music/the arts. She is a member of the Yale Student Mental Health Association, previously served as the community outreach director in the Yale symphony orchestra, and volunteers at the Yale Hospice.
Alumni Advisors
Ohshue Gatanaga
Radeesha Jayewickreme
Anise Overton
Laura Palacio Londoño
Professional Advisors
Aneesha Ahluwalia, Yale School of Medicine Class of 2021
Christina Wu, MPH from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Timothy Schmutte, PsyD, Yale clinical psychologist and mental health services researcher
Sana Aslam, former Yale Pathways Student Director
Request a session
or ask us for more information!
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To request a session, fill out the contact form here or email us at mindfulexchanges@gmail.com with the following info:
1) your community center name, city/state, and age of members,
2) which seminar option you would like,
3) the date & time you want to schedule the 1 hr session