By RUTH MELVIN

The Progress

The 9th Annual Moapa Valley 4-H Teen Leadership Corps (TLC) Community Mental Health Fair was held Feb. 6 in the Moapa Valley High School gymnasium. In partnership with the MVHS and Mack Lyon Middle School (MLMS) HOPE Squads, the Moapa Valley Performing Arts Council, Clark County Parks and Recreation and other Moapa Valley organizations, the event included a free pizza dinner, remarks from guest speaker Joshua Thompson, an indoor HOPE walk, a free performance by country music artist Chris Petersen, dancing, games and mental health resource booths.

Under the leadership of Dianna Walker, the 4-H Teen Leadership Corps is part of University of Nevada, Reno Extension’s 4-H program under the umbrella of mental health. Through their efforts to help those struggling with mental health issues, their mission is to raise awareness, provide educational opportunities, promote connectivity and identify ways to be a positive influence in the community. Walker is a passionate youth advocate and encourages youth leadership. She says the program creates “vital community partnerships to support these youth in becoming civically engaged and support mental health in their peer groups.” Walker also adds, “Many kids remain lost after the effects of COVID and have struggled to remain motivated. We hope to empower kids with messages of consistency and continued support.”

For this event, TLC teamed up with the MVHS and MLMS HOPE squad, a peer-to-peer youth suicide prevention program. Members of HOPE Squad are trained to be aware of their peers, watch for early signs of potential problems and take action when someone is struggling. HOPE Squad’s areas of focus include safety, connectivity, bullying prevention, mental wellness, reducing stigma and substance abuse prevention. They sponsored an indoor HOPE Walk as part of the evening’s activities. For more information about HOPE Squad, visit hopesquad.com.

The keynote speaker was hometown hero and professional athlete Josh Thompson. A 2011 graduate of Moapa Valley High School, Thompson led the cross-country team to two Nevada State Titles as well as winning two 3,200- meter state titles. He told the audience he came from a family of hard workers who expected him to work hard as well. His running career began, he said, when he was 11 years old and ran a marathon with his dad. He admits he didn’t know what he was getting into, but quitting wasn’t an option. He told the story of calling his mom for a ride home from school, and she told him to start walking and she would meet him halfway. She got busy and forgot she was supposed to pick him up, so Thompson ended up walking the entire way.

From then on he routinely made the trip home by running the seven miles. He excelled in track and field at Moapa Valley High School and went on to college at Central Arizona College, where he became the first collegiate athlete from Nevada to run a mile in under four minutes. After he served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Nicaragua, he was recruited by Oklahoma State, a Big 12 Conference school. He qualified to participate in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, but that dream was dashed because the games were postponed because of the COVID pandemic.

His talk focused on encouraging the youth to keep working toward their personal goals and never give up. Citing the lessons of his athletic career, he said, “There will always be highs and lows. The key is to come to the realization that you are good enough to accomplish anything you set your mind to. Be ready to do the hard work necessary consistently and never give up.” Thompson calls the valley home and works as a representative for Nike. His inspiring story is one of hard work and perseverance.

The evening concluded with a concert by country singer Chris Petersen, sponsored by the Moapa Valley Performing Arts Council. The crowd was favored with songs from his critically acclaimed album, “Cowboy Coming Home.” Petersen is widely known for his authentic and original music, which speaks to his love of the country lifestyle. He has worked hard to obtain a loyal fan base. His latest single, “Horse People,” amassed over two million views in less than a week after it was posted to social media. Several people in attendance took to the dance floor while he sang.

Other activities included family games and booths advertising mental health resources available to community members in need of services. Local resident

Kimberley Witter provided flyers with information on how and when to contact a mental health professional, including a self-evaluation safety plan worksheet. If you find yourself in a mental health crisis or are considering suicide, 988 is the 24-hour number you can call to reach out for immediate professional help.