Cupertino Hosts Second Annual Teen Wellness Fair
The second annual Cupertino Teen Wellness Fair, hosted by the FUHSD Intra District Council and the City of Cupertino, took place on March 17 at Cupertino Main Street, engaging the local community from noon to 3 p.m. This year’s event featured 11 booths run by representatives from FUHSD schools, the Parks and Recreation department, and the mental health care service Care Solace, which has an ongoing partnership with FUHSD.
Among the activities were lawn games like Giant Jenga and beanbag toss, designed to foster community interaction and participation. Recreation leader Robert Kaufman emphasized the collaborative effort behind the fair, attributing its success to the coordination with Associate Superintendent Trudy Gross and the invitation extended to Care Solace.
“The combined Teen Wellness Fair spawned out of being put in a box,” Kaufman stated. “But that doesn’t mean this event is any less. I love that we have multiple aspects here to provide for teens.” His remarks highlight the importance of accessible resources for a younger audience amidst budget constraints.
Junior and IDC Secretary Courtney Masli noted that this year’s fair outperformed the previously held Sunnyvale Teen Wellness Fair, driven by favorable weather and venue placement. “With this event, we really just want to get the word out that there’s a bunch of resources out there to help with mental health,” Masli explained, reflecting on the fair’s dual aim of educating attendees and providing enjoyment.
Georgia Pattison, lead care manager at Care Solace, shared their approach to engaging attendees: “We recognize that when you’re trying to talk about mental health care, not everybody’s excited about that… It’s OK to talk about mental health. It’s OK to not be OK. It’s OK to ask for help,” focusing on breaking down stigma through conversation and interaction.
As Kaufman pointed out, the fair not only serves to engage teens but also to enrich their experiences beyond traditional educational frameworks. “This is one of those events where even if only a few teens come, it’s worth it because we’re here for the community,” he reflected.
An attendee joyfully holds up a bear fidget toy after winning it from the Care Solace booth. Photo | Corinna Kuo
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