Empowering Minds Conference 2025: Building Hope, Resilience, and Connection Across Arizona

The Empowering Minds Conference, held on October 21, 2025, was more than just an event, it was a movement toward stronger, more connected communities. Hosted by Arizona Youth Partnership (AZYP), the conference brought together more than 200 participants for a full day dedicated to suicide prevention, mental health awareness, and gatekeeper trainings.

From Planning to Purpose: The Road to Empowering Minds

The journey to the conference began months in advance, with a shared goal: to provide the best possible experience for attendees while increasing Arizona’s capacity to recognize and respond to mental health crises. Every detail mattered; from finding the perfect breakout session presenters to securing sponsorships and community partners that made this event possible.

One of the biggest priorities in planning was ensuring attendees could walk away with real connections and local support. As a parent who has personally navigated the challenges of helping a child through a mental health crisis, I know how overwhelming it can feel to not know where to turn. That experience fueled my commitment to building a strong network of tabling partners representing a wide range of mental health, wellness, and community resources.

The result was a huge success. The ballroom was filled with organizations ready to offer guidance, services, and support to anyone seeking help for themselves or someone they care about. Having those resources all in one place truly brought the vision of Empowering Minds to life.

A Day of Learning, Healing, and Empowerment

The conference opened with a heartfelt Land Acknowledgement by Mr. Jonathon Rios, followed by a warm welcome recognizing our sponsors, presenters, and tabling partners, the heart of this event. Their expertise and passion helped equip attendees with the tools to strengthen mental health supports in their communities.

Our morning keynote speaker, Dr. Lexi Hernandez, set the tone with an inspiring

message on resilience and self-care. We cannot give from an empty cup, and Lexi's message was a needed reminder for our attendees, dedicated to becoming gatekeepers and supporting their communities through a mental health challenge or crisis.

Throughout the day, participants engaged in gatekeeper trainings such as SafeTALK, Be A Link, and Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA), gaining evidence-based skills to recognize and respond to signs of suicide and mental health distress.

Breakout sessions offered opportunities for deeper learning on specific topics regarding populations in Arizona where there are high rates of suicide. These breakout sessions included:

• Mental Health Across the Lifespan: Supporting Older Adults

• In Our Own Voice (NAMI)

• Mental Health in Rural Arizona

• Self-Care and Coping Strategies

• Supporting LGBTQ+ Communities and Suicide Awareness

• Supporting Military Families and Veterans

• Honoring Resilience: Mental Health and Historical Trauma in Indigenous Populations

During lunch, Dr. Anahi Ortiz, AZYP Board Member, delivered a moving keynote address rooted in lived experience. Her reflections on prevention, loss, and healing offered a powerful reminder of why this work matters.

A Day Recognized and Remembered

Adding to the celebration, the City of Tucson Mayor’s Office issued a Proclamation declaring October 21, 2025, as “Empowering Minds Day.” This recognition underscored the importance of collective action in advancing mental health awareness and suicide prevention across Arizona.

The Lasting Impact

By the end of the day, participants left not only with new knowledge but with a renewed sense of purpose. The Empowering Minds Conference succeeded in:

• Equipping community members with practical, culturally relevant suicide prevention skills.

• Expanding partnerships among schools, behavioral health agencies, and local organizations.

• Increasing Arizona’s statewide capacity for early identification, intervention, and referral for youth and adults experiencing mental health challenges.

• Connecting individuals and families to a powerful network of resources through our dedicated tabling partners.

As one attendee shared, “It was more than a conference, it was a reminder that every one of us can be a lifeline.”

Through shared learning, honest conversations, and collaboration, the 2025 Empowering Minds Conference truly lived up to its name; empowering each of us to build stronger, safer, and more compassionate communities.

Written by: Kelley Coronado, Director of Youth Wellness Division.