Summer is a wonderful time for some family fun. During the past couple of family fun fairs with the Copper Shores outreach and education, the foundation has encouraged youth to get outside and active. This year’s family fun and resource fair will partner with Keweenaw support for Healthy Minds says youth development specialist Callisto Cortez.
So that’s the really exciting part of this. The last time that we had done the event, we focused on the family fun fair and bringing families together for the pro-social connections. And this time we wanted to still have the connections with families to have fun. But also with the resource fair, Keweenaw Support for Healthy Minds had the mission of letting the community and community partners know, what mental health resources are available to the community, and are they here. -Callisto Cortez, youth development specialist, Copper Shores Outreach and education
Copper Shores Outreach and Education and Keweenaw Support 4 Healthy Minds work together as branches of the Copper Country Suicide Prevention Coalition. In September 2024 the groups collaborated to organize the Suicide Prevent Walk. Since then, the coalition has worked to expand opportunities for the community learn about various resources.
The Copper Shores group always likes to have an annual family fun fair. And we thought at the same time, it would be great to pair it with something that would highlight what resources are available in the Copper country. Very often you hear the common belief expressed that there just aren’t any resources for mental health or for substance use. And that’s actually not true. – Michelle Morgan, Volunteer, Keweenaw Support 4 Healthy Minds
A challenge the community and nonprofits in the Copper Country encounter includes knowledge of what programs or resources exist. And where those programs are found in the community.
You can only do so much through an article or, a social media post. Seeing that person and having that connection is kind of the strongest bond that we have with other people. So being able to talk to someone in person, I think, helps establish the connection and feeling like, OK, maybe there is someone here to help me. – Callisto Cortez, youth development specialist, Copper Shores Outreach and education
Well, there’s a long list. And in fact, there are going to be 35 vendors at the resource fair. And that’s not even all of them that are in the community, but those are the ones that we’re able to attend. So we have very family-oriented services like UP Kids, and I mentioned BHK. And then we have the Little Brothers, Friends of the Elderly. There’s a senior support program out of the Baraga County Memorial Hospital that’s going to be there. And these are support groups for all different ages and issues. – Michelle Morgan, Volunteer, Keweenaw Support 4 Healthy Minds
Cortez adds events like the family fun resource fair allow parents a safe space where kids can have fun while parents learn about resources that can help their child or family unit.
Seeing kids being able to interact with kids that they might not know and just being able to be there together, is special. And it helps form the connections that sometimes kids might not otherwise have. It’s a chance to build social bonds while parents can look at what is available to them in their community. Seeing kids being able to interact with kids that they might not know and just being able to be there together, is special. And it helps form the connections that sometimes kids might not otherwise have. It’s a chance to build social bonds while parents can look at what is available to them in their community. -Callisto Cortez, youth development specialist, Copper Shores Outreach and education
Keweenaw Support Volunteer Michelle Morgan encourages individuals, seniors, parents and youth to visit the Family Fun Fair. Meeting with local experts and program coordinators can more easily connect with people and explain how certain programs could impact the community.
When people feel like there aren’t any resources, they often don’t reach out and ask for help. So this is an opportunity to see what’s available and offer some hope, which is something that we all could benefit from. – Michelle Morgan, Volunteer, Keweenaw Support 4 Healthy Minds
The family fun and resources fair with Copper Shores Outreach and Keweenaw Support 4 Healthy Minds will begin at noon on Saturday in Calumet. The Calumet Colosseum will host the event until 3 pm. Activities for kids include bouncy houses, face painting, and giant Jenga. Parents can learn about resources from groups such as Copper Shores, Emotions Anonymous, Unit Mental Health, u.P. Kids, and more. Learn more about the family fun resource fair here.
