A Different Kind of Listening: Pueblo Teens Lead the Way in Reimagining Mental Health Through Art, Honesty and Community

“Can you hear me?”

The words echoed through the fourth-floor conference room of Pueblo’s Rawlings Library as a group of teens from the Pueblo Arts Academy slowly circled the space, their voices rising and falling in a haunted chant.

What followed was an adapted performance of “No One Hears Unless You Scream,” a play originally written by Joey Madia and updated with monologues written by some of the teens about trauma, isolation, identity and survival.

It was raw. It was poetic. It was testimony.

The piece was one of the opening moments of a full-day youth mental health symposium. It marked the early work of C.A.T.C.H. Youth, a new community initiative reimagining how support reaches young people. But before any strategy sessions began, the day opened in rhythm. A Native American drum circle brought everyone in the room into a shared moment of connection. Participants joined hands, standing together in a moment that grounded the day with intention.

Together, these two performances made something clear. This wasn’t going to be just another conference filled with posturing and pomp. It wasn’t performative. It wasn’t for show. It was a call to build something real.

The symposium is one of several programs C.A.T.C.H. Youth is launching to understand what Pueblo’s kids are really asking for when it comes to mental health and how to respond in meaningful, lasting ways. Rather than imposing a plan from above, the initiative is beginning by listening — gathering stories and strategies directly from those closest to the challenges.

The day functioned as a collaborative think tank. It brought together more than 100 people, including educators, advocates, mental health professionals, parents and teens, all asking the same question: How do we build a system that doesn’t start with crisis?

And the teens didn’t hold back. When asked what challenges they face, one replied, “We have nothing to do in Pueblo.” Another said simply, “Drugs.” Their answers were direct, and that is exactly what the event was designed to surface. Youth in Pueblo aren’t struggling because they lack resilience. They’re struggling because they lack access, opportunity, creative outlets and spaces to be heard.

C.A.T.C.H. Youth aims to change that — not by reacting after something has gone wrong, but by creating conditions where more young people can flourish from the start. It’s about early access, emotional tools and safe places to grow.

All of it is built on a foundation of the arts.

The urgency is clear. National studies show a rise in mental health challenges among youth. In Pueblo, those pressures are compounded by systemic inequities, limited services and longstanding stigma. C.A.T.C.H. doesn’t claim to have the full solution, but it is committed to asking better questions and building answers with the community itself.

The effort is led by longtime educator and youth advocate Roxy Pignanelli, who secured an initial planning grant from the Colorado Health Foundation to begin the project. The goal has never been to deliver a packaged program. It is to research where space can be created and how support meets young people where they are. With a background in arts-based education and a reputation for designing programs that put students first, Pignanelli envisions a center that has classrooms, workshops, creative spaces — even coffee shops. Places where young people can feel safe, inspired and connected. Where they can thrive, not just survive.

The work continues in July, when the organization will host more working groups with Pueblo youth to refine its approach and deepen involvement. This isn’t about waiting for a turning point. It’s about shaping one.

And that purpose filled the air in the May symposium.

What began as a question — “Can you hear me?” — now feels like the start of an answer. Not complete, not final, but real. If we are listening — truly listening — then maybe the hardest part isn’t speaking up. Maybe it’s knowing someone is ready to hear you.

Molly Cotner

Molly Cotner is freelance writer, sociologist, and educator. She is drawn to stories that explore the human experience in all its complexity. Good storytelling can connect us, challenge our assumptions, and inspire us to make a difference in the world. Molly’s goal is to craft meaningful narratives and educate in a way that is accessible to everyone. Through her work, she aims to drive progressive social change and amplify voices and stories that are often marginalized and unheard. Molly is an Instructor of Sociology at Colorado State University Pueblo and holds an M.A. in Sociology from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. In 2025 she completed her M.A. in Journalism from NYU.