2nd Annual Hope Walk Led by Pewaukee High School Senior

Hundreds of community members are expected to gather on the trails and track of Pewaukee High School for an event that blends exercise with education and brings discussion about mental health to light.

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This event has become a chance for families, educators, and local organizations dedicated to raising awareness about mental health and suicide prevention. Created and led by students, the walk is scheduled on Sept. 14 at the high school, 404 Lake St., from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

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For Julia Piper, a Pewaukee High School senior and head organizer of the Hope Walk, the idea came from a simple but urgent observation: many of her peers were struggling silently.

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“I see students every day who don’t always know where to turn or don’t feel comfortable reaching out for help because of the stigma,” Piper said. “I wanted to create something visible at our school that shows resources are available and that it’s OK to talk about mental health.”

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What began as a vision has now turned into a large-scale event, with nearly 300 participants already signed up for this year's event.

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Piper first launched the Hope Walk last year, where more than 400 people took part. She was just a junior then, but determined to take on the responsibility of planning an event from scratch.

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“It’s taught me so much about leadership, writing professional emails, coordinating with staff and organizations, and making sure everything gets done on a deadline,” said Piper.

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Her determination resonated not only with fellow students but also with staff members like Michelle Davison, Pewaukee High School’s social worker, and Ally Molini, the school psychologist. Both serve as co-advisors of the Hope Squad, a peer-to-peer suicide prevention club at the high school.

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“We’re very proud of Julia for all of her positive leadership,” Molini said. “She started the Hope Walk as a passion project, and the community really rallied behind her. So we’re really proud of her and we will be sad when she graduates.”

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Hope Squad

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The Hope Walk is closely tied to the mission of the Hope Squad, which has been part of Pewaukee High School for about six years. Unlike most student clubs, members of the Hope Squad are nominated by their peers.

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“It is a peer-to-peer suicide prevention club, a national organization, and there are clubs throughout the United States,” Davison explained. “But what we’re doing overall in the high school is not necessarily talking about suicide prevention, we’re sort of talking about mental wellness and promoting activities that not only provide information about making mental health challenges and and whatnot, but also resources available to find help, and then other activities that are actually students are involved in to promote their own health and well-being.”

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The club now has about 40 members. This year, the squad is playing a bigger role with help organizing the Hope Walk, with committees formed for marketing, raffle prizes and event setup.

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Partnership with NAMI

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Proceeds from the Hope Walk go directly to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization, a long-time partner with the Pewaukee School District.

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“NAMI has been a really great partner that we’ve worked with in a lot of ways over the years,” Molini said. “They come into our 10th-grade health classrooms, and they’ll speak to some of the components of our mental wellness unit and the health classes. They always give us buttons every year that have the 988 suicide and crisis hotline on them, and many of our staff wear the buttons on their staff lanyards all year round. So they’ve been a great community partner with us.”

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NAMI also runs statewide competitions for Mental Health Awareness Month in May, giving clubs like Pewaukee’s Hope Squad recognition for their outreach efforts.

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What’s new this year

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Organizers worked hard to expand the Hope Walk in its second year. The event now features over 25 booths, nine outside organizations and additional activities geared toward children.

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Piper said one of the biggest changes this year is the addition of 10 more raffle baskets, bringing the total to 30 for this year for people to win. All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit NAMI Wisconsin. A bake sale and donation booth will also support NAMI.

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“We wanted to make it fun and welcoming for all ages,” Piper said. “This isn’t just about awareness, it’s about showing people that we can come together as a community.”

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For Davison, the event symbolizes more than just a walk. It reflects the unique setup of the Pewaukee School District, where all K-12 buildings sit on the same campus.

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“This really promotes not just community awareness for all the information related to mental wellness and whatnot, but it also promotes just that relationship and connection between our campus and the community,” Davison said. “Overall, the more the community knows about mental health and wellness, the better that’s going to reach our students.”

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Why it matters

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At its core, the Hope Walk is about a simple but vital message: No one has to struggle alone.

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“I hope participants take away from this event that you’re not alone, and that there’s always help for you if you want it, and that there are resources and people who are out there that are going to want to help you, and that just how strong our community can be when we all come together and support each other,” Piper said.

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For Piper, the Hope Walk has been more than a project; it has been a classroom in leadership, time management and community building.

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As she prepares for graduation, she hopes her classmates and future students continue building on the foundation she started.

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As the walk continues to grow, it stands as a testament to the power of youth leadership and the willingness of an entire community to rally around a cause that touches every family in some way.

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Originally published at https://www.gmtoday.com/the_freeman/news/pewaukee-high-school-hope-walk/article_71337c13-a23b-5642-8d24-e635df71e666.html