Press Releases

Project Silence No More to Repurpose Summer Programming Funds in Light of COVID-19 Complications

April 21st, 2020

JOHNSTON, IA—  In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, Project Silence No More is making some changes. The organization has put an indefinite hold on plans for summer events, including their 3rd Annual Mental Health Awareness Concert. However, they’ve decided to use their summer program funding to help the community in other ways.

Project Silence No More’s mission involves addressing mental health in a number of ways, not just within the local school system. As part of addressing the greater community’s needs, PSNM is looking to assist local crisis hotlines, provide food security in the wake of uncertainty, and connect the overall community online. 

They will continue to directly support mental health services by providing funding to the Iowa Crisis Chat, which is a local hotline and chat service. PSNM sees that the Iowa Crisis Chat is playing a crucial role in a time of uncertainty, and that this contribution will be an effective extension of the organization’s mission.

Project Silence No More plans to provide food security by making financial contributions to the Johnston Partnership, as well as by purchasing gift cards from local restaurants donating them to the JUMP program, which will redistribute them to families in need. Treasurer Anjali Dhawan commented, “Food insecurity is a major issue right now, with more members of our community experiencing financial strain than before. We understand that having stability in vital resources like this is crucial to maintaining mental health, so we’re looking to ease this burden with the resources that we have”. 

Though the organization is currently unable to host in-person events, they’re looking to online resources to determine a new plan of action. “We still want our community to come together and discuss mental health, especially because many of us may be struggling at the moment,” President Ally Andreasen explained. PSNM’s plans to connect the community online currently extend through social media, but will soon expand to host online events for parents, students, and the rest of the community.

If any community members are looking to help but aren’t sure how, PSNM encourages making similar contributions to the aforementioned organizations. Additionally, PSNM would be happy to make contributions on their behalf; they accept donations via their website projectsilencenomore.org.

Among all of this, Project Silence No More is still accepting scholarship applications from current Johnston High School seniors with a demonstrated passion for mental health. Application details can be found online at projectsilencenomore.org/apply. 

While this crisis has altered the way in which Project Silence No More will operate in the coming months, the goal to combat the stigma surrounding mental health remains the same. The organization would like to extend a thank you to those who have offered their past and ongoing support, with special thanks to Sammons Financial. Their generous financial contribution this past summer made the donations discussed in this press release possible. While this may be a period of physical separation, PSNM is proud to continue supporting their community by ensuring that none of its members are ever really alone. 

Project Silence No More Summer 2019: 2nd Annual Mental Health Awareness Concert, Change of Leadership, and Sammons Financial Group Donation

August 20th, 2019- click here for PDF version

JOHNSTON, IA— It has been a busy and exciting summer for Project Silence No More. On July 13th at Terra Park, the organization held their 2nd Annual Mental Health Awareness Concert. The event included performances by Johnston Alumni, The Kyle Burgess Trio, and Vinyl Vagabonds. Remarks were given by Mayor Dierenfeld, 2019 PSNM Scholarship Recipient Gurleen Kaur, and Tammy Churchill, who began her speech by saying “Thank you to Project Silence No More. These young adults saw a need in our community and stepped up and did something about it.” 

The concert also included an announcement by Project Silence No More’s co-founders; JHS 2015 graduates Luke Johnson, Tristan Coldrake, Kelsey Caffrey, and Marcus Miller, who said “One aspect that we feel makes our group unique is the fact that our organization is run by recent alumni of JHS, (which is why) we are officially announcing that we are stepping down and inviting a new generation of leadership, led by Ally Andreasen as President.” She will be working alongside Vice President Katie Michalski, Treasurer Anjali Dhawan, and Secretary Lauren Goodwin. The new Team PSNM is excited to continue the legacy of their predecessors. “Some may say we have big shoes to fill, but I think a better way of putting it is that we have a great example to follow,” said PSNM President Ally Andreasen.

Project Silence No More is proud to announce that the concert was a success. There was an estimated 400 people in attendance, and through the generosity of their sponsors and community, they were able to raise nearly $7,000 for their cause. Project Silence No More is amazed and humbled by this outpouring of support.

On the topic of community support, Project Silence No More would like to extend their thanks to Sammons Financial Group, who’s employees nominated and voted to award PSNM $12,000 as a part of their community outreach program. “We are honored to receive this generous award from Sammons Financial, and thrilled by the potential for how their support will allow us to impact our community,” said PSNM Treasurer Anjali Dhawan. 

The recent donations from both Sammons Financial and the concert attendees has made it possible for a long time vision of Project Silence No More to come to fruition. “We know mental health issues affect more than just Johnston,” says President Ally Andreasen, “which is why we are currently planning to start chapters of Project Silence No More in other Des Moines area cities.” For inquiries about starting a chapter in your city, information on any of the initiatives discussed in this press release, or information on how you can get involved, visit projectsilencenomore.org or email contact@projectsilencenomore.org.

Project Silence No More to Help Fully Fund Suicide Prevention Training Program For Johnston Community School District

April 18th, 2019. Click Here for a PDF friendly version.

JOHNSTON, IA— Project Silence No More is thrilled to announce our donation of $2,500 to the Johnston Community School District for its suicide prevention training program, Sources of Strength.  Project Silence No More is partnering with the Cameron Carico Foundation, who is also donating $2,500, to fully fund the program. “I am excited to help students feel empowered to tackle issues surrounding suicide, depression, and mental health. This donation continues the much needed conversation surrounding mental health in the Johnston Community, and I’m grateful to be part of this work” says Marcus Miller, a co-founder of Project Silence No More and 2015 graduate of Johnston High School.

Sources of Strength is a research based program that equips peer leaders with tools to improve the connections between peers and promote help-seeking behaviors. Project Silence No More initially pledged to donate $500, plus $65.20 based off social media interactions with its followers. However, after discussing this program with the board, the Johnston Community School District, and the Cameron Carico Foundation, Project Silence No More determined that the Sources of Strength program is incredibly needed and valuable for Johnston students.

The collaboration between Project Silence No More, the Cameron Carico Foundation, and the Johnston Community School district underscores a key point: mental health wellness is a community wide effort. Co-founder and 2015 JHS alum Tristan Coaldrake states, “Being able to fund this program never would have been possible without the support of the Johnston community and the many donors who have helped us this far. We will never be able to thank the community and donors enough for providing us with the opportunity to help fund this program.”

Project Silence No More continues this conversation surrounding mental health by continuously investing in the Johnston Community. Our second annual mental health awareness concert is on July 13th at 6pm at Terra Park. We also award a $500 scholarship to a graduating senior wishing to pursue a career in the mental health profession. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by the April 28th deadline. Project Silence No More also recently brought on three interns to assist us during the summer, providing them with an opportunity to gain real-world experience in a collaborative environment. To learn more about our organization, get involved, or donate, please visit our website at www.projectsilencenomore.org or follow us on social media @prjctsnm.