#HuntersWorld

#HuntersWorld has been created with the purpose of giving teenagers a safe place, free of judgment, to learn to talk about and work through their challenges with the support of their peers.  When they learn to share with their mentors, they'll build a strong foundation of self-worth that they will continue to foster through high school, college and adulthood. 

In today's environment, teenagers face an unprecedented amount of pressure and stress.  Approximately 1 in 5 teenagers suffer from a mental health disorder - most commonly depression and anxiety.  Left unchecked, these mental health issues can lead teens down the road to making dangerous choices such as violence, substance abuse and even suicide.   #HuntersWorld aims to fight this crisis among our teens by destigmatizing these mental health issues and teaching them to talk about their challenges.  #HuntersWorld  is a peer to peer mentoring group - created and driven by teenagers - in an effort to reach those kids who struggle to talk about and manage their mental health.  

Recent studies show peer mentoring has a measurable positive impact on self-esteem, building relationships with adults, and teen's attitudes toward school.  #HuntersWorld aims to bring these benefits to high school students throughout Jersey City and beyond.

1. Confirm a compelling, relatable speaker for our kickoff event 

2.  Enlist experts in different fields to train teen mentors and trusted adults to lead our mentoring sessions. Those fields include:

• Public Speaking
• Sex Ed
• Substance Use and Abuse
• Suicide Prevention and Intervention
• Counselling Techniques
• Peer Leadership
• Mental Health Issues (including but not limited to Anxiety, Depression and Self Harm)
• LGBTQ
• Violence/Abuse
• Eating Disorders

3. Confirm partnership with four local high schools

4. Train peer mentors and adults 

5. Begin weekly offsite mentoring meetings for students from four local Jersey City schools

Hunter Reinholt, 15, died of an overdose on April 21, 2019. Hunter was fearless, outgoing, gregarious, had an unforgettable sense of humor and was a staunchly loyal friend.  His heart was incredibly open and filled with empathy and dedication toward his 3 favorite things: friends, family and a place that feels like home.  Hunter had a gift of making everyone around him feel safe, heard and accepted.  When once asked who his "people" were, he replied by saying "people who talk to me are my people".  It is with this approach, and in Hunter's honor, that his family and closest friends strive to create something that exemplifies how Hunter lived and what we all miss most about him.