Your Move MKE: Break Through Your Trauma

At Your Move MKE, five young leaders – Nevaeh Basema, Iveliz Hope, Cledor Bomba, Bianca Valleaz and Grant Reed – are creating space for young people to confront something that often goes unspoken. Break Through Your Trauma is a two-day event that combines physical activities, guided reflection and community support to help youth process stress, anger and trauma in healthy ways. Their project was selected as one of five winners in the Youth-Led Grantmaking Project, receiving $4,000 to create an experience centered on healing, resilience and positive coping strategies for Milwaukee youth.

What is your project?

Break Through Your Trauma is a two-day youth wellness event designed to help young people process trauma through physical expression, reflection and community support. The event is built on the idea that trauma affects both the mind and body, and that healthy outlets can help young people manage stress, anger and difficult experiences.

Held outdoors as part of Your Move MKE's Suns Out, Guns Down initiative, the event will feature activities such as piñata breaking, paint-filled art activities, shadow boxing and group discussions. Participants will also hear from motivational speaker and mental wellness coach Amju Butler, who will share strategies for managing stress and building resilience.

The project aims to engage at least 50 youth and provide a safe, supportive environment where they can express themselves, learn new coping skills and connect with their peers.

How does this project benefit the community?

Many young people experience stress, trauma and pressure but may not have healthy ways to process those emotions. Break Through Your Trauma creates opportunities for youth to release emotions in positive ways while learning skills that support long-term mental wellness.

The project also encourages community connection and helps reduce the stigma around discussing mental health. By creating space for reflection, conversation and healing, the team hopes to equip young people with tools they can use long after the event ends.

What are your goals?

This project focuses primarily on Mental Health and Systems Change.

Mental Health
The event provides healthy outlets for stress, anger and trauma through physical activities, coaching and peer support. Participants will learn coping strategies that can help them navigate challenges in their daily lives.

Systems Change
The team believes that providing young people with positive ways to process emotions can help reduce harmful behaviors and create stronger pathways toward healing and community well-being. By investing in prevention and support, the project aims to address challenges before they escalate.

What does success look like?

Success means engaging at least 50 young people across the two-day event and encouraging participants to return for both days. The team hopes that at least 85% of participants will report an increased sense of emotional wellness by the end of the program.

Surveys, daily wellness check-ins and participant feedback will help measure the impact of the event and identify opportunities for future programming.

How are young people involved?

Youth are leading many aspects of the event, from planning activities to promoting the event through social media. They will help welcome participants, explain activities and create an environment that feels welcoming and youth-centered.

Adults will provide supervision, coordinate logistics, manage purchases and serve as guest speakers and coaches. Their role is to support the event while ensuring youth voices remain central to the experience.

How will the funding be used?

The $4,000 grant will support event supplies, including paint, canvases, balloons and other materials used in the hands-on activities. Funding will also help provide food and drinks for participants, support outreach and promotion efforts, and speaker compensation. Additional funds will support youth workers and supervisors who help plan and facilitate the event.