Blaine County’s Well-Being Ambassador Program Kicks Off at Community Dinner

Last month, TogetherWe (formerly the Mental Well-Being Initiative [MWBI]), the coalition home of C4Y Blaine County, hosted its first in-person gathering for the Well-Being Ambassador Program, which supports prevention across the Wood River Valley by focusing on the power of connection. This work helps address findings from the 2025 Blaine County Youth Well-Being Survey, which highlighted community connection as a key factor influencing the mental health and well-being of local teens.

The gathering brought together Spanish and English-speaking Well-Being Ambassadors, along with other community members interested in learning more about the program. The meeting focused on relationship-building, orienting ambassadors to key community resources, and grounding everyone in a shared purpose.

Afterwards, ambassadors were issued a simple challenge: have one genuine conversation with someone new. They carried that intention into the Full Moon Community Dinner, Bonfire, and Cross-Generational Campus Crit at The Sage School, connecting with community members through shared experiences and intergenerational activities.

A Beautiful Pivot (and a Snowless Success)

The Full Moon Dinner was initially envisioned as a skate ski and fat bike race. But with no snow on the ground, the event required a quick and creative pivot. Thanks to the flexibility and teamwork of The Sage School and key partners – Trailhead and SVSEF, in particular – the event seamlessly transformed into a dirt-based Cross-Generational Campus Crit.

Community members gather for the Cross-Generational Campus Crit

Each co-ed team included one participant under 18 and one over 40 to face a mountain bike, obstacle course, and foot race mashup that sparked laughter, friendly competition, and meaningful intergenerational connection.

We’re deeply grateful not only to the partners who made the pivot possible, but also to those who were fully committed even though the final plan didn’t require them as much. BCRD and Backwoods, thank you for showing up ready to support our community, snow or no snow.

Warmth and Connection Inside the Barn and By the Fire

Inside the barn, the heart of the gathering took shape. Community members shared free soup and chili, sat side-by-side at long tables, and added notes to a gratitude wall, reflecting on what and who they were thankful for.

Community members gather for dinner and meaningful conversation.

The gratitude wall and a lively rock-paper-scissors tournament – complete with Mardi Gras beads changing hands until one final winner emerged – were organized by Sources of Strength leaders from Wood River High School. Their leadership brought energy, creativity, and youth voice to the evening, and we’re incredibly thankful for their role in making connection fun and accessible.

As the night wound down, people gathered around the “pray for snow” bonfire — a warm, glowing ending to a night rooted in togetherness.

The "pray for snow" bonfire brought the evening to a memorable close.

Why This Matters

TogetherWe supports events like the Full Moon Dinner because connection is protection. Strong social ties – across ages, cultures, and experiences – are proven to reduce depression, anxiety, substance misuse, and suicide risk, while increasing overall well-being.

Belonging is built in moments like these: racing alongside someone from a different generation, sharing a meal with new connections, writing on a gratitude wall, or talking by a fire under a full(ish) moon.

We’re grateful to The Sage School, our many partners, youth leaders, volunteers, ambassadors, and every community member who showed up and made the night what it was. Together, we’re helping to strengthen the social fabric that keeps our community well.

If you would like to get involved with the current work of the Communities for Youth Blaine County Initiative, please reach out to Community Leads, Kirstin Emerson at kirstin@togetherwe5b.org or Sara Seppa at seppas@slhs.org.

For more information about C4Y Blaine County, visit our main page or sign up for our newsletter.