Gracie Parker, an 11-year-old girl from Franklin, North Carolina, has organized a youth mental health rally for the second year in a row. Her advocacy for children facing trauma and mental health struggles started at the age of five, after her mother passed away due to substance abuse. This year’s rally attracted important figures like Kody Kinsley, the secretary for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, who emphasized the importance of caring for children’s behavioral health in order for them to learn and thrive.
Gracie has been advocating for mental health at various events across the state and even in Washington, D.C., and hopes to see the rally’s impact continue to grow each year. The event provided valuable resources to help attendees better cope with and improve their behavioral health. Gracie and Kinsley are both passionate about the cause and are dedicated to making a positive impact on the mental health of young children in their community and beyond.