Written by Tricia, Magnify Voices Committee Member
There are some things that are difficult to put into words. Sometimes art can say what words alone cannot.
That is what makes the Magnify Voices Expressive Art Contest so powerful.
Magnify Voices gives young people across New Hampshire a space to express their experiences with mental health through art and, in doing so, to be seen, heard, and understood. Every piece tells a story. Some are hopeful. Some are heartbreaking. Some are raw, complicated, joyful, or deeply personal. But each represents a young person who had the courage to share a piece of themselves with the rest of us.
I have the privilege of serving on the Magnify Voices committee, helping to plan and organize the program and the annual celebration of artists held each May during Mental Health Awareness Month. It is one of the most meaningful events I attend every year.
There is something extraordinary about watching these young artists come together, surrounded by their work and the work of their peers. They have an opportunity to look around the room and recognize: I am not the only one who has felt this way. I am not alone.
I have also had the honor of taking Magnify Voices on the road, bringing pieces from the showcase to events throughout New Hampshire. I wish everyone could witness what happens when people encounter this artwork.
People stop.
They look. They read the artists’ words. Young people are drawn to the creativity and the stories of their peers. Adults are amazed by the depth, talent, honesty, and courage reflected in the work.
And conversations begin.
That may be one of the greatest gifts of Magnify Voices. The art creates an opening to talk about mental health in a way that feels human and personal. It reminds adults that there is so much happening beneath the surface of the young people around us. And it reminds young people that their experiences matter, their creativity has power, and their voices deserve to be heard.
Everywhere I take the Roadshow, I see its ripple effect. People become interested in encouraging young artists to participate, volunteering, serving as judges, or joining the Magnify Voices committee. One young person’s willingness to share their story can reach and inspire people they may never meet.
That is why I keep taking these pieces on the road.
I want more young people to know that Magnify Voices is a space for them. I want more adults to experience what young people are telling us through their art. And I want communities across New Hampshire to create more spaces where young people can express themselves honestly, creatively, and without judgment.
To every young artist who has trusted us with a piece of your story, thank you.
Thank you for helping another young person feel less alone. Thank you for helping adults listen differently. And thank you for reminding all of us that mental health is not something we need to navigate in silence.
Every time I pack up the artwork for another Roadshow, I am reminded that I am carrying much more than art.
I am carrying stories. I am carrying courage. I am carrying connection. And most importantly, I am helping carry the voices of young people who deserve to be heard.