CURBING CLIMATE ANXIETY: STEAM EXPO recap 2025

Atlanta, GA — September 21, 2025

City of Atlanta Hosts Inaugural “Curbing Climate Anxiety: STEAM Expo” Empowering Youth to Turn Concern into Action

The City of Atlanta, in partnership with Happy Mama Happy Mini Inc., proudly hosted the inaugural Curbing Climate Anxiety: STEAM Expo—a groundbreaking, youth-centered event designed to inspire action on climate change while addressing the growing concern of climate anxiety among young people.

“The STEAM Expo was more than an event—it was a call to action and a space for healing,” said a student organizer. “We wanted young people to leave feeling inspired, equipped, and hopeful.”

Event highlights included:
• Youth-led presentations on sustainability innovations
• Climate-focused workshops on energy, water, food systems, transportation, and waste
• Mental health sessions promoting resilience and eco-hope
• DIY planting and interactive exhibits
• Awards for youth innovation and community engagement

The event also tracked participants’ feelings of “hope” at the beginning and end of the day, providing measurable insight into the power of youth-driven solutions to climate anxiety.

Happy Mama Happy Mini Inc., a local nonprofit supporting maternal and youth mental health, was proud to sponsor this initiative as part of its commitment to nurturing healthy futures for families and communities.

“We believe that mental wellness and environmental justice go hand-in-hand,” said Nichelle, Co-Founder of Happy Mama Happy Mini Inc. “This event put youth at the center of the solution—something our city and our future desperately need.”

The day concluded with a shared sense of optimism as Atlanta’s youth, under the leadership of local HBCU scholars, planted seeds of sustainability and hope for generations to come.

Media Contact:
Nichelle Wilson
Co-Founder/ Happy Mama Happy Mini, Inc.
happymama.happymini@gmail.com
www.happymamahappymini.org

What a powerful and joy-filled weekend! On Sunday, we celebrated our amazing Co-Founder Nichelle’s birthday, and on Monday, we celebrated Happy Mama Happy Mini’s anniversary—a beautiful alignment that reminded us exactly why we do this work. The Curbing Climate Anxiety: STEAM Expo perfectly embodied our mission and purpose, bringing together heart, healing, and hope.

A huge thank-you to the City of Atlanta Sustainability Office for selecting our organization to represent this season. Special shout-out to all the incredible minds who made this event possible—you showed up with brilliance, creativity, and dedication every step of the way!

Our keynote speaker, Dr. Morris, set the tone perfectly, inspiring us all to think more deeply about climate, mental health, community-driven solutions, and even the role of AI. We were especially proud to see the Atlanta University Center (AUC) well represented, as current student leaders continue to shape the conversations that define our future.

Our Co-Founders, Hannah Marie & Nichelle, also led a powerful Mental Health & Climate Workshop, creating space for reflection, healing, and action at the intersection of wellness and sustainability.

Yes, there were hurdles along the way—a lot of them—but guess what? We did it! And in the end, everything came together beautifully (dare we say, it even felt flawless once it was over, lol).

To our sponsors, thank you for believing in the youth and this vision.
To our facilitators, thank you for pouring your heart, wisdom, and energy into this project.
And a special, heartfelt thank-you to Linda, Vony, and Kenneth from the Lonnie Johnson STEM Center—your support meant everything.

Here’s to more healing, learning, and inspired action at the intersections of mental health, climate, and youth empowerment. The seeds we planted this weekend will continue to grow for years to come.