What is Happy Crew? The Happy Crew is a Colorado non-profit dedicated to teenagers. Our mission is to destigmatize teen mental health issues and prevent teen suicide.

Please join us on March 1, 2025, from 7-10pm. We will share the plan and vision for our new home, give you an update on all things Happy Crew, and introduce Happy Crew Coffee House memberships.

We are thrilled to reveal our new home! Thanks to the Douglas County American Recovery Program Act Grant and Douglas County Community Foundation, we have opened a new space at Business Foundry, 9044 Forsstrom Drive. We have room for gathering, building community, increasing our program reach, creating, and launching Happy Crew Coffee House - a membership driven shop where each cup of coffee and delicious treat fund Happy Crew's mission to tell each teenager that they matter and they belong. We can't wait to share it with you!

How did Happy Crew start? The Happy Crew is an organization created by Amy, Megan and Cole Mays and Paul Kuenne. Our history includes seven summers producing teen battle of the band competitions, a weekly middle school hang out at a local restaurant, and we transitioned to our current Happy Crew concept after 8 teens died by suicide in one school year in Douglas County, Colorado. Suicide is the number one cause of death in Colorado for people aged 10-24. A recent study from Manhattan Mental Health Counseling reveals that Colorado is one of the worst states for youth’s mental health. We aim to change these statistics and impact lives. After the loss of a Lacrosse player at Chaparral High School in 2015, Amy was contacted to speak to the team and help them navigate their devastation, grief, and anguish. Meetings began at Starbucks, quickly moved to a local pizza place, and soon after, moved to Amy’s house. Happy Crew began with 6 students in the spring of 2015 and has grown to over 171 students who attended at least five meetings during the 2023-2024 schoolyear. These original six students determined to make a difference and with one unified voice they spoke: “No more on our watch”. They created Happy Crew, where they met with peers in a relevant, authentic way. They handed out candy bars emblazoned with the words “YOU MATTER.” Through listening, laughing, candy and connection, they started a movement where everyone belongs. Today, Happy Crew hands out stickers in the hall at school, giving crew members a vehicle to reach out and share the message: You matter, you belong!

Each Monday night, students gather for food, conversation, and kinetic learning of mental wellness tools. Playdough creations form the actors in reels about overcoming negative thoughts, haiku poetry focusing on challenging emotions is composed and performed, storyboards create ideas on how to say “no” to victim mentality… kinetic learning allows the tools to “stick” after a long day in class. Active listening is key to making space for deeper conversations, where thoughts, feelings, success, challenges and failure are shared without fear of judgement. Happy Crew students are careful to provide strict confidentiality within these groups, and trust is built every meeting. Active listening can lead to vulnerable sharing. If a student is concerned about any sign of depression or suicidal thoughts, an adult is always brought in for help.

Happy Crew is impactful, as one of our leaders, Nathan shares, “Happy Crew is a place, for me, where I belong and can express my emotions openly without any hesitation, whether I'm at a happy point in my life, or a low point, I always feel like Happy Crew is the place to be, from the awesome community built from a positive environment, everyone who comes to Happy Crew is always so supportive to everyone around them. Also Happy Crew has helped me become more social and less awkward when I am in challenging environments where I don't feel comfortable. I really believe that Happy Crew has strengthened my social mentality in every aspect."

Happy Crew Coffee House Grand Opening Celebration