Indian Prairie School District 204 is again hosting its annual Mental Health and Wellness Symposium, in partnership with East Aurora School District 131, Naperville Community Unit School District 203 and Oswego Community Unit School District 308, officials with District 204 said in a news release.
The symposium, which is presented by the Indian Prairie Educational Foundation, will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at Metea Valley High School in Aurora, according to District 204 officials.
The purpose of the event is to provide families with tools, expert guidance and community resources to help support student mental health, the news release said.
“Student well-being is a shared responsibility, and this partnership allows us to reach more families with meaningful, high-quality support,” District 204 Superintendent Adrian Talley said in the release. “By working together, our districts can expand access to trusted experts and resources while reinforcing the message that no family has to navigate these challenges alone.”
This year’s symposium will feature two keynote sessions, one for adults and one for students, the district said.
The adult keynote session, titled “Restoring Our Youth: Fostering Communication, Conversation and Connection,” will be presented by John Duffy, a Chicago-based clinical psychologist and author, and Cathy Cassani Adams, the co-host of the Zen POP podcast, founder of the Zen Parenting Conference and a former therapist at Lurie Children’s Hospital, per the news release.
The student keynote session, titled “ABBONDANZA! ‘Notice the Good,’” will be given by Eddie Slowikowski, a former USA Track & Field standout, according to the district.
The symposium will also have offerings like breakout sessions for adults and students, a resource fair and book fair, per the release. It will also provide complimentary lunch and child care. The first 500 adult attendees will receive a welcome bag, and the first 200 students to attend will receive a free T-shirt, organizers said. All adult attendees will also receive a copy of one of the keynote speakers’ books.
The event is open to the public, and registration is encouraged, the district said in the release. Individuals interested in attending can register at: https://mentalhealthwellnesssymposium.regfox.com/mhws-2026.
