Welcome to the Dude project

empowering young men to be their authentic selves

Join us in destigmatizing men's mental health & learning the skills to thrive!

I know what it's like to be a teenager and not be able to talk to a friend about something that's bothering you.

I know what it's like trying to figure out where you fit in in school.

I know what the pressure feels like trying to be accepted.

I also know that young men today are still struggling with this in school, yet they feel they can't talk about it.

what is The Dude project?

The DUDE Project is a program designed specifically for male students (aka the dudes) in middle and high school. We focus on destigmatizing men's mental health by talking about it in a way that is relevant and engaging for young men.

The DUDE Project includes a signature keynote with the option to include the DUDE workshop to provide an even more hands on experience for the young men.

3 tips that i use to get male students engaged

...and you can use these too!

dude project core principles

🏆 develop a winner's mindset (growth mindset)

Students learn how to improve their positive self talk, embrace challenges with confidence, learn from their "failures", stay persistent, and engage with supportive and like-minded indviduals who encourage and support you.

🧠 Understand YOUR emotions (developing emotional regulation)

Many male students have big feelings but they don't understand or sometimes even recognize how they are impacting their life. They  learn how to recognize their emotions, understand the impact their emotions play, express emotions in a healthy way, practice mindfulness, and develop emotional intelligence. This lads to better mental health and stronger interpersonal relationships.

💪 level up your fitness (take care of your body)

This is often an overlooked element of mental health, especially with male students. It's not all about being physically fit and exercising. Students learn how and why regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and adequate sleep are all important factors of their physical and mental health.

🤝 build your tribe (build strong relationships & support each other)

In order to be successful in any element of life, you can't do it alone. You must have a team/tribe. Students learn how building a strong tribe not only improves their chances of success towards their goals, but that it also makes their life much easier and fun. They learn how to share their thoughts and feelings honestly with one another through open communication and how to use active listening in order to give emotional support to those who need it. These elements create a solid foundation for lasting and supportive connections.

🤔 look back to move forward (self-reflection & improvement)

Doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. That's how most people live their lives. The students get a head start in life by learning early how to regularly self-assess leading to understanding their strengths and areas for growth, set personal goals based on their assessments, seek feedback from those in their tribe, fall in live with continuous learning and improvement, adapt and implement, and celebrate their achievements, no matter how small. These practices help them grow and become the best version of themselves.

The core principles of The DUDE Project equip teen male students with the tools to understand and manage their mental health effectively. By fostering a growth mindset, emotional awareness, physical fitness, strong relationships, and a habit of self-reflection, the program creates a supportive environment. These principles not only help students be more open about their mental health but also allows them to be more empathetic and supportive towards those around them, contributing to a healthier and more resilient community of young men.