THE AJJ FOUNDATIONS 6TH ANNIVERSARY FUNDRAISER
THE ALEXANDER JORDAN JAMIESON FOUNDATION AIMS TO DESTIGMATIZE MENTAL HEALTH AND AID IN SUICIDE PREVENTION THROUGH MUSIC.
AJJ Memorial Plaque
The annual event held in mid October collaborates with many different vendors who share their desire to destigmatize mental health struggles and suicide prevention in vulnerable communities. Each year the skate park hosts a number of community members including artists, an anti-stress petting station (they had ponies!), local clothing brands, popular food trucks, and even booths from other foundations like the Surfside Veterans.
William G. Jamieson Jr. & Blake Jamieson
The foundation works very closely with community members across the city of Milford to emphasize the importance of seeking support and leaning on one another in times of mental strife. AJJ uses music as a means of outreach, providing students access to musical equipment, lessons, and even performance opportunities in honor of Alex’s love for the art.
The event founders (family of Alex) were more than happy to share the origin story with me. With a warm welcome, they gave me more insight into how the decision to dedicate and rename the park came about.
“The park was dedicated in 2019 after my little brother Alex died by suicide - a few of his friends came together and created a change.org petition to name the park after him.” said William, the founder of the organization.
In the skate park hung a banner signed by all of Alex's close friends and loved ones, allowing them to share their love and express how much they’ve missed him in the time since. The board brought the event full circle by creating something tangible to allow the community to express their emotions without fear of judgment.
“The dedication ceremony happened in 2019 - 2020 was COVID-19 - so we did an online ceremony - since then, we’ve been back every year - this is our sixth year. What we do is all about mental health and how the park brings the community together. Come here to skate away your stress, get together with friends, and just be a part of something that you love, something positive.”
“Our catchphrase is #UnStigma - it’s all about making it okay to not be okay - we want to get rid of the stigma around talking about mental health. We talk about other health issues - we should be able to talk about mental health.”
In addition to connecting with the founders, I also spoke with some of the students directly involved with the foundation. With the help of AJJ, many of them learned more about music and self-expression.
Students like Ava and Ten shared how their involvement through parents and fellow students gave them access to equipment and a surprising but appreciated opportunity to perform their music at events.
Another two students named Kayla & Dario Shannon gave me insight into how they connected with AJJ. They spoke fondly of the foundation and how it’s allowed them to perform with their band at multiple events, including one named the Rockstars Ball in New Haven.
The AJJ Foundation also works with several other charity events in Connecticut, including the Walktober Challenge, the Coastline Challenge, live shows, and vendor pop-ups advocating for those struggling with mental health. This event - usually held in the second week of October - is their yearly “grand finale” - so to speak, where they gather with the community in remembrance.
The turnout showed that the foundation is doing an impressive job of creating a safe space for the youth and destigmatizing mental health struggles. The event falling on one of the last warm days of the year couldn't be a coincidence - even the sun showed up to support their cause.
