From Yocum Institute for Arts Education
Yocum Institute for Arts Education is bringing two theater-based mental health programs back to Berks County schools this fall, following a successful spring 2026 pilot that reached more than 3,400 students, faculty, and staff through 23 performances.
Designed specifically for elementary and high school audiences, I’m OK and At Some Point – We Have to Talk use live, interactive theater to create opportunities for students to think about mental health, build awareness, reduce stigma, and connect with trusted adults and community resources.
Both programs will be available to Berks County schools at no cost this fall.
“We know that schools are being asked to support students who are navigating increasingly complex emotional and social challenges, and we believe the arts can be a powerful way to open the door to those conversations,” said Kristin Gehris, Yocum Institute’s School & Community Engagement Director. “What was especially meaningful about our spring pilot was seeing how positively students, teachers, and administrators responded to these programs. Theater gives us a way to approach difficult subjects in an engaging, age-appropriate way, and to connect students with resources and people who can help. We are excited to make these experiences available to more schools this fall.”
I’m OK: Theater Assembly for Elementary Schools
I’m OK is a 30-minute interactive theater assembly created for students in 2nd and 3rd grades. The program addresses mental health and feelings awareness through age-appropriate storytelling, reflection, and problem-solving.
The production was developed with guidance from mental health professionals and a panel of elementary school principals, counselors, social workers, and emotional support teachers representing urban, suburban, and rural schools in Berks County. Written by Joel Richard Gori, I’m OK explores topics including:
- Empathy, listening and respect
- Understanding complicated feelings
- Strategies for self-regulation
- Handling challenging situations in the classroom
- Positive behavior and decision-making
During the spring 2026 pilot, Yocum brought I’m OK to 18 elementary schools, reaching more than 2,900 students, faculty, and staff. Teachers and administrators provided extremely positive feedback about the program.
Each participating student receives a “feelings journal” to encourage continued reflection, along with a mental health resource packet for families, created in partnership with Inspired Wellness.
I’m OK performances are available at various morning and afternoon times from September through mid-December 2026. The program is funded in part by The Yocum Family Charitable Trust.
At Some Point – We Have to Talk: A Theater-Based Mental Health Program for High School Students
At Some Point – We Have to Talk is a 30-minute performance created specifically for high school students and their supporting faculty and staff. Written by Adam Void, the production was developed with grant support and in collaboration with VOiCEup Berks and youth involved in its Mental Health Ambassador initiative. Through conversations with local teens, their real stories, community perspectives, and lived experiences helped shape the piece, bringing authenticity and relevance to a work that reflects the voices of today’s youth.
The play explores issues teens are facing today, including relationships, missing persons, the impact of social media, and self-harm.
Yocum produces At Some Point in partnership with the Reading Area Community College Theatre Arts Department, providing college students with valuable professional performance experience while also giving them an opportunity to engage directly with the issues explored in the production.
Following each performance, VOiCEup Berks’ Mental Health Ambassadors facilitate We Have to Talk, a post-performance discussion using situations from the play as a starting point for conversation, reflection, and connection. Ambassadors also provide each audience member with a youth-developed wellness toolkit featuring practical coping tools, grounding strategies, and mental health resources to support students beyond the performance.
The program is designed to:
- Increase mental health awareness and reduce stigma
- Encourage open and honest conversation among students
- Connect students with practical mental health tools, local resources, and support systems
During the spring 2026 pilot, At Some Point was presented five times to more than 500 high school students, faculty, and administrators.
“As Ambassadors, we want to break the stigma surrounding mental health and create a safe environment where students can talk openly and learn from each other,” said Madi Bieber, Youth Mental Health Ambassador from Exeter High School.
Performances are available for high schools on Wednesday mornings from September through mid-December 2026. The program is supported by Tower Behavioral Health and the Wyomissing Foundation.
Continuing access to mental health programming
Yocum was able to develop and offer these programs through support from the COVID-19 ARPA PA Arts and Culture Recovery Program, administered through the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, through June 2026.
Following the success of the spring pilot, Yocum is committed to expanding access to theater-based mental health programming for local schools and is seeking ongoing funding and community support to help sustain these programs and continue offering them at no cost to schools.
“The response from our school partners reinforced for us that there is a real need for programs like these,” said Vicki Haller Graff, Executive Director of Yocum Institute for Arts Education. “Our goal is to make sure cost is not a barrier for schools that want to bring meaningful mental health programming to their students. Continued community support will help us make that possible.”
Schools interested in scheduling I’m OK or At Some Point – We Have to Talk, learning more about the programs, or supporting Yocum’s mental health programming initiative are encouraged to contact Kristin Gehris, Yocum School & Community Engagement Director, at kgehris@yocuminstitute.org.
About Yocum Institute for Arts Education
Yocum Institute for Arts Education is a nonprofit community arts organization dedicated to enriching lives through arts education, performance, and cultural experiences. Serving the Berks County community for more than 90 years, Yocum offers programs in music, theater, dance, visual arts, and early childhood education for students of all ages and abilities.
