Zoraida de Souza
WHY T.H.R.I.V.E. BEGAN
Helping teens before things become overwhelming.
When I was eight, my grandfather died in a tragic accident. His death left a void in my life and feelings I didn’t know what to do with. I wrote poetry to help manage my emotions, but I still struggled.
As I grew older, I began to notice that teens around me were struggling too. Our experiences were different, but many of us shared the same need: help understanding what we felt and practical ways to handle it. We were learning how to prepare for exams, meet deadlines, and plan for the future, but we weren’t always learning how to navigate grief, pressure, loneliness, and difficult emotions.
That realization became the idea for T.H.R.I.V.E. I wanted to start the conversation earlier, before things became overwhelming.
Teen Health, Resilience, Insight, Vitality & Education
T.H.R.I.V.E. stands for Teen Health, Resilience, Insight, Vitality & Education. It is a teen-led initiative—by teens, for teens, led by professionals—that helps young people learn and practice skills for emotional well-being. Professionals share their knowledge, and teens put it into practice through activities, writing, reflection, and conversation. Young people help shape the experience because we understand the pressures we face.
THE FIRST T.H.R.I.V.E. SUMMIT
August 29, 2026 · Boca Raton
On August 29, 2026, we held the first T.H.R.I.V.E. Summit at the Peter Blum Family YMCA of Boca Raton. Eighty-seven teens attended, supported by professional facilitators and a student team. Parents had sessions of their own.
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Teens at the first summit
Practical workshops
Letters for ACTS residents
Balance Without Burnout
Learn practical emotional tools to manage daily stress and sustain your energy.
Protect Your Peace
Discover how to set healthy boundaries that safeguard your mental and emotional space.
Healthy Spirit, Mind & Body
Explore a holistic approach to health that integrates physical activity with mindfulness.
Put It on Paper
Master reflective writing techniques to clarify your thoughts and express complex feelings.
College Pressure
Navigating the academic and social transitions of college with confidence and resilience.
Seven Pillars of Confidence
Building a robust foundation of self-worth through seven key pillars of personal growth.
A SERVICE PROJECT WITH HEART
Seventy-two letters. Many meaningful connections.
The summit also included a service project. Teens wrote 72 letters for residents of an ACTS retirement community and helped prepare gifts. I later visited the residents to spend time with them, read to them, and deliver what we had made. That visit showed me how much a small act of attention can mean to someone.
Built together, with and for teens.
I serve as Founder & Chair, and Jaden Guerra serves as Co-Chair. Our student team contributed ideas and helped create a day designed for teens.
Our workshop facilitators brought their experience and care into the room: George Lovera and Vance Phillips of Southwestern Consulting; Mandee Heller Adler of International College Counselors; and Macy Dailey, an English instructor. They helped teens learn, ask questions, and practice skills they could use in everyday life.
The Peter Blum Family YMCA of Boca Raton is T.H.R.I.V.E.’s founding home and community partner. James Rodriguez, Teen Director at the YMCA and our mentor, believed in the idea and encouraged us as we brought it to life. Families, donors, and other community partners helped make the summit possible.
YMCA Changemakers
T.H.R.I.V.E. was named a national top 40 in the YMCA Changemakers competition.
Our first summit was only the beginning.
The summit was our beginning. T.H.R.I.V.E. now has a student-led school club, and we are building more ways to stay connected, practice these skills, and listen to what teens need. I created UNWRITTEN: The Skills Every Teen Needs as a resource young people can return to after a workshop ends.
We want to grow this movement for teens ages 13–18 through school activities, community events, and opportunities for young people in other communities to lead. Teens should have a voice in shaping each step. Our purpose remains clear: to give young people practical tools for a healthy mind and the support to use them in everyday life.
MEDIA & RECOGNITION
CBS12/CW34 featured Zoraida and the teen-led T.H.R.I.V.E. work ahead of the inaugural youth summit in Boca Raton.
“Resilience is a skill.
Skills can be taught.”
— Zoraida de Souza
Stories, video and event moments.
Explore verified coverage of the project, the inaugural summit and Zoraida’s message about teaching practical mental health skills.
YMCA SPBC
Summit Empowers Teens to Connect, Be Heard and Build Resilience
The YMCA’s official recap covers the inaugural summit, workshops, student leadership and community partners.
CBS12 News
Local Teen Hosts Youth Summit Focused on Mental Health
The television story introduces Zoraida’s vision for T.H.R.I.V.E. and practical skills for teen well-being.
Immerse Education
Learning to Be Heard: Teaching Mental Health Skills
Watch Zoraida’s winning one-minute message and read about her vision for giving teens practical tools for a healthy mind.
WPBF 25 ABC
Boca Raton teen creates T.H.R.I.V.E. organization to support peers
Zoraida joins WPBF 25 live to share the story behind T.H.R.I.V.E., why teen mental wellness matters, and her mission to give young people practical tools before challenges become overwhelming.
SmugMug Gallery
Photos from the inaugural T.H.R.I.V.E. Summit
Browse the complete photo gallery from the Teen Mental Wellness Premiere Summit. 8/29/26
Boca Raton Tribune
Local Teen Turns Personal Loss Into a Mental Health Movement
A detailed feature on the first T.H.R.I.V.E. Youth Summit and the personal experience that inspired it.
Boca Raton Tribune
Local Teens Establish Youth Mental Health Initiative, Plan Events To Come
A feature on T.H.R.I.V.E.’s growing impact and the work to bring practical mental wellness tools and resources to teens.
YMCA of South Palm Beach County
YMCA Change Maker: Zoraida de Souza
Zoraida shares the story behind T.H.R.I.V.E., her mission to equip teens with practical life skills, and the growing movement she is building for young people.