Welcome to Ben's Challenge
Our Goal - To Empower Your Students & Transform Your School Culture.
Bring Ben’s Challenge to your school and spark a movement of wellness, leadership, and connection.
What Is Ben’s Challenge?
Ben’s Challenge is a school-based initiative rooted in wellness, leadership, and empowerment — designed by
Ben Speaks, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting youth mental health and whole-person well-being.
This two-phase experience gives students the tools and ownership to create meaningful change in their school's culture & community:
How It Works:
Phase 1: Student Leadership Development
Over the course of one semester, Ben Speaks partners with selected student leaders, faculty, and staff to co-create a customized version of the 8-Week Wellness Challenge for their school.
This Phase Includes...
✅ A kickoff Ben's Challenge assembly for interested student leaders & faculty to learn more.
✅ A student leadership application + selection process
✅ Guided leadership meetings hosted by the Ben Speaks team.
✅ Ben Speaks facilitator support
✅ Full leadership planning framework provided
Phase 2: The 8-Week Wellness Challenge
Once their plan is ready, the student leadership team brings the challenge to life — delivering 8 weeks of school-wide wellness themes and daily activations.
This Phase Includes...
✅ School-wide kickoff assembly
✅ Weekly challenge themes (body, food, water, gratitude & more)
✅ Daily announcements or activities (delivered by the student leaders)
✅ Self-guided content, optional emails or digital support
✅ Flexible for all-school participation or opt-in groups
"Mental Wellness Starts with Empowerment"
Today’s students are carrying more stress, anxiety, and disconnection than ever before. Ben’s Challenge is designed to help them feel seen, supported, and empowered — while equipping them with life-long tools for wellness and leadership.
This program helps students:
💛 Build a stronger sense of identity and self-worth
🌱 Develop emotional resilience and coping strategies
👥 Foster connection and inclusion across campus
🗣 Become advocates for mental wellness in their own communities
"There’s a little bit of Ben in all of us. When we help students feel seen and supported, we change lives — and we change school culture."
— Ben Speaks Team
Meet Our Speakers
Jason Shea
Author, National Presenter, Municipal Police Statewide Health and Wellness Coordinator for Massachusetts and Coach
Judy Giovangelo
Author, national presenter, Founder of Ben Speaks and Advanced Grief Recovery Specialist
The 8 Week Challenge
Week One: Get The Body Moving
Week Two: We Are What We Eat
Week Three: The Power of Water
Week Four: Stand Tall
Week Five: Techno Glitch
Week Six: Change The Channel
Week Seven: Random Acts of Kindness
Week Eight: Practice Gratitude – RAISE THE VIBE!
What You'll Learn With This Free PDF
Secret #1
How to X Without Y So You Can Z
Secret #2
How to X Without Y So You Can Z
Secret #3
How to X Without Y So You Can Z
Ben's Story
In a fleeting moment of despair, Benjamin Giovangelo, our beautiful, intuitive, creative, sensitive and loving son, chose to leave this world on April 16, 2009, just six days after his 18th birthday. Benjamin struggled with Bipolar Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) beginning early on in his life, and so did his family, both with him and the stigma of mental health.
Ben Speaks Louder Than Words was born through his loss and today is a powerful voice in the world for change through the team at Ben Speaks Louder Than Words.
Everyone knows a Ben . . . an at-risk youth in the community.
Together we can support all Ben’s to thrive.
Who is a Ben?
A Ben is artistic, creative, intuitive, sensitive, and high empath
A Ben is unique and beats to his/her/their own drum
A Ben is a kinesthetic and visual learner
A Ben is labelled with a mental health issue or learning disability at an early age A Ben is a daydreamer and can become easily distracted He or she does not fit the mainstream box – Is a round peg!
A Ben resists control and thwarts authority
A Ben is often placed on meds early in life
A Ben feels like a misfit and struggles to fit in
A Ben is an easy mark for the bully or becomes one
A Ben often develops a strong inner critic
A Ben can become isolated and left out
A Ben often suffers with social anxiety & depression
A Ben is high risk for becoming a statistic TODAY!
A Ben is not broken
A Ben has one or many gifts to bring to the world and if nurtured is a future entrepreneur, out of the box thinker and creator of inventions that could potentially save this planet.
There is a little bit of Ben in all of us!
