CATCH Youth Launch
On Valentine’s Day, Roxy Pignanelli and her team hosted a heartfelt community gathering at the Rawlings Main Library in the Ryals Room on the fourth floor at noon. Attendees enjoyed lunch, meaningful conversation, and a beautiful presentation by Roxy Pignanelli and one of her consultants, Kennedy Pugh. The event was attended by over 100 guests, representing many of the partners who will become integral to C.A.T.C.H. YOUTH.
In a world where young people are constantly navigating an overwhelming tide of social pressures, academic demands, and mental health challenges, one new initiative is cutting through the noise to offer real hope. C.A.T.C.H. YOUTH (Center for Arts Therapies & Creative Healing Youth) is an innovative, community-driven program dedicated to empowering Pueblo’s youth by integrating arts-based therapies into preventive mental health care. The initiative, backed by a $150,000 planning grant from the Colorado Health Foundation, aims to foster resilience, build critical communication skills, and provide a new model for collaboration across all sectors invested in the well-being of young people.
At the heart of this visionary project is Roxy Pignanelli, a trailblazer in education, the performing arts, and youth advocacy.
Pignanelli has a long history of developing impactful programs that transform the way students learn and grow.
At the heart of this visionary project is Roxy Pignanelli, a trailblazer in education, the performing arts, and youth advocacy. Pignanelli has a long history of developing impactful programs that transform the way students learn and grow. As the founder of the Arts Academy at Pueblo County High, she has championed applied, project-based learning that offers students meaningful, hands-on experiences, ensuring that education is both relevant and engaging in today’s rapidly changing world. One of her early successes at The Arts Academy was the No One Hears … Unless You Scream play, performed by students at Pueblo County High School. This powerful production focused on identifying teens who need help in that painful and dark space of suicide. It was one of the early projects that shed light on the need for programs like C.A.T.C.H. YOUTH, reinforcing the importance of early intervention and mental health awareness.
On Valentine’s Day, Roxy Pignanelli and her team hosted a heartfelt community gathering at the Rawlings Main Library in the Ryals Room on the fourth floor at noon. Attendees enjoyed lunch, meaningful conversation, and a beautiful presentation by Roxy Pignanelli and one of her consultants, Kennedy Pugh. The event was attended by over 100 guests, representing many of the partners who will become integral to C.A.T.C.H. YOUTH.
Her deep commitment to community-based solutions was also evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she founded Fair Care—an emergency response initiative that provided essential childcare and education for the children of first responders. At a time when frontline workers were faced with the impossible choice between caring for their children or reporting to work, Fair Care stepped in, reopening two closed public schools and creating small, structured learning cohorts. Substitute teachers were assigned to each group, and students were provided meals throughout the day, allowing them to continue their education in a safe and nurturing environment while their parents kept Pueblo running. The program was a resounding success, proving that with creativity, collaboration, and determination, solutions can be found even in the most challenging times.
Now, Pignanelli is bringing that same innovative mindset to C.A.T.C.H. YOUTH, a project designed to reimagine how mental health support is delivered to teens in Pueblo.
A New Approach to Mental Health Support
Pueblo’s youth are growing up in an era of unprecedented challenges—social media pressures, economic uncertainty, political division, and a mental health crisis that has stretched resources to their limits. Traditional mental health services, while vital, often focus on intervention rather than prevention. C.A.T.C.H. YOUTH seeks to change that narrative by embedding mental health support in creative, engaging spaces where young people feel comfortable expressing themselves.
“The arts provide an outlet that allows them to explore emotions in a way that feels safe and natural. This initiative is about giving them a voice, a way to process what they’re experiencing, and the skills to build resilience for the future.”
Roxy Pignanelli
This initiative will introduce arts-based therapies—including drama, music, visual arts, and movement—as part of a preventive mental health model. The goal is to provide teens with “upstream” interventions, equipping them and their families with tools to address mental health concerns before they escalate into crises.
The program’s unique “start with art” approach is what sets it apart. Studies show that art can be a powerful conduit for self-expression, emotional regulation, and healing, particularly for young people who may struggle to articulate their feelings through traditional talk therapy.
“We know that young people often find it easier to open up through creativity,” Pignanelli said. “The arts provide an outlet that allows them to explore emotions in a way that feels safe and natural. This initiative is about giving them a voice, a way to process what they’re experiencing, and the skills to build resilience for the future.”
Collaboration Across Sectors
The success of C.A.T.C.H. YOUTH hinges on its ability to bring together stakeholders from across the community—educators, mental health professionals, artists, nonprofit leaders, and families. The program is being developed in collaboration with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Pueblo County, which will serve as the fiscal agent, and is backed by partnerships with local schools and service organizations.
Mental health services in Pueblo have long been overburdened, with few programs focusing on prevention. C.A.T.C.H. YOUTH fills a crucial gap, offering an approach that is both proactive and inclusive.
“This is a community-wide effort,” said Dr. Callico Jones, a consulting partner on the project. “By integrating mental health awareness into accessible, creative spaces, we’re ensuring that teens get the support they need long before they reach a crisis point.”
A Transformative Gift for Pueblo’s Future
The funding from the Colorado Health Foundation, made possible through the dedicated advocacy of Charles Reese Jr., a strong supporter of Pueblo County, will provide the necessary research and infrastructure to launch the program. Over the course of 2025, C.A.T.C.H. YOUTH will lay the foundation for a new era of mental health awareness, providing teens with resources that are engaging, non-stigmatizing, and deeply impactful.
A key milestone for the initiative will be a City-Wide Symposium on the State of Youth Mental Health in May, bringing together experts, educators, parents, and young people to discuss innovative solutions and strategies for moving forward.
The Future is Bright
Roxy Pignanelli and her team are no strangers to turning bold ideas into reality. Their track record of success—whether through the Arts Academy, Fair Care, or now C.A.T.C.H. YOUTH—demonstrates an unwavering commitment to ensuring that every child in Pueblo has the tools they need to thrive.
As we look toward the future, one thing is clear: when a community comes together to invest in its young people, the possibilities are limitless.
For more information about C.A.T.C.H. YOUTH, contact Roxanne Pignanelli at roxypignanelli@gmail.com or 719.778.1848.
Original article reprinted with permission from the Pueblo Star Journal. https://pueblostarjournal.org/news/2025/02/14/catch-youth-vision-healing-empowerment-through-arts/This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.IN THE NEWS
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