Annual NUHOPE Walk
Suicide Prevention in Northern UtahI have been involved with the NUHOPE Suicide Prevention Task Force since 2015. The group is most well known for its annual suicide awareness walk held in Downtown Ogden each September. I have volunteered for each walk, have led marketing efforts for the past four walks, and have been the chair of two out of the five events. Each year we see an increase in participation from the community, which means that each year the message of suicide prevention permeates the community, helping people to learn how they can help.
Walk Attendance
Walkers in 2015
Walkers in 2016
Walkers in 2017
Walkers in 2018
Walkers in 2019
Walk Promotion and Branding
Between 2015 and 2019 promotion of the NUHOPE walk has changed quite a bit. In the months leading up to the 2015 (8th Annual) NUHOPE Walk, word spread through posters, fliers, and word of mouth. When I took over walk promotion in 2016 and beyond I introduced new advertising strategies such as a new website, online registration through Eventbrite, social media advertising, digital display advertising, community events calendars, e-mail marketing, and media relations. In 2018 I overhauled the branding for the walk and created all of the following promotional and branding materials:
I designed a new free t-shirt for all walk participants in 2018. Our goal for the new design was to create a shirt that people would wear while spreading a message of hope and suicide prevention.
I also completely rebuilt the NUHOPE Task Force website in 2018 with a goal to bring information and usability for a positive community resource.
I designed this shirt as a way to distinguish volunteers from the rest of the crowd during the walk and at other NUHOPE events. It is based on Project Semicolon and displays the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Among other tactics, I’ve utilized social media ads to increase the reach of the walk and its message. Since implementing boosted posts, the walk has grown to over 3,000 people.
Walk Turnout in 2019:
2018 saw such a large turnout that NUHOPE decided to change venues to the Ogden Amphitheater for 2019, which enabled us to host an Alex Boye’ performance after the 12th annual NUHOPE walk.
Walk Accolades and Media Attention
This video was produced by the Standard-Examiner for the 2016 NUHOPE Walk, of which I was chair.