By: Susan Berube | Publish Date: March 17th, 2026
Mind and Heart Wellness: ALMA is Kean’s new mental health club dedicated to providing a safe space for students to share their experiences and struggles. The club was founded this semester, Spring 2026, by co-presidents Anahi Martinez and Sophia Lavalle.
The story of ALMA’s establishment is interesting, as the club is the product of merging two developing clubs with the shared mission of spreading mental health awareness and fostering a strong sense of community. The proposed presidents of said clubs, Martinez and Lavalle, were notified by the Center for Leadership and Service of their shared mission, and so the two decided to merge and create Mind and Heart Wellness: ALMA with co-presidents. As for its chosen name, ALMA stands for “soul,” in Spanish and acts as a symbol and representation of the Latino community.
The club was created with the purpose of providing a space in which students feel encouraged to speak about their own mental health struggles and in doing so, feel welcomed, accepted and understood.
“ALMA was created from the heart and is a space to reconnect with yourself and care for your soul,” co-president Martinez shared in a statement.
The club also aims to empower the student body and encourage a sense of individuality, learning to accept yourself as you are through sharing your experiences with others. Within their Cougarlink biography, they quoted Diego Perez’s theme of providing a space where “you both feel free and safe to share the realest versions of ourselves.”
ALMA hosted their first General Body Meeting on Tuesday, February 3rd with an outcome of 20 students interested in becoming a member. It was a huge success, with both familiar faces from Kean’s Involvement Fair and new faces coming to participate and support. The e-board welcomed the attendees by introducing themselves, the club’s mission, and engaging the crowd through a Fact-or-Myth Kahoot game delving into popular mental health topics. They then ended the meeting with a game focused on communication and trust – with three blinded volunteers being guided by fellow ALMA members towards their target spot – as well as discussing their upcoming events.
When asked about the club’s goals looking forward, Lavalle shared, “My goal is to help others feel happy and supported, to check in on the people around me and make sure they’re okay.”
Looking into the future, ALMA hopes to collaborate with other clubs – potentially with nationwide services – host fun events, and most importantly, reach out to the campus community.
Fundraising Chair Jacqueline Gonzales said, “By starting this club, we can make sure that the students at Kean University have a safe place to know they are never alone in their struggles. Mi propósito también fue para que los estudiantes hispanos tenga un recurso donde sus ideas puedan ser escuchadas. (My purpose was also to provide Hispanic students with a resource where their ideas can be heard.)”
ALMA hosts their events bi-weekly on Tuesdays during college hour, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., in Hutchinson J100. To join this student organization, you can simply attend one of their events as well as join via Cougarlink.
Let’s live by ALMA’s message of creating a strong, safe, and vibrant Cougar Community. Cougars Climb Higher, Together!
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