The Stompers Project: Stomping Out the Stigma Around Mental Health 

I’ve wanted to tell the story of the Stompers Project® by the JANA MARIE FOUNDATION since I first learned about it, and I finally had the chance to document the creation of one of these incredible sculptures.

The Stompers Project uses creative expression to spark conversations about mental health and inspire positive change. Roughly 200 people contribute to every sculpture, making each one a powerful reflection of community voice and connection.

This video follows the creation of the “Consuelo” Stomper, created through a partnership between the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State and the Jana Marie Foundation, now on display in the Eisenhower Auditorium lobby.

It also highlights the “Serve” Stomper at the Pennsylvania Military Museum, created by family members of service members who were killed in action or died by suicide.

It was especially meaningful to premiere this piece during our March pledge drive with Marisa Vicere and other members of the Jana Marie Foundation joining us in the studio.

Projects like this are a reminder of what local public media can do. At WPSU, we try to create space for deeper storytelling around complex issues like mental health and suicide prevention, and to highlight the people working to strengthen our communities.

Thanks to the WPSU crew who worked on this: Mark Stitzer, Byron Conrad, and Michael Klein with a special shoutout to editor and co-writer Jessie Beers-Altman who truly helped this short doc come to life.