*Across the U.S., the mental health crisis among teenage girls—especially girls of color—is escalating at alarming rates.
According to the CDC, nearly 1 in 3 teen girls seriously considered attempting suicide in 2021. And for Black youth, suicide rates have skyrocketed by over 50% in the last decade.
While the national conversation struggles to catch up, one woman in Newark is taking action—and doing it in a way that centers healing, safety, and sisterhood.
Davida Nicole Hunter-Cummins, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the founder of AspireNJ Youth, is leading a groundbreaking summer program for 150 girls from four Newark public high schools.
Running July 1 to August 1, the camp offers much more than a break from school—it’s a life-changing immersion in emotional wellness, self-expression, and radical rest.
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There are no bunk beds or bonfires at this summer camp. Instead, there are therapy circles, art workshops, yoga sessions, guided journaling, and even horses.
Yes horses. Equine therapy is a powerful experience that helps the girls build self-regulation and emotional awareness through bonding with horses. And the science backs it up.
Studies show that equine-assisted therapy can significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD, especially in youth. Interacting with horses helps regulate the nervous system, build confidence, and foster emotional connection—without judgment or pressure.
“These girls don’t need to be fixed—they need to be heard,” says Hunter-Cummins. “And we’re creating the space for that to happen.”
The program draws teens from three Newark high schools, and targets girls ages 14 to 18—a group that is often overlooked when it comes to culturally grounded mental health support.
And yet, the data is undeniable: while rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation are climbing for all teens, Black and Latina girls are among the least likely to receive care.
AspireNJ Youth was created to change that.
“We built this from the ground up for them—for girls who are told to be strong, but never allowed to be soft,” says Hunter-Cummins, who is known affectionately in the community as “Nikki.”
Each day of camp is designed to be different and holistic. One day might include breathwork and yoga. Another, a creative session exploring identity through collage and poetry. One highlight: “horse day”—where campers visit a local farm to engage in equine-assisted learning, discovering trust, emotional resilience, and even joy, many for the first time in years.
The approach is working. Parents, teachers, and the girls themselves say the impact has been transformative. One teen reportedly told her counselor, “This is the first time I’ve felt safe anywhere.”
That kind of feedback is exactly what fuels Hunter-Cummins, who has spent her career supporting underserved families, advocating for youth mental health, and training professionals on trauma-informed care.
“This camp isn’t just about the summer,” she explains. “It’s about planting seeds—seeds of peace, of purpose, of self-worth. Seeds that can grow into something lasting.”
With suicide now the second leading cause of death for young people aged 10 to 24, the need for action is urgent. But what Hunter-Cummins and her team are doing in Newark could serve as a blueprint for other cities nationwide.
“When we show up for these girls with love, consistency, and care, they don’t just survive,” she says. “They thrive.”
And thanks to AspireNJ Youth, 150 young women are doing just that—and showing the world what’s possible when healing is prioritized.
Article by Jazmyn Summers. You can hear Jazmyn every morning on “Jazmyn in the Morning “on Sirius XM Channel 362 Grown Folk Jamz . Subscribe to Jazmyn Summers’ YouTube. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
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