The beginnings of South Shore Digital Wellness (SSDW) trace back to a community event focused on mental health and digital wellness. Katie and Rachel, both parents and passionate advocates for children’s well-being, attended the event hoping to learn more about how technology was shaping kids’ lives at home and in school — what they heard moved them to action.

Rachel, a lifelong champion of play, felt a renewed urgency to bring more unstructured play into her child’s school community. Katie, a young mother with two children soon entering elementary school, felt a deep responsibility to ensure that the school they would attend embraced healthy digital practices and prioritized balance.

Their shared concerns led to the first gathering where Ngoc, along with several other parents, joined in conversation. Around the table, concerns poured out — rising mental-health challenges, diminishing opportunities for play, and the need for healthier relationships with technology. Interest grew quickly, as did a collective sense that something meaningful had to be done.

Then one day, Katie sent a simple but game-changing message to Ngoc and Rachel: “We need at least three people to form a non-profit. Are you interested?”

With that spark, SSDW was born.

What began as a few concerned parents attending a community talk has grown into a grassroots organization dedicated to children’s well being across multiple towns on the Massachusetts South Shore.