Vision Statement
Ben Speaks . . . creating a culture where all people are valued and supported to be their best selves.
Our Mission
Ben Speaks provides positive channels of expression for youth, families and communities through events, education and resources.
Who is a BEN?
Are you a Ben?
Are you raising a Ben?
Are you teaching a Ben?
Do you know a Ben . . . an at-risk youth in your community
What is a BEN?
-
A Ben is unique and beats to his or her own drum
-
A Ben is artistic, creative, intuitive, sensitive and empathetic
-
A Ben is labelled with a mental illness or learning disability at an early age
-
A Ben is often medicated
-
A Ben feels like a misfit and is an easy mark for the bully or becomes one himself
-
A Ben tends to self-harm in some way as a teenager
-
A Ben becomes isolated and left out
-
A Ben is not broken
-
A Ben has one or many gifts to bring to the world
-
There is a little bit of Ben in all of us
Ben's Story
In a fleeting moment of despair, Benjamin Giovangelo, our beautiful, intuitive, creative, sensitive and loving son, chose to end his life on April 16, 2009, just six days after his 18th birthday. Benjamin struggled with Bipolar Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) beginning early on in his life, and so did his family, both with him and the stigma of mental illness.
Ben Speaks Louder Than Words was born through his loss and today is a powerful voice in the world for change through the team at Ben Speaks Louder Than Words.
Everyone knows a Ben . . . an at-risk youth in your community.
Together we can support all Ben’s to thrive.
A Ben is:
-
Labelled with a mental illness or learning disability at an early age.
-
Often medicated
-
Artistic, creative, intuitive, sensitive and empathetic.
-
Someone who feels like a misfit.
-
An easy mark for the bully or becomes one himself.
-
Someone who tends to self-harm in some way as a teenager.
-
Isolated and left out.
A Ben is NOT broken. A Ben has gifts to bring to the world. There is a little bit of Ben in all of us.
From the beginning, Ben was given medication to attempt to manage his behavior to fit him into our current education and social systems. He received the message early and often that there was something wrong with him. He experienced much ostracizing and bullying. As his parents, we did our best to find alternative ways to work with Ben and, over the years, we had learned many tools to deal with this bright, sensitive, intuitive, and energetic child.
Our family suffered greatly with little to no resources to support our son. Over the years of raising Ben, although his life ended tragically, he made great strides through a combination of supporting strategies. Through medicine, therapy, yoga, breathing techniques, the power of intention, positive channels for the emotions, monthly massage and more. We created a powerful toolbox for change for our mentally ill son, beginning with seeing and focusing on his gifts. With this combination of support and shift in consciousness, Ben, between the age of 12 and his last day of life made marked changes.
Those major shifts include going from…
-
Being a student behind in school with many learning challenges to catching up and passing his MCAS exam
-
80 mgs of Prozac to less than 10 mgs of Lorazapan for anxiety and 10 mgs of Ritalin for focus.
-
Being overweight and low energy to growing tall and gorgeous.
-
Being alone, friendless, unpopular and sitting alone for over a year at the lunch room table at his high school to growing more and more comfortable in his own skin and attracting girls like he had never known.
So what happened? Well, in addition to his other challenges, Ben was a child who “brain-locked”, a term used by Ross Greene, PhD, the author of “The Explosive Child.” Dr. Greene is the Director of Cognitive-Behavioral Psychology at the Clinical and Research Program in Pediatric Psychopharmacology at the Massachusetts General Hospital. This book describes “brain-lock” as the clinical and physical response to the ability of the OCD brain to process immense frustration. Brain-locking adequately describes the thousands of times when Ben would come up against situations where he couldn’t get what he wanted and acted extremely inappropriately. He would literally fight to his death in opposition to controlling forces. Those of us around him had to find creative, innovative approaches to move through whatever issues arose on a daily basis. He wanted things to be fair and just.
Whenever something came in the form of force or “power over,” he was a counter force to be reckoned with and would push back even harder. It was very difficult for Ben and us as his family unit, stress-filled and intense on a daily basis, but we had made great strides by the time his 18th birthday arrived, so much so that Ben was finally making and holding onto friendships, getting better grades, and holding a job. Socially, he succeeded in becoming a kid that was loved after many years of “not fitting in.” He was on top of the world.
An incident occurred on April 16, 2009 that resulted in Ben’s suspension from school and from attending his prom, which must have felt like having the rug pulled out from underneath this one major success in his short life - social acceptance by his peers. On the day he took his life, we believe the loss of his prom caused him to brain-lock. We wish that this decision had not been made so quickly and do not understand why, given Ben’s history, we did not have a chance to meet with his team collectively before his sentence was handed down. If we had, I believe that Ben would still be here with us now.
Ben went home and took his life that day. His last message to us included the line “I just don’t see the point.” Resignation at so young an age, after 18 years of pushing against an antiquated system… and currently we have an epidemic of suicide amongst our young people. Since his death, Ben has been speaking louder than words to me, his mother. I am taking a stand because we must find better ways to support these gifted, sensitive, and exceptional children.
There is a lot that I still do not know or understand. But what I do know is this: every day is a choice and each of us, no matter what life challenges we face, get to choose life or death in every moment and that we are powerful creators without measure.
Through Ben, I have become a role model for change and a teacher, mentor and voice for accountability and growing oneself strong from the inside out. I live my life in gratitude for this opportunity to serve through the countless lessons and blessings I have learned in the raising and loss of Ben Giovangelo, who continues to be my greatest teacher.
With All My Love,
Judy Giovangelo
Vision Statement
Ben Speaks . . . creating a culture where all people are valued and supported to be their best selves.
Our Mission
Ben Speaks provides positive channels of expression for youth, families and communities through events, education and resources.
Who is a BEN?
Are you a Ben?
Are you raising a Ben?
Are you teaching a Ben?
Do you know a Ben . . . an at-risk youth in your community
What is a BEN?
-
A Ben is unique and beats to his or her own drum
-
A Ben is artistic, creative, intuitive, sensitive and empathetic
-
A Ben is labelled with a mental illness or learning disability at an early age
-
A Ben is often medicated
-
A Ben feels like a misfit and is an easy mark for the bully or becomes one himself
-
A Ben tends to self-harm in some way as a teenager
-
A Ben becomes isolated and left out
-
A Ben is not broken
-
A Ben has one or many gifts to bring to the world
-
There is a little bit of Ben in all of us
Ben's Story
In a fleeting moment of despair, Benjamin Giovangelo, our beautiful, intuitive, creative, sensitive and loving son, chose to end his life on April 16, 2009, just six days after his 18th birthday. Benjamin struggled with Bipolar Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) beginning early on in his life, and so did his family, both with him and the stigma of mental illness.
Ben Speaks Louder Than Words was born through his loss and today is a powerful voice in the world for change through the team at Ben Speaks Louder Than Words.
Everyone knows a Ben . . . an at-risk youth in your community.
Together we can support all Ben’s to thrive.
A Ben is:
-
Labelled with a mental illness or learning disability at an early age.
-
Often medicated
-
Artistic, creative, intuitive, sensitive and empathetic.
-
Someone who feels like a misfit.
-
An easy mark for the bully or becomes one himself.
-
Someone who tends to self-harm in some way as a teenager.
-
Isolated and left out.
A Ben is NOT broken. A Ben has gifts to bring to the world. There is a little bit of Ben in all of us.
From the beginning, Ben was given medication to attempt to manage his behavior to fit him into our current education and social systems. He received the message early and often that there was something wrong with him. He experienced much ostracizing and bullying. As his parents, we did our best to find alternative ways to work with Ben and, over the years, we had learned many tools to deal with this bright, sensitive, intuitive, and energetic child.
Our family suffered greatly with little to no resources to support our son. Over the years of raising Ben, although his life ended tragically, he made great strides through a combination of supporting strategies. Through medicine, therapy, yoga, breathing techniques, the power of intention, positive channels for the emotions, monthly massage and more. We created a powerful toolbox for change for our mentally ill son, beginning with seeing and focusing on his gifts. With this combination of support and shift in consciousness, Ben, between the age of 12 and his last day of life made marked changes.
Those major shifts include going from…
-
Being a student behind in school with many learning challenges to catching up and passing his MCAS exam
-
80 mgs of Prozac to less than 10 mgs of Lorazapan for anxiety and 10 mgs of Ritalin for focus.
-
Being overweight and low energy to growing tall and gorgeous.
-
Being alone, friendless, unpopular and sitting alone for over a year at the lunch room table at his high school to growing more and more comfortable in his own skin and attracting girls like he had never known.
So what happened? Well, in addition to his other challenges, Ben was a child who “brain-locked”, a term used by Ross Greene, PhD, the author of “The Explosive Child.” Dr. Greene is the Director of Cognitive-Behavioral Psychology at the Clinical and Research Program in Pediatric Psychopharmacology at the Massachusetts General Hospital. This book describes “brain-lock” as the clinical and physical response to the ability of the OCD brain to process immense frustration. Brain-locking adequately describes the thousands of times when Ben would come up against situations where he couldn’t get what he wanted and acted extremely inappropriately. He would literally fight to his death in opposition to controlling forces. Those of us around him had to find creative, innovative approaches to move through whatever issues arose on a daily basis. He wanted things to be fair and just.
Whenever something came in the form of force or “power over,” he was a counter force to be reckoned with and would push back even harder. It was very difficult for Ben and us as his family unit, stress-filled and intense on a daily basis, but we had made great strides by the time his 18th birthday arrived, so much so that Ben was finally making and holding onto friendships, getting better grades, and holding a job. Socially, he succeeded in becoming a kid that was loved after many years of “not fitting in.” He was on top of the world.
An incident occurred on April 16, 2009 that resulted in Ben’s suspension from school and from attending his prom, which must have felt like having the rug pulled out from underneath this one major success in his short life - social acceptance by his peers. On the day he took his life, we believe the loss of his prom caused him to brain-lock. We wish that this decision had not been made so quickly and do not understand why, given Ben’s history, we did not have a chance to meet with his team collectively before his sentence was handed down. If we had, I believe that Ben would still be here with us now.
Ben went home and took his life that day. His last message to us included the line “I just don’t see the point.” Resignation at so young an age, after 18 years of pushing against an antiquated system… and currently we have an epidemic of suicide amongst our young people. Since his death, Ben has been speaking louder than words to me, his mother. I am taking a stand because we must find better ways to support these gifted, sensitive, and exceptional children.
There is a lot that I still do not know or understand. But what I do know is this: every day is a choice and each of us, no matter what life challenges we face, get to choose life or death in every moment and that we are powerful creators without measure.
Through Ben, I have become a role model for change and a teacher, mentor and voice for accountability and growing oneself strong from the inside out. I live my life in gratitude for this opportunity to serve through the countless lessons and blessings I have learned in the raising and loss of Ben Giovangelo, who continues to be my greatest teacher.
With All My Love,
Judy Giovangelo
Empowering Students to Take Action for Their Mental Health
At the heart of Ben’s Challenge is the belief that meaningful change begins with the choices we make each day. The program encourages students to become more intentional about their well-being, recognize their own value, and develop a greater awareness of how their actions can positively impact themselves and those around them.
Through engaging activities and shared experiences, participants are encouraged to step outside their comfort zones, strengthen connections with others, and create a greater sense of belonging. The challenge provides a supportive framework where students can explore new ways to manage stress, build confidence, and make positive choices that support their overall wellness.
More than an eight-week program, Ben’s Challenge gives students practical tools and perspectives they can carry forward into their everyday lives. By fostering personal responsibility, compassion, inclusion, and connection, the program helps inspire healthier individuals and stronger communities—one student and one positive choice at a time.
What High Schools Are Saying
Hear from the Principal, Josh Otlin of Milford High School on how Ben’s Challenge is helping create a culture of wellness, resilience, and proactive mental health support for students.
• Week 1: Get Your Body Moving
• Week 2: You Are What You Eat
• Week 3: The Power of Water
• Week 4: Stand Tall
• Week 5: Unplugged
• Week 6: Change the Channel
• Week 7: Random Acts of Kindness
• Week 8: Practice Gratitude – Raise Your Vibe!
The 8-Week Challenge
Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsors play a vital role in helping schools access Ben’s Challenge and ensuring that more students have the resources and support they need to thrive.
We hope you will consider sponsoring Ben’s Challenge to bring greater resources and funding to your community and to support our young people at this crucial time.
Meet the Team
Judy Giovangelo
Founder of Ben Speaks
Speaker, Ben's Challenge
Dashe Videira
Director of Operations, Ben's Challenge
Adam Burak
Director of Client Success, Ben's Challenge
Team Spotlight
Judy Giovangelo
Speaker, Founder of Ben Speaks
Judy Giovangelo has been a teacher and healer of energy medicine and the law of attraction for 20 years. She is a certified yoga instructor, Reiki, Sound and Intuitive Healer, Hypnotherapist and Spiritual Counsellor. She is the owner of the GROW YOU Healing & Art Center in Holliston, MA leading workshops through her GROW YOU Programs for youth and families.
Her personal mission is help sensitive intuitive people permanently remove the blocks that stand in the way of their dreams by providing an inside out approach to wellness. She is a gifted intuitive healer, workshop facilitator and expressive artist.
As the Founder of Ben Speaks whose mission is to provide positive channels of expression for youth, families & communities through events, education & resources with a vision to provide them with tools to help them develop & evolve, Judy is a role model and powerful teacher & speaker for change. She has delivered a powerful message to 100’s of youth audiences through her signature Power of Choice Presentation and is developing and executing a NEW curriculum called Power of Choice Leadership Training Program, as well as, developing a relationship with Ben Cares Community Partners to support greater access to resources for youth and families.
She is the recipient of the following awards for her volunteerism and mission work: "Be The Change" through the Massachusetts Conference for Women, "A Hero Among Us" with the Boston Celtics and the "Myra Kraft Community MVP" with the New England Patriots.
Dashe Videira
Director of Operations, Ben's Challenge
Dashe Videira is a community advocate, consultant, and mother of four specializing in operational development, communication, and education. She works with small to mid-sized organizations, businesses, and schools to build sustainable systems that strengthen structure, accountability, and long-term success.
With over a decade of experience in Human Resources and Operations Management, Dashe has developed processes that enhance efficiency, communication, and workplace culture. She supports parents, educators, and leaders in building systems rooted in empathy, consistency, and purpose.
Dashe previously founded Sparrow’s Education, a leadership development initiative focused on helping families strengthen routines and personal growth. She currently supports Fieldstone CFO, a consulting firm she co-leads, helping businesses operate more efficiently and achieve long-term sustainability.
Adam Burak
Director of Client Success, Ben's Challenge
Adam Burak, MA serves as the Director of Client Success at Ben Speaks. Adam's career thus far has been focused on business development and fundraising, helping mission-based organizations grow their ability to help people and their communities. Adam previously worked with Wes Woodson, a professional mental health public speaker, to help him start his speaking business from the ground up, resulting in earning $150,000 in revenue and speaking to 25 colleges in one year of working together. Adam joined Ben Speaks to help increase the speaking program side of the organization as a key revenue generator and with a goal of helping Judy Giovangelo speak to 100,000 new college students over the next two years. For Adam, mental health destigmatization and wellness is deeply personal as he has struggled with OCD himself and, also lost one of his childhood best friends to suicide in 2020. Adam is beyond grateful and excited to work with Ben Speaks and to promote mental health and wellness education.
