Welcome Calle Lamarche: Connecting Public Health, Youth Mental Wellness, and Community Impact
At Touchstone Foundation, our interns bring fresh perspectives, skills, and experiences that strengthen our programs and deepen our understanding of youth mental wellness. We are excited to welcome Calle Lamarche, a senior Public Health major at Franklin & Marshall College whose interests in data analysis, program evaluation, and community well-being align closely with our mission.
Through her work supporting our Rise Above program, Calle is exploring how research, meaningful relationships, and accessible programming can help young people build confidence and strengthen their mental wellness.
Discovering a Passion for Public Health
Calle is currently completing her senior year at Franklin & Marshall College, studying Public Health with a particular interest in biostatistics, program evaluation, and data assessment.
Throughout her academic journey, she has become increasingly interested in understanding how the environments people live in influence their health and well-being.
Growing up in rural Maine helped shape that perspective. With fewer healthcare resources available compared to other parts of the state, Calle saw how geography and access could influence a person’s opportunities to receive care.
That experience inspired her to pursue a field focused on understanding the broader factors that shape health outcomes.
For Calle, public health offers an opportunity to look beyond individual experiences and examine how communities can create conditions that support healthier lives.
Finding a Connection to Touchstone Foundation
When Calle learned about Touchstone Foundation, our commitment to elevating youth mental wellness and expanding access to support immediately connected with her professional interests.
As a program intern, she is contributing to program evaluation, data analysis, and general program support for Rise Above, our youth mental wellness and leadership program.
Her previous experience working with young people as a camp counselor and tutor also helped shape her appreciation for the importance of supportive environments.
Through those experiences, Calle witnessed how meaningful relationships and trusted support systems can positively influence young people’s confidence and well-being.
That understanding makes her work with Touchstone especially meaningful.
By supporting Rise Above, she has an opportunity to connect her academic interests in public health with a program designed to help young people develop self-awareness, strengthen their voices, and build supportive connections.
Understanding Impact Through Program Evaluation
One of the experiences Calle is most excited about is learning how community-based mental health programs measure their impact.
Her academic background has provided a foundation in research and data assessment, but working directly with a nonprofit offers a new perspective on how those skills can support meaningful community initiatives.
During her internship, she hopes to strengthen her understanding of mental health advocacy while exploring how different program approaches and evaluation methods can help organizations better understand participant experiences and outcomes.
Program evaluation is an important part of creating sustainable community impact. By understanding what participants experience, what they gain, and where additional support may be needed, organizations can continue refining programs to better serve young people.
For Calle, this work brings together her interests in data, accessibility, and community well-being.
Helping Young People Build Confidence
As Calle begins working with Rise Above, one area of youth mental wellness has become particularly meaningful: helping young people build confidence in their own mental well-being.
She is especially interested in understanding how participation in supportive programming can help youth feel more capable of recognizing their needs, expressing themselves, and navigating challenges.
This interest connects closely with Touchstone Foundation’s belief that mental wellness is strengthened through education, connection, advocacy, and access to supportive resources.
By helping evaluate Rise Above, Calle hopes to better understand how these experiences contribute to participants’ confidence and personal growth.
Her perspective also reinforces an important part of our mission: supporting youth mental wellness requires both meaningful relationships and a commitment to understanding what works.
Finding Balance Through Creativity and the Outdoors
Outside of her academic and professional interests, Calle enjoys spending time outdoors and exploring her creativity.
Hiking is one of her favorite activities, particularly during the fall when the changing seasons provide an opportunity to get outside and recharge.
She finds that spending time in nature is a helpful way to manage stress and maintain balance.
Art is another important creative outlet, offering time to explore new ideas and step away from academic responsibilities.
She also enjoys cooking with her roommates and experimenting with new recipes, bringing connection and creativity into everyday life.
These interests reflect something we encourage through our own mental wellness programming: finding activities, relationships, and routines that help us feel grounded and connected.
Bringing New Perspectives to Youth Mental Wellness
We are excited to have Calle Lamarche contributing her skills and perspective to Touchstone Foundation.
Her interest in public health, program evaluation, and accessible support brings an important perspective to our work with Lancaster County youth.
As she continues exploring the intersection of research, community programming, and mental health advocacy, we look forward to seeing how her contributions help strengthen Rise Above and deepen our understanding of the experiences that support young people’s growth.
Together, we can continue building a community where every young person has opportunities to feel supported, develop confidence, and experience mental wellness.
