Project 860

10/04/2026

🇵🇷💜 Celebrating Avaley Cynthia Martinez!

What a special day celebrating Avaley as one of Visionary Youth CT’s 2026 Spanish Heritage Honorees at their first Hispanic Heritage Celebration at Hartford Public Library.

As a proud Puerto Rican, born and raised in Connecticut, this recognition was especially meaningful to Avaley. She had the opportunity to speak about her heritage, honor the sacrifices of her grandparents, and share why it is so important for young people to use their voices.

Through her journey as Ms President US
of Middletown 2025 - 2026 and as the founder of Project 860, Avaley has learned that young people have a voice, that people want to hear their ideas, and that one person’s idea can grow into something that brings a community together.

She also shared the heart behind Project 860, creating awareness around youth mental health and su***de prevention while encouraging young people to feel supported, heard, and empowered to make a difference.

Her message was simple but powerful:
Mental health matters.
Our culture matters.
Our voices matter.
Because we are all worth it. 💜

We are so proud to see Avaley continue to use her voice, honor her Puerto Rican heritage, and encourage other young people to find their voices and be part of positive change.

Thank you to Visionary Youth CT for recognizing Avaley and creating a space where young people can be celebrated, heard, and encouraged to lead. We are grateful to be part of such a meaningful celebration of our culture and our youth. 🇵🇷💜

09/25/2026

💜🇵🇷 Honored to Be Recognized by Visionary Youth! 🇵🇷💜

I’m so grateful to Visionary Youth for recognizing me as one of their Honorees during Hispanic Heritage Month and for highlighting my leadership and the work I do through Project 860.

As a proud young Puerto Rican leader, it means so much to be recognized for my dedication to raising awareness about youth mental health and su***de prevention, while also representing my culture and encouraging young people to use their voices to make a difference.

Thank you, Visionary Youth, for celebrating young leaders and honoring the work we are doing in our communities. I’m truly grateful for this recognition! 💜👏🇵🇷

Because we are all worth it. ✨

🎉 VISIONARY YOUTH CT – SPANISH HERITAGE HONOREE SPOTLIGHT 🎉

Visionary Youth CT is proud to recognize Avaley Cynthia Martinez as one of our 2026 Spanish Heritage Honorees!✨

Avaley is a young Puerto Rican leader from Middletown, Connecticut, who proudly serves as Ms President US of Middletown. She was also selected as a Youth Ambassador for the Puerto Rican Day Parade, recognizing her commitment to youth leadership, community service, and celebrating her Puerto Rican heritage.

Youth Leadership with a Purpose

Avaley is the Founder and Leader of Project 860 Youth, a youth-led initiative focused on mental health awareness, su***de prevention, youth leadership, and community engagement. At the heart of her work is a powerful belief that no young person should ever feel alone or unheard. Her motto says it beautifully:

“Because we are all worth it.”

Avaley is passionate about creating safe and empowering spaces where young people feel supported, included, and encouraged to use their voices.

Through Project 860 Youth, Avaley helps create opportunities for young people to build connections, friendships, and leadership skills while becoming actively involved in their communities. She has organized outreach initiatives such as the Mental Health Matters Booth, where her team shares resources and encourages open conversations surrounding mental health.

She also helped develop the Mindful Fashion Program, combining creativity, art, and mindfulness to encourage youth expression, confidence, and emotional well-being.

Avaley and Project 860 Youth have also been recognized for fundraising efforts benefiting the Connecticut Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Youth Mental Health and Su***de Prevention Center. Their contributions have earned recognition from the hospital, and Avaley has also received recognition from the Connecticut State Capitol and Hartford City Hall for her leadership and community service.

As a proud Puerto Rican youth leader, Avaley continues to encourage young people throughout Connecticut to celebrate their heritage, use their voices, become involved, and create positive change in their communities.

Please join Visionary Youth CT in congratulating Avaley Cynthia Martinez on being selected as a 2026 Spanish Heritage Honoree!

We are proud to celebrate a young leader who is already demonstrating the power of service, advocacy, culture, and youth-led change.

Honoring Our Youth. Celebrating Our Culture. Building a Brighter Tomorrow.

09/24/2026

💙✨ CONGRATULATIONS, KATIA! ✨

Project 860 was proud to celebrate Katia Arroyo-Hunter, who served on our Youth Committee during the 2025–2026 season, as she was recognized at West Hartford Town Hall with an official proclamation from West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor honoring her leadership and community service. 🎉👏🏽

We’re proud of the impact Katia made in support of youth mental health awareness, and our founder, Avaley Cynthia Martinez, was proud to be there to cheer her on! 💙🫶🏽

Girls supporting girls. This is Project 860. ✨
Because We Are All Worth It. 💙

09/15/2026

🇵🇷❤️ CELEBRATING YOUTH LEADERSHIP! ❤️🇵🇷

Project 860 is incredibly proud of Avaley Martínez, who was honored by the CICD Greater Hartford Puerto Rican Day Parade & Festival del Coquí as one of their 2026 Youth Ambassadors! 🇵🇷🎉

Avaley was recognized for her youth leadership and dedication to youth mental health awareness and su***de prevention efforts—a message she continues to champion through Project 860. 💚✨

We are so grateful to our Project 860 friends, families, and supporters who showed up for Avaley! Whether you marched alongside her in the rain or cheered her on from the sidelines, your love and support meant so much. ❤️🇵🇷

It was a beautiful day filled with Puerto Rican pride, vibrant colors, flavorful music, and community! 🎶🇵🇷🎉

A special thank you to CICD Greater Hartford Puerto Rican Day Parade & Festival del Coquí for recognizing Avaley and creating meaningful opportunities to celebrate and uplift our community ❤️🇵🇷

Keep leading, Avaley. Keep using your voice. Keep reminding the world that we are all worth it. ✨

🇵🇷❤️🤍💙 ¡Que viva Puerto Rico! ¡WEPA! 🎉

***dePrevention

09/12/2026

🇵🇷💜 Celebrating a Puerto Rican Youth Leader!

We are so proud of Avaley Cynthia Martinez, our Ms President US of Middletown 2025–2026 Ms President US and Founder of Project 860 Youth, who was selected as one of the 2026 Greater Hartford Puerto Rican Day Parade Youth Ambassadors and recognized during the flag-raising ceremonies at the Connecticut State Capitol and Hartford City Hall.

Thank you to the CICD Puerto Rican Parade, Inc. Hartford Chapter |
Greater Hartford Puerto Rican Day Parade & Festival del Coquí for recognizing her commitment to youth leadership and mental health awareness.

Congratulations, Avaley! 🇵🇷💜

Mental Health Matters. Because you are all worth it.

09/07/2026

🇵🇷🎉 A VERY SPECIAL DAY IS COMING! 🎉🇵🇷

Project 860 is incredibly proud to celebrate our very own Avaley Martínez, who is honored to serve as one of the 2026 Youth Ambassadors for the Greater Hartford Puerto Rican Day Parade & Festival del Coquí! 🇵🇷❤️

As a Youth Ambassador, Avaley has the wonderful opportunity to represent Puerto Rico, our youth, and our community while celebrating our culture, heritage, and the spirit of unity that brings us all together. 🇵🇷✨

We are so excited to join Avaley and the other Youth Ambassadors and honorees for the upcoming Puerto Rican Flag-Raising Ceremonies! 🎉

📅 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2026
🏛️ Connecticut State Capitol
🕒 3:00 PM
🏛️ Hartford City Hall
🕟 4:30 PM

❤️🤍💙 EVERYONE IS INVITED! ❤️🤍💙

Come out with Project 860 and help us celebrate Avaley and the incredible people being recognized this year. Bring your family, bring your friends, and most importantly, bring your Puerto Rican pride! 🇵🇷🙌🏽

This is more than a celebration, it’s an opportunity to recognize our youth, honor our heritage, and come together as a community. ❤️🇵🇷

Project 860 is so proud of Avaley and all that she continues to do to make a difference in our community. ✨

We hope to see you there!

¡Que viva Puerto Rico! 🇵🇷❤️🤍💙

Thank you to CICD Puerto Rican Parade, Inc. Hartford Chapter for honoring and uplifting our youth and community! 🇵🇷

🇵🇷

08/30/2026

👑 Meet Avaley — Ms President US of Middletown 2025–2026! 🇺🇸

Several months ago, Avaley was invited to share her thoughts on civics as part of her Ms President US journey.

We created this short video and wanted to finally share it here on the Project 860 page.

For Avaley, civics is about using your voice, being involved in your community, serving others, and understanding that young people can make a difference. 💙

🎥 Take a moment to hear what CIVICS means to Avaley — in her own words.

What does civics mean to YOU?
Ms President US

08/29/2026

🇵🇷✨ A beautiful honor for one of Project 860's very own! ✨🇵🇷

We are incredibly proud of our founder and youth leader, Avaley Cynthia Martinez, for being selected as one of the 2026 Youth Ambassadors for the Greater Hartford Puerto Rican Day Parade in the city of Hartford!

As Ms President US of Middletown 2025–2026 and Founder & Leader of Project 860 Youth, Avaley continues to embrace opportunities to use her voice, leadership, and passion for community service to inspire and empower other young people.

This Youth Ambassador opportunity is especially meaningful as she represents our Puerto Rican culture and rich history while celebrating with the Greater Hartford community. 🇵🇷❤️

A special thank you to CICD Puerto Rican Parade, Inc. Hartford Chapter
for recognizing Avaley and creating opportunities to celebrate and uplift our youth.

We also appreciate Ms President US
for supporting Avaley throughout her leadership journey and for helping her embrace opportunities to represent her community.

¡Felicidades, Avaley! We are so proud of you! ✨🇵🇷

🌟🇵🇷 MEET AVALEY MARTINEZ — A YOUTH LEADER INSPIRING POSITIVE CHANGE! 🇵🇷🌟

CICD Puerto Rican Parade, Inc. – Hartford Chapter is incredibly proud to recognize Avaley Martinez as one of our two 2026 Youth Ambassadors for the Greater Hartford Puerto Rican Day Parade & Festival del Coquí! 👏🇵🇷

Avaley Cynthia Martinez is a seventh-grade honor student at Beman Middle School in Middletown, Connecticut, and proudly serves as Ms. President US of Middletown. She is honored to represent her community as a Youth Ambassador for the upcoming Puerto Rican Day Parade.

Avaley is the founder and leader of Project 860 Youth, a youth-led group focused on mental health awareness, su***de prevention, youth leadership, and community engagement. Her guiding belief is that no child should ever feel alone or unheard. Her motto is: “Because we are all worth it.”

Avaley is passionate about creating safe and empowering spaces where young people feel supported, included, and encouraged. Through Project 860 Youth, she has helped build a community centered on connection, friendship, collaboration, and uplifting one another.

She organizes community outreach initiatives such as the Mental Health Matters Booth, where she and her team share resources and encourage open conversations about mental health. She also helped develop the Mindful Fashion Program, which blends creativity, art, and mindfulness to support youth expression and confidence.

Avaley and Project 860 Youth have been recognized for their fundraising efforts supporting the Connecticut Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Youth Mental Health and Su***de Prevention Center. They have also been honored at the hospital for their contributions. In addition, Avaley has received recognition from the Connecticut State Capitol and City Hall for her leadership and community service.

As a proud Puerto Rican youth leader, Avaley continues to inspire young people across Connecticut to use their voices, get involved, and create positive change in their communities.

It is our honor to recognize Avaley Martinez as one of our 2026 Youth Ambassadors! 🌟🇵🇷❤️

¡Felicidades, Avaley! Your leadership, compassion, and dedication are an inspiration, and we are proud to celebrate all that you are accomplishing — and everything still ahead! ✨🇵🇷

***dePrevention

08/18/2026

🍂 A New Season of Leadership Is Just Around the Corner! ✨

As summer slowly comes to an end, our Ms President US of Middletown 2025–2026, Avaley, and the Project 860 team hope everyone has enjoyed a wonderful summer filled with warm days, family, friends, and special memories. ☀️💛

As the new school year approaches, the Ms President US Program is preparing to welcome a new young leaders for another exciting season!

This will be Avaley’s second year participating in the Ms President US Program. Last year, she was honored to be elected Ms President US of Middletown 2025–2026. Throughout her year, she used her platform to turn her passion for youth mental health awareness into action through Project 860 and the many initiatives she led with her team within her community.

This year, Avaley is excited to continue her leadership journey, strengthen the skills she developed through her first year, learn from new experiences, and connect with fellow young leaders. She looks forward to seeing familiar faces and meeting many new ones! 💫

📢 Help Spread the Word!
Do you know a young person who would benefit from building confidence, developing leadership skills, connecting with other young leaders, and making a difference in their community?

Please share the Ms President US flyer and help us spread the word about this year's program!

You never know who in our community may be ready to discover their voice, grow as a leader, and begin their own leadership journey. 💛✨

08/09/2026

A conversation between a mother and son worth listening to. Mental health matters 💜

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/198ehfa5aM/?mibextid=wwXIfr