From Grief to a Gallery — Wired Human and Student Art Are Fighting Tennessee’s Teen Mental Health Crisis

Conversations with Mike Sparks: Understanding Teen Mental Health and the Mission Behind Wired Human

On a recent episode of Conversations with Mike Sparks, airing Sundays on WGNS Radio (100.5 FM, 101.9 FM, and 1450 AM), host and Tennessee State Representative Mike Sparks sat down with three passionate advocates tackling one of the most pressing issues facing families today — teenage mental health.
Joining Mike for this powerful conversation were Ron Alley, Theresa Alley, and Maya Englerhorn of Wired Human, an organization dedicated to equipping teenagers and families with the tools they need to navigate the mental and emotional challenges of growing up in today’s world.

A Crisis We Can No Longer Ignore
Teenage mental health has reached a critical crossroads in America. From anxiety and depression to the overwhelming pressures of social media, today’s young people are facing challenges that previous generations could have never imagined. Ron and Theresa Alley, along with Maya Engleton, have made it their mission to address these challenges head-on through the work of Wired Human.
But behind the statistics and the programs is a face. A name. A life that mattered deeply.

Rep. Mike Sparks honors life of Riv Kelleher on House floor

Why It Matters: The Story of Rivers Kelleher
Rivers Kelleher — lovingly known as “Riv” — was 14 years old when she left this world on September 12, 2025, just eight

days before her 15th birthday. She loved volleyball, made plans for her future, had goals, and carried a smile that could light up any room. Her mother Lisa described her simply: “She was the sweetest child with a huge smile and big blue eyes. She gave the best hugs, too.”

No one saw it coming. Rivers had been working with a therapist who had recently noted she seemed to be doing well. There were no obvious warning signs — at least none that her family recognized in the moment.
“Looking back, there were signs,” Lisa said, “but we didn’t know they were signs until it was already too late.”

Rather than collapse under the weight of unimaginable grief, Rivers’ parents Avery and Lisa Kelleher made a decision that speaks to the deepest kind of love — they turned their heartbreak into hope. They founded We Live for Riv, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting mental health, addressing bullying, and helping families navigate the online world their children encounter every day.

Their goal is both bold and deeply personal — to reach one million lives with a message of hope.
“With this tragedy, our hope is that no other family would have to experience this at all,” Avery said. “We want to reach out, inform, educate and support those individuals that are having issues with identity and mental health, suicide, bullying situations — and we have a great team that has come on board with us. We created this ministry to grab one million lives out of Satan’s hands.”

The nonprofit has already hosted and sponsored multiple events throughout Franklin County, and Avery and Lisa have made clear they are committed to taking their mission as far as it needs to go — regional, national, or even global — if it means reaching one more family struggling in silence.

What Is Wired Human?
It is in this landscape of heartbreak and urgency that organizations like Wired Human are doing critical work. Built on the belief that every teenager has inherent worth and potential, Wired Human works directly with young people to help them understand how they are uniquely wired — emotionally, mentally, and spiritually — so they can make healthier choices, build stronger relationships, and face life’s pressures with confidence and resilience.

For Ron and Theresa Alley, this work is deeply personal. Their passion for helping teenagers stems from a genuine love for young people and a recognition that the earlier we invest in a teenager’s mental and emotional health, the stronger their foundation becomes for life.
Maya Englehorn brought a compelling perspective to the conversation as well, sharing insights on how young people today are processing stress, identity, and purpose — and why meaningful connection remains the single most powerful antidote to the mental health crisis gripping this generation.

Art That Speaks When Words Fall Short
Sometimes the most powerful voices don’t speak — they paint, sketch, and create.
Earlier this year, more than 50 pieces of youth-made art were displayed in the U.S. Senate — a remarkable moment that put the inner world of today’s teenagers on full display in the halls of our nation’s capitol. I am excited to share that this meaningful artwork has now found a home right here in Middle Tennessee, on display throughout April at Trellis & Vine Art Gallery in Smyrna, TN. “Each session, which is held at 2pm, 4pm and 6pm at no charge gives a chance for students to share about their artwork created to express their experiences with social media, internet and digits landscape struggles. Then Wired Human will share about their vision, mission and how to get involved,” said Theresa Alley, owner of Trellis and Vine.

As JC Bowman at Tri Star Daily and the executive director of Professional Educators of Tennessee has noted, this art captures the mood of a generation raised online. These student-created pieces reveal with stunning honesty the damaging impact of social media — addiction, comparison, anxiety, loneliness, and the desperate search for identity. Looking at this art, you are not just seeing creativity. You are seeing confession. You are seeing a generation crying out in the only language they sometimes feel safe using.

Mark Your Calendar — April 25th
On Saturday, April 25th, Wired Human, in partnership with Carpe Artista Arts Academy, will host a powerful community event at Trellis & Vine showcasing these student-created works. This is more than an art show — it is a conversation starter, a community gathering, and a call to action for every parent, educator, and neighbor who cares about the young people in our midst.
If you want to understand what teenagers are really going through — don’t just ask them. Come see what they’ve created. Their art will tell you everything words sometimes cannot.
A Message for Parents and Communities
One of the most important takeaways from the episode was a direct message to parents — you are not alone, and neither are your teenagers. The story of Rivers Kelleher is a sobering reminder that mental health struggles don’t always announce themselves loudly. Sometimes the brightest smiles carry the heaviest burdens.
As Mike noted during the conversation, this is exactly the kind of discussion that needs to be happening in our homes, our schools, our churches, and yes — on our airwaves. Middle Tennessee has both the heart and the resources to wrap around its young people in meaningful ways. But it starts with awareness, conversation, and community.
If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out. Help is available. Hope is real.
Watch and Listen
You can watch the full conversation on YouTube and catch Conversations with Mike Sparks every Sunday on WGNS Radio — 100.5 FM, 101.9 FM, and 1450 AM.
Because some conversations are too important not to have.