Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan MacFarlane.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
M3 transitioned from an idea to an initiative in January of 2020. Two hockey moms, Amber and Lezlee, witnessed the impact of Eli Johnson’s death, a former Moorhead Spud hockey player, on their community. Eli, a charismatic and hardworking individual who made those around him feel welcome, faced an internal battle that tragically led to his suicide in 2017. Amber approached me for assistance with their idea. Since Eli and I graduated together, and I shared a passion for mental health, I saw this as an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.
Our inaugural event took place on February 3rd, 2020, featuring four squirt hockey teams in our ‘Minds Matter’ games. We emphasized the importance of asking for help, reaching out, and using available resources. Behavioral health professionals and licensed psychologists were present at the rink to provide assistance. Recognizing the need to continue, even without a clear path forward, we pressed on.
Over the past four years, with the support of a dedicated board of volunteers, we’ve undertaken various initiatives, including parent/kid golf tournaments, two hockey tournaments (Eli Johnson Memorial Tournament and the Skate 218 Tournament), BreakTheIce nights for our varsity teams, and a content curriculum implemented through off-ice training sessions for athletes ages 9-16 and curriculum bags for athletes ages 4-8. We serve nearly 600 athletes in the Moorhead hockey program and connect with over 400 more athletes from across the region each season.
A significant milestone for us is our official recognition as a 501c3 nonprofit as of August 2022. All those involved with M3 are volunteers, reflecting our commitment and passion for the cause. In the beginning, we said if we could impact one child, that would be enough reason to do what we are doing. Hearing positive stories from families about changes in their kids’ confidence or the use of mental skills at home to teachers sharing about the growth from their hockey players in the classroom has been both beautiful and heartbreaking. Our initial hope was to impact their mental performance on the ice, but to know their time with M3 is having a ripple effect across other facets of their life has been truly remarkable.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Yes and no. Our community has shown tremendous support, allowing us to evolve from two moms and a college student unsure of our next steps forward to a 501c3 impacting over 1,000 athletes each year. Despite facing challenges, including receiving a cease and desist letter six months in, we adapted and changed our name from Minds Matter to M3, signifying Moorhead Minds Matter. Our goal is to convey to everyone at our rink that they matter, and equip them with the skills for personal growth on and off the ice. As a third-generation hockey community in our 58th season, introducing mental health conversations to adults at the rink has been our biggest challenge. Reducing the stigma of mental health is no easy task, but each step an athlete, parent, or adult can take, no matter how small, is still a step forward. As we have grown throughout the years our support from the community has too. Change is hard but necessary, and positive change does not happen overnight. M3 truly is a reflection of the players and families who believe in us and what we are doing.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Having graduated college in December 2020, I experienced the isolation of my senior year spent living alone, at home, behind a computer screen. M3 became a focus during a time when everything else seemed to be falling apart. While it doesn’t pay the bills, it fills my cup. My work involves teaching kids the skills of goal-setting, focusing, mindfulness, grit, emotional regulation, imagery, and confidence. Being part of Moorhead Youth Hockey, the only association in Minnesota training both the athlete’s body and mind through intentional curriculum, fills me with pride. M3 not only initiates conversations about mental health but also combines it with mental skills training to prepare athletes for life after hockey.
What matters most to you? Why?
The answer to what matters most isn’t just our minds; it’s relationships. In a world with so many broken moments, the people in my life remind me of what matters most and that’s the togetherness I feel when I am with those I love. When I am teaching the athletes, I always come back to the idea that we are the ones in control of our actions, our responses, attitudes, and efforts. It’s us, not anyone else. That being said, the relationship we have with ourselves must be the strongest one we know, because everything we do stems from it. From there, our relationships with others can flourish. Relationships matter the most to me because they are at the forefront of everything I do, the foundation for which my work stands on, and what I believe can truly propel our society forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.m3breaktheice.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m3moorhead/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/m3moorhead
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/m3moorhead
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@m3breaktheice
Image Credits
Headshot: Kara Lee Creative Co.
