This October, Pelham Together is joining partners across Pelham for Digital Citizenship Month, a community-wide effort to explore what it means to live well in a digital world. Throughout the month, young people, families, educators, businesses, parent groups, and community organizations will come together around education, youth leadership, family support, and opportunities for face-to-face connection.

Digital Citizenship Month is not about being anti-technology. It is about helping young people and adults make informed and intentional choices about technology, practice kindness and responsibility online, protect their wellbeing and relationships, and find a healthier balance between digital and offline life.

Activities will take place throughout October, with Pelham Together, Pelham Public Schools, OK to Delay and other parent volunteers, students, Digital Mom Media and other local businesses, Pelham Art Center, and other community-based organizations each contributing opportunities for families to learn, connect, and participate.

Screenagers: Generation AI — October 8th at 7:30 PM at The Picture House Pelham
Pelham Together will host a community screening of Screenagers: Generation AI, the newest film in the acclaimed Screenagers series. The film takes a balanced look at the opportunities and very real concerns surrounding artificial intelligence and young people, including its impact on academics, relationships, mental health, and healthy development.

Following the film, a 30-minute panel and Q&A will feature Pelham high school students alongside local voices in education, digital wellness, and mental health. The screening is being presented in partnership with Pelham Public Schools.

Rethink Youth Squad
Pelham Together will also launch its new Rethink Youth Squad, in partnership with Rethink Citizens. Local youth will be trained as digital wellness leaders and will help bring a youth perspective into conversations with Pelham families. During October, trained Youth Squad members will lead a parent digital wellness workshop using Rethink’s curriculum—giving parents the opportunity to hear directly from young people while learning practical strategies for navigating technology at home.

Disconnect to Reconnect
Sometimes the simplest way to create a healthier relationship with technology is to make it easier—and more fun—to put it down.

Throughout October, Okay to Delay, a new Pelham parent group concerned about the impact of technology and social media on children’s mental health and development, will help lead the Disconnect to Reconnect (D2R) initiative this year. Okay to Delay is working to build a community of support and education for Pelham parents and families interested in delaying smartphones, personal devices, and social media use. Volunteers are creating baskets of cards, board games, conversation starters, and other activities that will be available at participating establishments around Pelham throughout October—giving families and friends an easy invitation to put the phones aside and spend some time connecting face-to-face.

Help us build the game baskets! Okay to Delay is collecting donations of gently used small games and activities such as UNO, Skip-Bo, playing cards, Spot It!, TableTopics, and small board games through September 27th. Donations may be dropped in the clear bin outside the front door at 74 Boulevard, or brought to the Pelham Together table at the Farmers Market on Sunday, September 13th.

And there’s more to come.
The schools will have a variety of lessons at all levels throughout the month. Pelham Art Center has some fabulous screen-free activities and events planned, and other community partners are finalizing their slate of offline activities. We’ll continue updating this page as more opportunities are announced.

October is Digital Citizenship Month