Mindleader Message in Tiara’s Hat Parade

At Orlando Family Stage, we believe storytelling has the power to build empathy, spark conversations, and support the emotional well-being of young people. That is why we are proud to partner with AdventHealth for Children through their Be a Mindleader initiative. This community-wide campaign encourages open and honest conversations about youth mental health and provides families with expert insights to better support the children in their lives. Together, we are working to destigmatize mental health challenges and uplift the next generation of Mindleaders—young people who are emotionally aware, resilient, and compassionate.

Orlando Family Stage’s 25/26 Season is Presented by AdventHealth for Children.

A Hat Is Never Just a Hat

Tiara’s world is stitched together by tradition. Her mother’s hats are symbols of cultural pride, emotional storytelling, and intergenerational connection. When that tradition is threatened by change, Tiara witnesses her mother’s heartbreak and her own sense of purpose begin to unravel.

As caregivers, educators, and clinicians, we know that identity loss can be a hidden trigger for emotional distress, especially for children who derive meaning from the stability of home, culture, and family routines.

Mindleaders are young people who respond to emotional challenges not by shutting down, but by listening, remembering, and offering connection in return. Tiara does just that.

Emotional Bravery Looks Like This

In one of the play’s most poignant scenes, Tiara walks by her mama’s closed studio and whispers:

“I swear I hear those hats calling me.”

It’s a moment of quiet grief and quiet courage. Even when told to stay away, Tiara can not ignore the creative call to connect. Her eventual decision to reopen that room (and create a hat parade at school) is not just a plot twist, it’s a healing act.

This is a powerful model for children facing anxiety, sadness, or change. Sometimes, emotional resilience does not come from “moving on,” but from holding on to what matters and reimagining how it can live again.

Like many young people, Tiara doesn’t have the vocabulary to say: I feel disconnected. Instead, she makes something, a gesture of reconnection. That’s what Mindleaders do: turn feelings into action, and art into healing.

Mindleader Reflections

Whether you’re watching as a parent, teacher, or clinician, here are a few ways to keep the conversation going:

• What helped Tiara stay connected to her creativity, even when things were hard?
• When Mama gave up her studio, what feelings might Tiara have had?
• Who helps you feel brave enough to try again after disappointment?
• When has making something like art, music, writing, or crafts helped you feel more like yourself?

Milliner’s Magic in the play is more than stagecraft, it is a metaphor for what we all carry: identity, culture, hope. When we invite young people to express themselves through storytelling, design, or performance, we are not just encouraging creativity. We’re nurturing emotional fluency.

And when we respond to their expressions with empathy and attention, we become Mindleaders too.

Learn more about AdventHealth’s Mindleader initiative and how you can support youth mental wellness at
adventhealth.com/mentalhealth