🎓 A Movement Begins: CSU East Bay Launches the First-Ever #MillionMaskMovement College Club
Sept 22, 2028
This fall, a powerful first took place at Cal State East Bay — the launch of the first-ever college-based Ever Forward Club, led by students and rooted in the heart of the #MillionMaskMovement.
The inspiration began over the summer during Ever Forward’s 2025 Internship Program, where two CSU East Bay students, Matthias Dempsey and Michael Kvashin, dove deep into emotional leadership, community-building, and creating space for young people to take off their masks. They left the internship with a clear vision: bring the #MillionMaskMovement to their campus — and make it real.
When the fall semester began, they had already built the foundation. Matthias helped organize the structure, developed the constitution, and connected with faculty and student life leaders. Michael stepped in to carry the energy forward, guiding the club’s early activities and onboarding a full student leadership team.
Together, they launched a recognized student organization with:
A full executive board
Four adjunct faculty advisors
Ten events planned for the fall semester
Collaborations with student groups like Veterans Student Services, Black Student Success Center, National Hispanic Heritage Club, Allied Health Club, and more
Throughout August, the club tabled every week during freshman orientation, introducing hundreds of new students to the movement and inviting them to reflect on the masks they wear. Their presence at CSU EB’s Fall Welcome event on August 27 helped create a space for incoming students to pause, check in with themselves, and connect with something deeper than surface-level introductions.
At each event, students were invited to complete a mask card — writing three words they show the world and three they often hide. These quiet moments sparked powerful conversations and planted seeds of belonging and authenticity from the very start of the school year.
This new chapter is more than a student club — it’s a movement. A reminder that young people don’t just want real spaces to be themselves… they’re ready to lead them.
If you attend an Ever Forward Club event this fall — whether you’re volunteering or visiting — don’t be surprised if you meet one of the CSU East Bay student leaders helping carry this work forward. Say hello. They’re building something meaningful, one conversation at a time.
This is just the beginning.
💬 Want to Get Involved?
✅ Make your own mask and see how others around the world are reflecting at: https://millionmask.org
✅ Join our Advocates for Young Men community — a virtual space for educators, parents, mentors, and leaders who want to better support young men: https://bit.ly/AYMcommunity
✅ Stay in the loop with new stories, events, and opportunities by joining our newsletter: https://everforwardclub.org/contact
Together, we’re building a world where we can all feel safe to take off their mask. Let’s keep moving ever forward. 💛