The Brightside: The Inspiring Project 10 year anniversary

DELMARVA – Chase Marvil, founder of The Inspiring Project, has been working to spread positivity for a decade.

It’s not so much a project, but a movement on social media, intended to reduce and eliminate bullying, suicidal thoughts, or actions in teenagers. “This type of thing that I started was something I never really expected to gain the traction it did,” says Marvil.

While a student at Woodbridge High School, Marvil says his struggle with mental health, paired with the general negativity he was seeing online, became the driving factor for starting this project. “The only reason that the world is negative is because we allow it to be,” says Marvil. “So to be able to see the positive impact of social media when I was at home and then I’m able to come to school and have the principal of the school and the students around me to accept that broke me out of my shell.”

While the project began at Woodbridge, its accelerated growth throughout other schools, and eventually the country was an unintended success. “So many opportunities arose from that, I had no idea.” Marvil adds, “But to be able to have a community as a whole to be like hey this is something that could be a great thing, I see the potential that it can definitely help people and back that, it gives you so much fuel to continue to keep doing it.”

The Inspiring Project has earned him the runner-up position for the 2015 MTV High School Trailblazer Award. It’s paved a path for scholarships, impact festivals, and speaking engagements, all while tackling the stigma that mental health has had for years. He credits it all to the overwhelming support he’s received since the beginning. “I would not be where I am today let alone 10 years ago making all these things if it wasn’t for people that have helped and supported me through all of that.”

Marvil tells us, that the scholarships and festivals are a testament to just how much of an impact he’s made over the years on scholarship recipients and the community. “To see them appreciate the fact that they’re able to continue their education and also be able to live out the dreams of whatever they do.” He adds, “It’s just been fun to organize and fun to see come into fruition, it’s just been something very humbling, to see come to life and see all the people out there having a great time.”

While Marvil has grown up and is tackling adulthood, his original message and mission still stands. and if anything, is needed now more than ever. “Just be positive and do things that can help others, and you will help yourself.,” says Marvil. “Here is your new purpose in life, here’s your new way to help the people around, here’s the new way people are going to perceive Chase.”

Marvil also tells us he will continue to host the Impact Festivals, and as always the proceeds will support his ‘Inspiring’ scholarships, as well as mental health-related local organizations. However,  he also wants to continue advocating for mental health, and how to change the narrative on social media.

To learn more about the scholarship, and to stay up to date with Chase and the Inspiring project you can check out the Facebook page.

Applications open at the beginning of 2024.