Quest is a Charleston-based nonprofit with a big vision: to bring mental health and substance use awareness to the forefront through open conversations, engaging community events, and meaningful student involvement.
Led by founder Luke Shirley, Quest aims to break the stigma around mental health challenges by rallying people from all walks of life together—on campus, in neighborhoods, and at special gatherings like the upcoming Sound of Mind music event.
On March 27th at The Refinery (7pm-11pm), Quest will host Sound of Mind, a fundraiser that blends live music, powerful testimonials, and community building to shine a spotlight on the organization’s impact.
In this Q&A, we chat with Luke about what sparked his passion for helping others, the unique approach Quest takes on college campuses, and how you can join in on this critical mission. Tickets for Sound of Mind are on sale now.
Q&A with Luke Shirley of Quest: Formation & Sound of Mind
Extra Chill: How did Quest form, and what inspired you to start it?
Luke Shirley: Well, it’s hard to say exactly what inspired me as I feel like it really was a confluence of all the things that have made me who I am today. But I do remember the day I woke up to the forces at play inside me. We hosted a tennis tournament fundraiser for a recovery nonprofit that felt very inspired by. I have a family history of mental health and substance use and was super drawn to the woman behind Iron Wolf Recovery. So we had three people share testimonies that day in the middle of a tennis tournament, and people from all walks of my life showed up to support–family, friends, acquaintances.
LS: It didn’t matter if you had struggle with drugs or suicide or any of that, what mattered was showing up to support a great cause and be a part of something bigger. I left that day feeling so enthusiastic about what we did and the money we raised, like we did something truly meaningful for everyone who showed. I got a call that same week from a friend notifying me that her partner OD’d and his family wanted me to work his memorial surface. That hit me like a train.
LS: I knew right then and there I was going to do something to help bring more awareness to all the mental battles young adults are facing these days. I didn’t want that to be anyone in my family or close circle of friends. Still hurts to think about.
What is your personal connection to mental health awareness, if you are comfortable sharing?
LS: Of course, it would be rather hypocritical if I didn’t! I made it through most of high school with a lot of pressure put on myself by myself to pretend I had it all together. Truthfully, I was a really bitter and angry kid about the things going on in my world that I couldn’t understand and control (addiction in the family).
LS: By the time I made it to college at C of C I pushed all of that anger down so deep that it did what the name suggests–I grew depressed. All of that and the new college environment that brought binge drinking into my life for the first time hit super hard. I really lost myself sophomore year and almost dropped out.
LS: For the first time in my life I really had a hard time motivating myself, and I did everything to avoid talking about it. I thought of it as serious weakness and something to be ashamed of, so I isolated myself. And that’s the one thing we all have in common with any mental battle, is that constricting of the world into a myopic view, a “I-me-mine” movie that plays on loop in your head. It completely robs you of the present. I finally got some help from a family member, and I remember the day I started talking about it was the day the fog began to lift.
How did the partnership with the College of Charleston come about, and what impact do you hope it will have?
LS: We don’t partner with the college, because our nonprofit takes a grassroots approach. We activate students and empower them to be the leaders of a mental health club, Quest on Campus, and in doing so we don’t need to go through any loopholes with the College. Which has its benefits. Our hope is that our campus community and the partners we bring in from the greater community create a really safe, inviting, and inspiring space to show that no one is ever alone in their struggles. We also try to make things fun!
Tell me about Sound of Mind. What are your main goals for the event, and how will the proceeds be used?
LS: Sound of Mind is our biggest fundraiser and mental health awareness event to date, combing music, live testimonials, and the bringing together of community to storytell our nonprofits’ impact. We have 5 incredible bands and singer song writers performing who will also be speaking to our mission from the stage. Students from our campus organization will be the MCs for the evening sharing our impact. All in all, we hope it will become our flagship fundraiser to help us grow to our next campuses–USC and Clemson–this next year. To do so, we need about 1,000 tickets sold and a total of $200k raised…ambitious for us!
How did you decide which artists to book? Is there anything unique about this lineup?
LS: Ooo yes, well the opener Congress the Band is a really great college band with a group of guys from all different colleges across the state, which is relevant. But as the director, I got a bit selfish and chose two of my favorites: Caiola (from Mo Lowda and the Humble) and one of my favorite bands of all time, Bendigo Fletcher (these guys rock!) The other two, Jack Fortune and Swamp House Rebellion are some really talented local artists who put on a great show and are just great people too.
How can people help support Quest outside of this event?
LS: Follow us on instagram at @questinrecovery or check our website questinrecovery.org to stay updated on our two campaigns every year (May Mental Health Awareness month and September Recovery Awareness). We do really cool recreational campaigns that encourage the community to come together over a health activity (May is a bridge walk daily September we row on Folly River courtesy of SUP Safaris). Our unique little approach to first talking about these challenges, which seems to make it a little less intimidating and a little more fun!
Anything else you want to mention?
LS: We would love some solid USC or Clemson student and/or faculty connections to get us rolling for our next Quest on Campus startups in the Fall! If you know of a student or professor who would be interested, have them email me at [email protected] and I’m happy to meet to discuss future opportunities for fundraising here in Charleston!