A recent study revealed that boys’ mental health often goes unnoticed, resulting in many disorders going undiagnosed. Despite this, entrepreneur Erica Malone recently opened a store in Aurora with the belief that investing in children is equivalent to investing in the future.
Malone’s store, Jaxon’s Closet, is located in the Town Center at Aurora and specializes in boys’ clothing. She hopes that her customers will shop with the psychological benefits of looking good in mind. Malone specifically chose Aurora as the location for her store because of the mental health crisis the city has been facing for several years.
After a 15-year-old boy was shot at a different Aurora shopping mall, a nonprofit supporting underprivileged youth stated that violence among young people in Aurora can often be attributed to a lack of family structure, economic instability, and mental health challenges. Malone revealed that one of her sons has experienced mental health challenges in the past. As a result, she understands the importance of confidence and how it can impact behavior.
The mission of Jaxon’s Closet is to provide boys with fashionable clothing to boost their confidence and help them make friends. Malone organizes events for boys to engage in healthy activities as a way to prevent potential negative outcomes in the future. She believes that by starting early and providing support, youth can avoid getting involved in harmful behaviors later on in life.
