Learning Journey
Our 2024 Story At our core, we believe in the undeniable power of young people.
Every day, we are inspired by their determination to build a better future. As we work towards more equitable opportunities for young people to live joyful and purposeful lives, we dedicate ourselves to uncovering knowledge, investing in innovators, and funding youth-centered solutions. When asked who we are, what we do, and what we stand for, we are guided by these core beliefs.
2024 Insights
Co-design with young people
Hopelab centers the voices of Black, Brown, and Queer young people — communities most affected by mental health challenges. Through co-designed research, we amplify their experiences, affirm their humanity, and prioritize their well-being.
Multi-dimensional investments in young innovators
Our vision for youth mental health comes to life through funding intergenerational leaders, supporting HBCU Translational Science Fellows, and conducting research that amplifies the voices of young people. Together, we’re removing barriers to help young people thrive.
Reframing risk
We see youth leadership not as a risk but as our greatest asset for change. Their lived experiences shape policy, their stories drive strategy, and their vision challenges convention.
The voices of young people
Read these perspectives from young authors.
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“I have struggled a lot over the past couple years with my identity… I felt so alone and really didn’t see a point in living. However, queer people on social media got me through it. Knowing that these people were not only surviving but thriving in the most queer way possible truly saved my life, and I am incredibly thankful everyday for the queer creators who changed my life because I don’t know where I would be without them.”
Featured Story
Living Our Values as Behaviors Hopelab has embarked on a journey to authentically embody our values
In every aspect of our work, from youth co-creation to partnership development.
Turning aspirational statements into lived behaviors takes more than good intentions; it requires inclusive evaluation and conscious action. Our impact comes from what we do, how we do it, and, importantly, who we include in the process.
Our Partners
The Arthur M. Blank Foundation
Hopelab’s partnership with the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is instrumental in advancing our shared vision of a world where young people can thrive. Together, we’ve co-funded key initiatives like the Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund and the Young Innovators in Behavioral Health Awards, hosted a convening on intergenerational leadership in youth mental health, and engaged their Board on trends in youth mental health and technology.
Their generous support, including funding for the HBCU Translational Science Fellowship, strengthens our collective efforts to support young change-makers with lived experiences to lead in their communities.
In Tandem
Hopelab’s partnership with In Tandem exemplifies our shared commitment to elevating the voices of young people. In Tandem specializes in creating seamless pathways to incorporate youth perspective, which was invaluable in the collaboration of the Youth Voice Playbook. Released in the fall of 2024 in partnership with the Center for Digital Thriving at Harvard, the playbook provides actionable strategies to integrate the voices of young people into impactful initiatives.
Hopelab’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence program currently supports In Tandem’s CEO, Dave Hersh, with resources and network connections to advance In Tandem’s mission of authentically engaging young people in creating meaningful change.
Center for Scholars and Storytellers
Hopelab’s collaboration with the Center for Scholars and Storytellers (CSS) reflects our shared commitment to advancing transformative research and storytelling that supports youth well-being. CSS recognizes the power of media on young people’s mental health and supplies the entertainment industry with evidence-based insights from psychology to positively impact kids, teens, and young adults.
We co-sponsored CSS’s annual summit, which brought together entertainment industry professionals, youth activists, researchers, scientists, and public health leaders for crucial discussions focused on teen and young adult perspectives. Dr. Mike Parent led a panel on parasocial relationships, highlighting insights from our research on AI, chatbots, and joyful online interactions.
2024 Youth-engaged Research Reports
