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 Daily Aspiration

At Hopelab, we don’t just talk about values — we aim to live them. Every day, our team aspires to embody three core principles that guide and shape our work.

Consider who is in the room and ask who is not in the room

We believe that more equitable outcomes require genuine partnership and a meaningful shift in power dynamics. As we practice living the value of intergenerational collaboration, our approach centers on:

Youth Opportunities

Creating substantial opportunities for youth input and direction in our projects.

Shared Governance

Sharing decision-making power with young people in key initiatives, including research methodology, investment decisions, and narrative building.

Partner Support

Providing partners with tangible support for equitable youth collaboration.

Balanced Authority

Recognizing that ceding power requires stepping up, but not stepping out of the way, completely.

Saanvi AroraFounder and Executive Director of the Youth Power Project, 2024 YIBH Awardee

Regardless of the policies Congress pursues, incorporating youth voices from different populations and prioritizing ongoing lived experiences is vital.

Expand our understanding of mental health and well-being

We tackle complex issues through multidisciplinary approaches that integrate rigorous scientific methodologies, psychological insights, public health perspectives, and impact investing strategies with the lived experiences of young people and their support networks. Understanding how intertwined a variety of systemic complexities are with youth mental health and well-being is important so that we can co-create solutions with young people.

Housing and food insecurity are inextricably linked to our well-being.
Climate change is contributing to the anxiety of young people and many, especially those in underserved communities, experience the acute effects of climate injustice on a daily basis.
Political efforts erasing the histories and identities of young people — the most diverse generation our country has ever seen — deprive us of our country’s multi-racial presence and impact youth mental health and well-being.
Supporting young people to contribute to solutions that improve policies, research, and practices that directly impact them will help them thrive.

In their own words

Hear from the 2024 Young Innovators in Behavioral Health Award winners in this video series.

Intersectional Mental Health

Well-being encompasses so many different aspects of our life.

Taking risks in the spirit of creating opportunities

In a world that can feel challenging, choosing joy and hope is a radical act that can open up a world of possibility. There are simple ways to incorporate values-driven behavior into corporate culture.

Celebrate wins, both big and small.
Imagine and articulate a better future, inviting others to dream with us.
Remain candid about challenges while creating space for learning and healing.

Amy Green, Ph.D.,Head of Research, Hopelab

If we truly want to improve the well-being of young people, we need to listen to their experiences and ensure that we do not inadvertently remove access to crucial positive benefits, particularly among Black, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ young people.

We remain committed to growth, connection, and meaningful impact while living through our values.

We seek input from external partners, young people, and the communities we serve to hold us accountable. We’ll be on this journey for the long haul, realizing that each step we take allows us to share our learnings so others might begin their own.

Author Highlight

Arianna Taboada

Arianna leads Learning and Impact at Hopelab where she helps the organization build learning processes to inform programmatic decision making. In collaboration with Hopelab’s staff and partners, she stewards an equity-focused approach to measuring impact across the organization’s influence in impact investing, grant-making, research, and field-building. Prior to joining Hopelab, Arianna worked on community health interventions and research.

Courtney Chang

Courtney serves as Hopelab’s Head of Strategy, guiding the organization’s strategic vision and ensuring its mission translates into measurable impact across programs and partnerships. In this role, she leads the implementation of the organizational strategy, working closely with the CEO, Board, and senior leaders to align initiatives, learning, and resources toward systems-level change for youth well-being. Courtney spent four years as.