You’re invited to  the Young Futures Block Party

YF Advisory Board Member Lisa Damour, PhD is a leading voice in adolescent mental health, widely recognized for translating complex research into relatable, actionable guidance.

A three-time New York Times best-selling author of Untangled, Under Pressure, and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers, her work centers on helping adults better understand what preteens and teens are truly experiencing.

She also co-hosts the Ask Lisa Podcast, collaborates with UNICEF, and served as a consultant on Pixar’s Inside Out 2, bringing clinical, academic, and cultural perspectives to the forefront of youth wellbeing.

Kelsey Noonan leads a portfolio of philanthropic and venture investments in Adolescent Mental Health at Pivotal Ventures, a company founded by Melinda French Gates to advance social progress. Her work supports the social, emotional and mental wellbeing of adolescents, centered on BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth and their caregivers.

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She is particularly passionate about the impact of digital life on young people, and how to empower young people to prioritize their wellbeing amidst rapidly changing technologies. Kelsey's background is in behavior change programming, having previously worked in global health and community governance programs in conflict zones, including Syria, Iraq, South Sudan and Afghanistan.

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Despite the differences between country settings, Kelsey has always been galvanized by the way that young people shape norms and drive movements as they come into their own power as a generation.

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The Real Young Prodigies are an educationally-charged Hip Hop collective from Louisville, Kentucky. The group was founded by Kentucky's 2019 Elementary School Teacher of the Year. The Real Young Prodigies is an arts program under our grantee, HHN2L.

Trey Leveque (he/him/his) is a lifelong learner, cross-sector leader, and advocate passionate about mental health, well-being, and the power of community in fostering connection. He is currently pursuing a Master in Public Policy (MPP) at the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS).Before starting his MPP program, Trey served as the Engagement Chief of Staff for the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General, where he led engagement efforts to address key public health challenges, including youth mental health, social connection, and overall well-being.Prior to that, Trey worked on Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher Initiative as their Texting Communication Associate, supporting first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students in accessing higher education. His involvement with Reach Higher began in 2017 when he was appointed to their inaugural Student Advisory Board. Trey later served as a 2018 Summer Fellow in Washington, D.C., and as the UpNext Program Associate, where he helped connect over 300,000 students to educational resources through texting interventions.Community has always been at the heart of Trey's work. He has been actively involved in organizations such as Special Olympics Arizona, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Arizona, and Boy Scouts of America. Trey has also worked extensively on voter engagement and youth participation initiatives.Raised in Arizona, Trey earned his Bachelor of Arts from Arizona State University with degrees in Business (Global Politics), Business (Law), and Business (Public Service & Public Policy) from the W. P. Carey School of Business, along with a Cross-Sector Leadership Certificate from the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.

Maddie Freeman created nonprofit NoSo November in 2020 to encourage young people to avoid or reduce social media usage for one month each year, raising awareness about the platforms' harmful effects on youth and young adult mental health.

A Colorado resident, Freeman works year-round on NoSo and has reached about 28,000 students as participants in community detoxes or through workshops and speaking events at colleges or school districts around the country. Freeman is also piloting NoSo in an international school in Switzerland.

The Co-Founder and Executive Director of Next Gen Men. Next Gen Men is building a future where boys and men feel less pain and cause less harm.

Jake has scaled NGM from a grassroots idea to a national non-profit, speaking at the UN, and co-authoring “A Kids Book About Masculinity.”

He also steer the ship as publisher and editor-in-chief of Voice Male magazine, continuing its 40-year legacy in the pro-feminist men’s movement.

His work sits at the intersection of gender, equity, and social impact – with a healthy dose of curiosity, empathy, and the occasional dad joke

Trisha N. Prabhu is a graduate of Harvard University, where she concentrated in Government, on the Technology Science Track, with a secondary in Economics. She graduated summa cum laude and as a Phi Beta Kappa Scholar. Trisha is interested in the unforeseen consequences of technology on our society, and how to innovate towards a more kind, inclusive Internet.

She is the Founder and CEO of ReThink, a patented technology that proactively detects offensive digital content and gives users a chance to reconsider posting it.

For her work with ReThink, Trisha holds several US patents; she was also the 2019 winner of Harvard University's President's Innovation Challenge Grand Prize and the youngest honoree named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 2021 Social Impact list. Trisha has delivered numerous talks about ReThink on stages ranging from The White House to TED.

Outside of ReThink, Trisha has worked extensively at the intersection of government and technology, conducting research on innovative regulatory frameworks for online speech and supporting creation of kidney care technology solutions as an intern at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Trisha is deeply passionate about ending disparities within STEM fields, and has volunteered with Girls Who Code, the SoGal Foundation, and 501(c)(3) Commit2Change to diversify the tech world. At Oxford, Trisha will continue her studies at the intersection of technology and society.

Larissa May (Larz) is a global marketing guru and founder of #HalfTheStory, a non-profit dedicated to empowering the next generation's relationship with social media. In 2020, Larz was named one of Business Insider's Rising Stars in Brand Marketing for her role in launching multiple million dollar ventures (Otherland and Kin Euphorics). She also created a grassroots community that pioneered a nationwide conversation about the importance of digital wellbeing for youth. Her efforts in community building have led to the founding of the Global Day of Unplugging, an internationally recognized day to divest from technology and plug back into life.

During her senior year of college, amidst a dark battle with depression, Larz experienced a light bulb moment, realizing how social media was negatively impacting virtually all aspects of her life. With $250 from her college dorm room, she set out on a mission to help others create more meaningful connections through social storytelling— #HalfTheStory.The movement quickly garnered local attention, and within months, spread to other campuses in the region. Over the course of a year and a half, HTS grew into a globally recognized movement.

To date, #HalfTheStory has become a leading youth 501(c)3, receiving over 30,000 stories from 99 countries around the world. From political figures, to leaders in tech, Larissa’s work has permeated all facets of life and business and her voice continues to carry a new generation of digital activists.

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Arielle Geismar (she/her) is an organizer, advocate, creator, and strategist in human technology interaction. She has experience passing bills for young people on a state and federal level, advising nascent and foremost technology companies in ethics as well as the Biden-Harris Transition Team on mental health. She has led essential advocacy campaigns around responsible technology and mental health.

Her leadership has been recognized by the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, MTV, New Yorker, and noted in Teen Vogue’s 21 Under 21 and Forbes 30 Under 30 lists. She has created content for Patagonia, Toms, Meta, and more around these issues. Arielle served as Student Body President of George Washington University before she graduated with her B.A. in International Affairs and International Science and Technology Policy. She is currently works as a technology ethicist.

Cheyenne Skye Branscum is the PK-12 Program Officer at the Advancing Indigenous Science & Engineering Society (AISES), where she designs and scales national STEM initiatives that expand access and opportunity for Indigenous students and educators. Her work spans robotics, renewable energy, AI literacy, computer science, and emerging technologies, with a focus on building programs and partnerships that help students move from classroom exploration into STEM competition, leadership, and career pathways.Cheyenne brings experience across program design, fundraising, curriculum development, public engagement, and operational leadership. She also serves on the Board of Directors and as Treasurer for the Sierra Club, helping guide financial strategy, nonprofit governance, and organizational stewardship in support of climate action, clean energy, and environmental justice.Across her work, Cheyenne is passionate about connecting STEM education, sustainability, emerging technology, workforce development, and community impact. She is especially interested in collaborations that advance AI, climate innovation, Indigenous STEM leadership, and equitable access to future-ready opportunities.

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Girl Security’s mission is to empower girls and young women from underrepresented communities with the skills, experiences, networks, and support to pursue national security careers, which lead to job sustainability and greater societal impact.

Prior to founding Girl Security, Lauren served as a management consultant, providing strategic and analytical support to clients on local policy issues, including exclusionary land use policies and racial segregation in Chicago for over a decade. From 2002-2007, Lauren served as a national security policy analyst with a Chicago-based think tank, where she specialized in national security law.

In 2022, Lauren was named "One of the Most Influential People in Security" by Security Magazine. She was named "One of 50 Women Making the World a Better Place" by Instyle Magazine in 2021 and awarded the 21st Century Leader Award by the National Committee on American Foreign Policy. Lauren is a former Fellow with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (2003), Truman National Security Project (2006), American Bar Association Standing Committee on Law and National Security (2012) and a former Emerging Leader with Chicago Council on Global Affairs (2017).

Neha Shukla is 21 years old and an AI ethicist, activist, and researcher fighting for a more responsible future of tech. She is the founder of Innovation For Everyone, a youth-led movement reaching over 70,000 students across 35 countries, mobilizing to bridge the AI ethics literacy gap and prioritize youth safety and wellbeing in the design and deployment of AI. Innovation For Everyone has partnered with the UN Foundation, New York Hall of Science, Algorithmic Justice League, and schools, museums, and community centers across the country. She served as the Chair of the World Economic Forum’s first-ever entirely youth-led AI advisory body, the Generation AI Youth Council, and advocated for ethical and child-safe AI systems alongside policymakers. She is the bestselling author of “Innovation for Everyone: Solving Real-World Problems with STEM” and “A Kids Book About AI” (Penguin Random House), equipping youth with practical tools for civic innovation. Her innovations and activism are recognized in the New York Times, Forbes, CNN, Harper’s Bazaar, Financial Times, ELLE, and commended by President Biden, Vice President Harris, and the Royal Family. She served as the Youth Advisor to the US Department of Education, advising a $5 million budget for the largest White House STEM engagement program. She is a student at Duke University, studying Computer Science and Sociology.

Abby Binder is the Director of Development at Civics Unplugged, where she works to build stronger community wellbeing by centering young people’s lived experiences in conversations about our technological and civic future. With a background in developmental psychology and societal trends, Abby brings both research expertise and lived experience to her work advancing youth leadership, civic engagement, and intergenerational collaboration.She is passionate about helping young people harness their power for social good while ensuring they have the support, mentorship, and opportunities they need to pursue their purpose. At Civics Unplugged, Abby supports the next generation of leaders through civic education, community building, and investments in innovation, while building partnerships with organizations committed to a brighter and more equitable future.

Charlotte Dungan is the Chief Learning Officer of the Mark Cuban Foundation, which runs AI Bootcamps for high school students, teachers, and in partnership with informal educators. Charlotte is a leading expert in AI education, having worked with teams at TeachAI, Code.org, AI for Teachers, CS is Elementary, aiEDU, ISTE, MIT, and AI4K12. After 10 years working as a computer programmer, she earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Harvard University. She has helped several states revise CS standards and add AI to their curricula. Charlotte supports expanding CS education in rural areas and underserved populations. She’s also a lifelong Girl Scout and a first-generation college student.

Dylan Keith Humphrey is a Young Futures Advisory Board Member and Co-Founder of Fourddo, where he brings a powerful firsthand perspective on what young people need to feel seen, supported, and heard. At just 21 years old, Dylan is a globally recognized advocate, storyteller, and creative whose work centers connection, healing, and youth-led change.Through Fourddo, which he co-founded with his sister, Dylan has helped lead national campaigns and initiatives across mental health, activism, and the arts, serving thousands of young people and partnering with organizations including Nike, KIA Motors, Macy’s, UNESCO, The Bezos Foundation, and No Kid Hungry.Dylan has also held advisory and ambassador roles with organizations including the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Made By Us, Civics Unplugged, Adolescent Content, The Foundation for Social Connection, Boston Health Care for the Homeless, ReThink Citizens, USTA, UNICEF USA, and Young Futures.A junior at Emerson College, Dylan advises the President and the Dean of Arts on equitable and inclusive solutions for students. His creative work has earned recognition as a Norman Lear and Bruno Mars Fund Scholar, a YoungArts National Winner, a finalist for Sundance’s Cultural Impact Residency, and a producer with a premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Dylan Keith Humphrey is a Young Futures Advisory Board Member and Co-Founder of Fourddo, where he brings a powerful firsthand perspective on what young people need to feel seen, supported, and heard. At just 21 years old, Dylan is a globally recognized advocate, storyteller, and creative whose work centers connection, healing, and youth-led change.Through Fourddo, which he co-founded with his sister, Dylan has helped lead national campaigns and initiatives across mental health, activism, and the arts, serving thousands of young people and partnering with organizations including Nike, KIA Motors, Macy’s, UNESCO, The Bezos Foundation, and No Kid Hungry.Dylan has also held advisory and ambassador roles with organizations including the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Made By Us, Civics Unplugged, Adolescent Content, The Foundation for Social Connection, Boston Health Care for the Homeless, ReThink Citizens, USTA, UNICEF USA, and Young Futures.A junior at Emerson College, Dylan advises the President and the Dean of Arts on equitable and inclusive solutions for students. His creative work has earned recognition as a Norman Lear and Bruno Mars Fund Scholar, a YoungArts National Winner, a finalist for Sundance’s Cultural Impact Residency, and a producer with a premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival.