A new national cohort of leaders working at the intersection of youth well-being and social impact has been selected for the 2026 Public Voices Fellowship on Youth Well-Being and Power, an initiative led by Hopelab in partnership with The OpEd Project.
The fellowship brings together 25 individuals from across the United States, including researchers, mental health advocates, and community leaders, all focused on advancing youth well-being and shaping public dialogue. According to the announcement, the fellows “are working at the intersection of youth well-being and power, and include organization leaders, academic researchers, scientists, and mental health advocates.”
Participants will engage in a year-long program designed to amplify their voices in national conversations, with training that explores how ideas gain traction and influence public understanding. The curriculum includes workshops and one-on-one coaching led by journalists and editors, equipping fellows to contribute thought leadership through media and public platforms.
The initiative reflects a growing recognition that youth mental health is not only a clinical issue but also a societal one, shaped by policy, access, and representation. By elevating diverse perspectives—particularly those from historically underrepresented backgrounds—the program seeks to expand how solutions are developed and communicated.
Hopelab, which focuses on advancing the mental health and well-being of young people, has emphasized the importance of bringing new expertise into public discourse. The fellowship’s broader goal is to “bring new knowledge and expert voices into the national and global conversation, to create a more just, sustainable, and intelligent future.”
Fellows selected for the 2026 cohort represent a wide range of disciplines and lived experiences, reflecting the complexity of challenges facing young people today—from access to care to the social and cultural factors influencing mental health outcomes.
As communities across the country continue to grapple with rising youth mental health needs, initiatives like this fellowship highlight the importance of listening to those closest to the issue and equipping them to lead.
Bruce Petillo, founder of Heartitude, said efforts that elevate lived experience alongside expertise are essential to building meaningful change. “When we create space for voices that reflect both knowledge and compassion, we move closer to solutions that truly honor the humanity of every young person,” he said.
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