The Goodness Web (TGW)

🚀 $500K for Schools & Nonprofits—a new Young Futures Funding Challenge Launches Next Week!! Phones in schools are one of the most debated topics in education today. Some schools ban them outright, others have restrictive policies, and some fully integrate them into their schools—because of a pro-tech philosophy or a lack of funding for resources like chrome books. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution—the realities are varied and complex. What’s clear is that educators are on the frontlines of enforcement, no matter the policy—and they need support. And just as importantly, young people must lead the way. Their voices and experiences need to be at the center of these decisions, starting with the Youth Listening Tour that shaped this challenge, thanks to our partners at In Tandem. Here’s what we know: 📱Students crave agency—when they help shape phone policies, buy-in and outcomes improve. 📵 Policies and/or bans aren’t enough—without education on healthy tech habits, many young people struggle to self-regulate once phones are back in hand.  📊 We’re at a tipping point—schools are scrambling to set policies, and we have a rare window to make sure youth voices and real-world experiences shape those decisions. That’s why we’re launching The Call Me Maybe Challenge, a funding initiative seeded by Pinterest and supported by Pivotal Ventures and Susan Crown Exchange. 🎉 🔥We’re deploying $500K in rapid-response funding for up to 10 nonprofits (including schools!) scaling solutions that: ✅ Balance tech’s benefits with distraction-free learning ✅ Rebuild in-person social connection ✅ Give students a real voice in shaping school phone policies 📅 Applications open Wednesday, March 19! Check out the full RFP here: [https://lnkd.in/gVKY-DSM] and help us spread the word. Know a nonprofit school or that should apply? Send this their way! 🙌 Dr. Kristine G. Sierra Malia F. Cassie Archdeacon Brooke Messaye Kathy Gu Kelsey Noonan Pivotal Ventures Kevin Connors Susan Crown Exchange Alise Marshall The Goodness Web (TGW) Celine Coggins Ph.D. Lisa Damour, PhD Jenna Bigham Ishea B. Abigail Baker Sarah Marshall Young Futures Org #YoungFutures #CallMeMaybeChallenge

I’m super excited to share my first thought leadership piece as a part of the Young Futures Org team! As a member of Gen Z and having worked in spaces focused on empowering young people, I’ve seen firsthand how quickly misinformation can spread—especially in the digital world we’ve grown up in. Here’s the thing: Despite being digital natives, Gen Z is actually more vulnerable to misinformation than older generations. It’s kind of wild, right? We trust the sources we follow on social media, but oftentimes those sources aren’t as trustworthy as we think. Why is this happening? 1️⃣ Algorithmic Bubbles – We’re constantly stuck in these digital echo chambers, where algorithms just show us what we want to see, reinforcing our biases.  2️⃣ Emotional Content – Fear, outrage, and drama spread fast. We’re all guilty of sharing things in the heat of the moment without taking a second to think critically.  3️⃣ Influencers Over Experts – We tend to trust TikTok creators and influencers over seasoned experts, even when they might not have the knowledge we need. I saw this firsthand during the 2025 LA wildfires where misinformation spread like wildfire, even in my circles, but the key takeaway is this: we can fight back. So, how do we take action?  🔍 Pause Before Sharing – Next time, take a breath and fact-check before hitting "share."  🌐 Diversify Your Sources – It’s important to get your news from different places. Mix in some traditional outlets with independent sources to get a fuller picture.  🧠 Promote Digital Literacy – Let’s have conversations about how to think critically when consuming information. It’s crucial to be skeptical and check facts.  👥 The Role of Parents – If you’re a parent, this is huge. Equip your kids with the tools to spot misinformation early on. The future is bright if we all take action and make sure we are knowledgeable before we share information. This next generation has the abilities to fight misinformation, but it is up to us to empower them with the right tools and knowledge to do it. Check out my latest article on how we can help Gen Z navigate this digital landscape and combat misinformation. 👇 #GenZ #Misinformation #DigitalLiteracy #CriticalThinking #SocialMedia #YouthEmpowerment #YoungFutures Katya Hancock, Dr. Kristine G., Sierra Malia F., Cassie Archdeacon, Anthony Sartori, Pivotal Ventures, Kelsey Noonan, Susan Crown Exchange, Kevin Connors, The Goodness Web (TGW), Celine Coggins Ph.D. 

🚀 $500K for Schools & Nonprofits—a new Young Futures Funding Challenge Launches Next Week!! Phones in schools are one of the most debated topics in education today. Some schools ban them outright, others have restrictive policies, and some fully integrate them into their schools—because of a pro-tech philosophy or a lack of funding for resources like chrome books. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution—the realities are varied and complex. What’s clear is that educators are on the frontlines of enforcement, no matter the policy—and they need support. And just as importantly, young people must lead the way. Their voices and experiences need to be at the center of these decisions, starting with the Youth Listening Tour that shaped this challenge, thanks to our partners at In Tandem. Here’s what we know: 📱Students crave agency—when they help shape phone policies, buy-in and outcomes improve. 📵 Policies and/or bans aren’t enough—without education on healthy tech habits, many young people struggle to self-regulate once phones are back in hand.  📊 We’re at a tipping point—schools are scrambling to set policies, and we have a rare window to make sure youth voices and real-world experiences shape those decisions. That’s why we’re launching The Call Me Maybe Challenge, a funding initiative seeded by Pinterest and supported by Pivotal Ventures and Susan Crown Exchange. 🎉 🔥We’re deploying $500K in rapid-response funding for up to 10 nonprofits (including schools!) scaling solutions that: ✅ Balance tech’s benefits with distraction-free learning ✅ Rebuild in-person social connection ✅ Give students a real voice in shaping school phone policies 📅 Applications open Wednesday, March 19! Check out the full RFP here: [https://lnkd.in/gVKY-DSM] and help us spread the word. Know a nonprofit school or that should apply? Send this their way! 🙌 Dr. Kristine G. Sierra Malia F. Cassie Archdeacon Brooke Messaye Kathy Gu Kelsey Noonan Pivotal Ventures Kevin Connors Susan Crown Exchange Alise Marshall The Goodness Web (TGW) Celine Coggins Ph.D. Lisa Damour, PhD Jenna Bigham Ishea B. Abigail Baker Sarah Marshall Young Futures Org #YoungFutures #CallMeMaybeChallenge

Too many kids in America are struggling with their mental health, and most who need support aren’t getting the care they need. That’s why school-based mental health services are so crucial. When schools provide support, students build resilience, connect with the resources they need, and are more likely to succeed inside and outside of the classroom. Inseparable just released the 2025 School Mental Health Report Card, outlining key policy recommendations that help schools support student wellbeing, like promoting prevention and ensuring schools have the resources and mental health professionals they need to serve students with more complex needs. The report also grades the progress each state has made in adopting policies that help build and support a comprehensive school mental health system. Read the report and see how your state measures up: bit.ly/4ij8IVF

🌟 Introducing the Under Pressure Cohort! 🌟 We’re thrilled to welcome the newest Young Futures Innovators! These 10 bold changemakers are rethinking how we can address teen pressure and pioneering new ways to help young people thrive. Their youth-led solutions span tech-enabled platforms, media and digital literacy education, and peer-to-peer support—empowering both teens and their caregivers with the tools to navigate and thrive in today’s digital world. Meet the innovators and their organizations:✨ Anahita Dalmia of Agents of Influence 🎮: Tackling misinformation and empowering teens to manage their digital reputation. Carolyn Gan of California Partners Project ✨: Empowering caregivers to support teens with research-based, culturally sensitive resources Arielle Geismar of Design It For Us 🌍: Advocating for safer social media and online platforms for kids, teens, and young adults. Juliana Lozano, MSW, LCSWA of Despierta ♀️: Empowering Latinas through culturally responsive mental health support, education, and leadership development. Michael Fauteux of GiveThx 💡: Bolstering student and educator wellbeing and social-emotional skills through gratitude. Valerie Grison-Alsop of Give Us The Floor 🏳️🌈: Providing safe and accessible online peer support for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth nationwide. Samin Bhan of Lookupp 💬: Enabling communities to create phone-free zones where people are rewarded for engaging face-to-face with those around them. Maddie Freeman of NoSo 📵: Empowering teens to find a healthy tech/life balance. Regisha Rijkaard of PAUSE 4 PEACE FOUNDATION 🧘🏽♂️: Equipping youth, families, educators, and influencers with tools to navigate digital citizenship through mindfulness. Michelle Culver of The Rithm Project 🫶: Empowering young people to rebuild and evolve human connection in the age of AI. This challenge was shaped by research from our collaborators at the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Center for Digital Thriving (CDT), (Carrie James, Emily Weinstein, Beck Tench, and Eduardo Lara) and by what we heard directly from young people in the Young Futures Youth Listening Tour. Young people today are navigating relentless expectations—achievement, appearance, social life—many of which may be amplified (and sometimes eased) by technology. These YF Innovators are finding the solutions and leading the way toward a brighter, healthier future for pre-teens and teens. We're beyond excited to support them as they embark on this journey through our YF Academy and beyond! #UnderPressureCohort #DigitalWellbeing #YouthMentalHealth #YFInnovators #YoungFutures Katya Hancock, Dr. Kristine G., Sierra Malia F., Cassie Archdeacon, Brooke Messaye, Anthony Sartori, Pivotal Ventures, Kelsey Noonan, Susan Crown Exchange, Kevin Connors, The Goodness Web (TGW), Celine Coggins Ph.D.