Young Futures Org

Meet Dr. Kristine G., Co-Founder & COO of Young Futures! 🌏🔍🤝 From installing memory boards at 8 years old to earning a PhD in Cognitive Sciences, Kristine’s journey is anything but conventional. Now, she’s channeling her expertise—and her lived experience as a Filipino immigrant, mom, AI and tech expert, and former journalist—into building Young Futures as we work to center youth agency and wellbeing. Read on to see her then-and-now (📸 childhood throwback included!) and read her insights on: 🔹 Why we need to co-create with young people—not just for them 🔹 The pivotal tech moments that shaped her perspective (including 9/11 and a fateful pixel-moving assignment) 🔹 Her "three hats" at Young Futures—from coalition-builder to "operational gardener" 🔹 A genius parent hack for phone battles Read on and think about what's one change you’d make to how teens interact with tech? Drop your thoughts below! 👇 #TechForGood #YouthEmpowerment #DigitalWellbeing #YoungFutures #MeetTheTeam Katya Hancock, Sierra Malia F., Cassie Archdeacon, Brooke Messaye, Anthony Sartori, Pivotal Ventures, Kelsey Noonan, Susan Crown Exchange, Kevin Connors

Our friends at the Center for Digital Thriving have something exciting for educators! They recognize educators are exhausted from playing tech referees in the classroom, and just as they get a handle on one digital challenge, another emerges. Sound familiar? That’s where the Center for Digital Thriving comes in! Their new self-paced PD course equips teachers with eight enduring mindshifts to move from tech defense to digital confidence. What’s included? 🎓 6 hours of actionable learning ✏️ Classroom-ready lessons (co-developed with Common Sense Media) 📚 Research-backed insights from Dr. Carrie James & Dr. Emily Weinstein 🚀 Special early enrollment pricing: Get 15% off with code EARLYBIRD15 → https://lnkd.in/gHwTwuP2 Enroll now! This is a must for educators looking to foster digital well-being in their classrooms!💡 #DigitalThriving #YouthWellbeing #MediaLiteracy #EdTech #TeacherPD Katya Hancock, Dr. Kristine G., Sierra Malia F., Cassie Archdeacon, Brooke Messaye, Anthony Sartori, Lauren Palazzo

This past March, our incredible Founder and Executive Director Juliana Lozano, MSW, LCSWA had the amazing opportunity to be part of the Young Futures Org 2025 Under Pressure Cohort! 🌟She spent three unforgettable days in beautiful Pescadero, California, proudly representing Despierta — learning, storytelling, strategizing, and building deep connections with a powerhouse group of changemakers. Huge thank you to Young Futures for this inspiring experience!💪🏼 #UnderPressureCohort #YFInnovators #Despierta

🌺 Meet Sierra Malia F., Director of Programs at Young Futures! 🌱 Sierra is a driving force behind our work to help young people navigate the digital world, and her own experiences shape how she approaches the challenge. From growing up in a rural coffee-farming town to now leading YF Academy and grantmaking, she’s passionate about equitable access to tech and the power of community-driven solutions. Why YF?: “I love that we’re creating a central hub of solutions that serve all kinds of communities—teens, parents, teachers, you name it. Young Futures is the place where people will come to find solutions led by our community of grantees, YF Innovators, that work for them.”✨ 💡 Her advice? → For teens: “Tech is a tool, not an extension of who you are. Use it to stay connected, learn, and have fun, but on your terms.” → For parents: “You’re never going to be a step ahead of what your teen is doing online, so focus on keeping communication open.” Read more about Sierra, and if you have any YF Academy or grantmaking questions, reach out to her at sierra@youngfutures.org! #YoungFutures #MeetTheTeam #Philanthropy Katya Hancock, Dr. Kristine G., Cassie Archdeacon, Brooke Messaye, Anthony Sartori, Pivotal Ventures, Kelsey Noonan, Susan Crown Exchange, Kevin Connors

Thank You to All Call Me Maybe Challenge Grantseekers‼️ The application window has officially closed, and we're blown away by your innovative ideas to help students, educators, and families navigate phone use in schools. With so many proposals submitted from all across the U.S., it's clear this is a challenge that matters. Your solutions—from student-led policy designs to creative tech alternatives—show exactly why community-driven approaches are key. 📅 What's Next: • Finalist interviews: Late April • Grantees announced and YF Academy kicks off: October 2025 To everyone who applied: Your time and vision are deeply appreciated. And to those who shared this opportunity - thank you for helping spread the word! Keep an eye out later this month for ANOTHER funding challenge! Something FUN is coming! 🎮 #PhonesInSchools #ThankYou #CallMeMaybeChallenge Katya Hancock, Dr. Kristine G., Sierra Malia F., Cassie Archdeacon, Brooke Messaye, Anthony Sartori, Pinterest, Kathy Gu, Alise Marshall, Pivotal Ventures, Kelsey Noonan, Susan Crown Exchange, Kevin Connors

⏰ Final Hours to Apply: Call Me Maybe Challenge Closes TODAY at 5PM PT! ⏰ This is your last call to secure 25K − 100K for your innovative solution addressing phone use in schools! Whether you've been working on a proposal or just have a great idea, now's the time to hit submit. Why finish your application? • Funding to pilot or scale your student-centered solution • Access to the Young Futures Academy (5-month support program + retreat) • Opportunity to shape how schools navigate tech & learning 📌 Already started your proposal? Make sure you finish and submit it! ⏳ Deadline: TODAY, April 9 at 5PM PT 🔗 Apply now: https://lnkd.in/gfXhf3tX Let’s work together to create and scale solutions that empower students, educators, and families in our tech-driven world. We can't wait to read your proposals! Tag a colleague or organization who should see this! #CallMeMaybeChallenge #YouthVoice #PhonesInSchools #GrantOpportunity #YoungFutures Katya Hancock, Dr. Kristine G., Sierra Malia F., Cassie Archdeacon, Brooke Messaye, Anthony Sartori, Pinterest, Kathy Gu, Alise Marshall, Pivotal Ventures, Kelsey Noonan, Susan Crown Exchange, Kevin Connors

I’m proud to be a mentor for the Young Futures Org #UnderPressure cohort, supporting visionary leaders who are helping teens navigate the pressures of growing up in a digital world. Over the next few months I'll be mentoring Michelle Culver from The Rithm Project, who is doing incredible work to rebuild and evolve human connection in the age of AI. This is definitely a full circle moment. In 2018, I met Katya Hancock when I joined StartUp Health. I had the pleasure of working with her and other awesome mentors like Logan Plaster as I was building Neolth. Now, I get to pay it forward. I'm excited to work with Michelle to explore: 🌟 How we can balance digital and human interactions for teens 🌟 How to navigate AI safety, especially for our young people 🌟 How to use science and storytelling to support youth wellbeing Follow Young Futures Org and The Rithm Project to stay up to date with their journey. It's going to be an amazing program! 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gASAKEFW #UnderPressureCohort #YFInnovators #Mentorship #DigitalWellbeing

The Young Futures Retreat in San Francisco left me feeling inspired, rejuvenated, and ready to forge forward in my work. There’s something truly extraordinary about being around like-minded people driven toward a similar goal (in nature !!!!). I felt this deep sense of gratitude during a hike down to the ocean realizing how far NoSo has come and how proud I am of the entire journey, ups & downs included. Having the support from Young Futures Org feels truly life-changing and I will look back on this experience fondly as a turning point in NoSo’s evolution! So thankful for everyone involved and the beautiful souls I’ve met along the way 🫶 Katya Hancock Sierra Malia F., Dr. Kristine G., Brooke Messaye Cassie Archdeacon Kelsey Noonan Pivotal Ventures Susan Crown Exchange Larissa May #HalfTheStory The Goodness Web (TGW) Kerry-Ann Hamilton Beck Tench Center for Digital Thriving #UnderPressureChallenge #YoungFutures

🚨 3 Days Left to Apply for the Call Me Maybe Funding Challenge! 🚨 Time is running out to submit your innovative solution for navigating phone use in schools! The Call Me Maybe Challenge—seeded by Pinterest—is looking for student-centered, community-driven ideas that help pre-teens, teens, educators, and families manage the complexities of phones in classrooms. 🔹 Grants of 25K–100K are available for nonprofits and schools. 🔹 Co-designed with youth? Even better! 🔹 Deadline: April 9, 2025 (that’s this Wednesday!). From student-led advocacy to digital literacy programs, policy implementation support, and creative alternatives to phone use, we’re seeking solutions that: ✅ Reduce distractions without ignoring students’ real needs. ✅ Empower youth voice and co-design. ✅ Strengthen community buy-in and resources. Why apply? 📌 Funding to scale your impact. 📌 Join the Young Futures Academy—a 5-month support program with peer networking, expert guidance, and an all-expenses-paid retreat. Don’t miss out! ⏳ Submit your application before Wednesday: https://lnkd.in/gfXhf3tX Questions? Check out our FAQs (https://lnkd.in/gdQPgSfC) or replay our info session (https://lnkd.in/gJwViT9p). Let’s rethink phone policies—together. #CallMeMaybeChallenge #YouthVoice #PhonesInSchools #GrantOpportunity #YoungFutures Katya Hancock, Dr. Kristine G., Sierra Malia F., Cassie Archdeacon, Brooke Messaye, Anthony Sartori, Pinterest, Kathy Gu, Alise Marshall, Pivotal Ventures, Kelsey Noonan, Susan Crown Exchange, Kevin Connors

I am thrilled to share that I am a mentor to Maddie Freeman, founder of @NoSo, as part of Young Futures Org's #UnderPressureCohort—a group of bold leaders addressing the relentless stresses teens face in today’s hyper-digital world. From academic pressure to social comparison, technology amplifies the challenges young people navigate daily. Maddie’s work to reduce harm on social media and create a community for young people is a critical solution, and I’m honored to support their growth in the Young Futures Academy. Over the coming months, we’ll focus on scaling their team and scaling impact to help them reach even more teens and build more inclusive communities. This cohort proves nonprofits can drive big change— especially when given mentorship, funding, and community. Huge thanks to @YoungFuturesOrg for bringing us together! Katya Hancock Sierra Malia F. Dr. Kristine G. 🔗 Check out NoSo and follow their journey: [https://lnkd.in/grviDbU8] 🔗 Learn about the Young Futures cohort: https://lnkd.in/gKjuwzSe #UnderPressureCohort #YFInnovators #Mentorship #DigitalWellbeing