Archives: Charities

The Steve Fund works with colleges and universities, non-profits, researchers, mental health experts, families, and young people to promote programs and strategies that build understanding and assistance for the mental and emotional health of the nation’s young people of color.  The Fund holds an annual conference series, Young, Gifted & @Risk, and offers a Knowledge Center with curated expert information. With multicultural mental health experts it delivers on-campus and on-site programs and services for colleges and non-profits, and through tech partnerships it provides direct services to young people of color.

Founded in 2008, Safe Space Radio is a public health intervention on the air. We have broadcast over 300 episodes and received numerous national awards for mental health, stigma reduction, social justice and radio production. The first season of our four-part miniseries, Can We Talk?, broadcast in May 2019 for Mental Health Awareness Month. Our second season is broadcasting throughout 2020 and 2021 in response to immediate need. Two long-form specials, Out-Takes, on suicide prevention among LGBTQ teens, and Still Here, on caregiving and dementia, both broadcast nationally in 2016. Our podcast is used in training programs for healthcare professionals, therapists, and teachers as they learn to address the needs of underserved populations.

The youth mental health crisis and the unintended consequences of growing up digital can no longer be ignored.  We discover, empower, and mobilize courageous youth leaders who are stepping up to challenge the digital ecosystem and our unrealistic social norms so they can improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people for generations to come. Because youth agency is at the heart of our mission and an essential part of our programmatic DNA, we don’t tell them what to do. We ask them.

All too often, Americans view mental health as a privilege for the wealthy and feel unwelcomed by or disconnected from traditional providers. At the AAKOMA Project, we are working to change that perception.  We believe that everyone — regardless of background, income, or identity — deserves optimal mental health, which we define as recognizing mental health challenges, understanding where to get help, and supporting others with similar challenges.  Since the stigmas associated with mental health care often begin early, we work with teenagers and their families to raise awareness, conduct patient-centered research, and encourage young people to begin conversations in their communities. We bring a special focus on the unique experiences of people of color. As a result, we are able to engage with communities on a deeper, culturally-relevant level by conducting research and providing clinical support.