Young & Striving Foundation / Just Listen

Our impact

Every conversation is a place to build trust.

The Young & Striving Foundation brings youth mental health education into the places where families already live, learn, and grow. Through Black Boy Joy, the Just Listen Project, storytelling, and community outreach, we share language that makes difficult conversations feel possible.

Our work is warm, practical, and rooted in dignity. We help parents and caregivers notice what may be underneath a change in behavior, make space for a young person's perspective, and connect with support when more help is needed.

Young and Striving Foundation family and community members standing together

The work in community

Support can look like a resource, a room, or someone who stays.

We create approachable tools for parents, caregivers, and teens; carry honest stories into the conversation; and keep the door open for families who are still finding their words. The goal is not perfection. It is more connection, less stigma, and a safer next step.

01

Education that feels usable

We turn lived experience into clear resources families can return to when the right words do not come easily.

02

Stories that reduce stigma

We share honest, hopeful stories that remind teens and their families that mental health belongs in everyday conversation.

03

Community that keeps showing up

We connect people with encouragement and practical tools so nobody has to navigate these conversations alone.

You're not alone

Join the Just Listen Community

Parenting doesn't come with a guidebook, especially when it comes to navigating mental health conversations. That's why we've created a community where parents can learn, grow, and support one another. Join us for resources, encouragement, and practical tools that help you show up for your child when it matters most. Because every conversation has the power to change a life.

Just Listen Project community mark

A place to begin

Download the free Parent Guide

Start with practical language for recognizing what your teen may be carrying and listening in a way that builds trust.