Press Release

January 23, 2026 — Full-day classroom-based program engages 240 students in mental health advocacy Washington, D.C. — Active Minds, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to mobilizing youth and young adults to transform mental health norms, hosted its first Los Angeles Regional Summit last week at Central City Value High School, engaging approximately 240 ninth- and 10th-grade students in a full day of mental health advocacy programming. The first Summit introduced students to the role of mental health advocates and equipped them with practical skills to support well-being in their schools and communities. Central City Value High School serves a predominantly Latino student population, and programming emphasizes culturally responsive conversations around identity, community and lived experience. Due to limited shared space on campus, the Los Angeles Regional Summit was delivered through a classroom-based model, allowing students to participate in interactive sessions facilitated by Active Minds staff throughout the school day. Programming included virtual sessions introducing mental health advocacy and youth leadership, followed by in-person breakout discussions focused on advocacy, social factors that influence mental health, and ways students can take action locally. The day concluded with a reflection and commitment activity, reinforcing that advocacy can be personal, achievable and student-led. “This Los Angeles Summit showed what’s possible when we create space for youth and young adults to connect mental health to their own identities, communities and lived experiences,” said Tyrrell Jefferies, Senior Director of Youth Leadership at Active Minds. “By supporting students as advocates, we’re championing a new era of mental health that is youth-led, culturally responsive and rooted in real-world action.” Active Minds reported strong engagement during discussion-based activities that connected mental health topics to students’ daily lives and school environments. The Summit also provided insights that will inform future Regional Summits, including increased interactivity and expanded opportunities for students to engage with Active Minds programming beyond the event. High-resolution images of the LA Summit for editorial use are available here.

January 14, 2026 — Acclaimed media personality joins national nonprofit to champion a new era of mental health Washington, D.C. — Today, Active Minds, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to mobilizing youth and young adults to transform mental health norms, proudly announces Jay Michael Martin Jr.—national PBS host, storyteller, and advocate—as the organization’s newest Active Minds Mental Health Ambassador. Known for creating safe spaces through vulnerability, healing, and truth, Martin has built a career inspiring audiences across digital and live platforms to transform personal pain into purpose-driven impact. Born in Buffalo, New York, and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Martin began his healing journey when unfortunately after experiencing a mental breakdown in 2017. Through therapy and storytelling, he found his voice, launching The Drive Project Podcast in 2018—a six-season series dedicated to mental wellness and motivation that featured journalists, therapists, and storytellers sharing how they overcame life’s hardest moments. By 2021, Martin transitioned from podcasting to television, becoming a local PBS host and then quickly rising to the national stage. He later created Note to Self—a motivational series for KOMO 4’s Arc Seattle reminding viewers that they are seen, loved, and capable of getting through difficult times. His storytelling has since reached wide audiences through branded campaigns for Amazon, Microsoft, Storytelling for Sonobello, Seattle Theatre Group, King County  Library Foundation  and the Telly Award–winning commercial Phillips Law Injury through Brandtegic. “Jay Michael Martin Jr. exemplifies the power of vulnerability in a way that deeply resonates with youth and young adults,” said Alison Malmon, Founder and Executive Director of Active Minds. “We are honored to welcome him as an Active Minds Mental Health Ambassador and look forward to collaborating with him to inspire the next generation to champion a new era of mental health—together.” Martin’s journey has been deeply shaped by personal loss, including the passing of his grandmother—his lifelong inspiration—and his mother, who died in early 2024 after a long battle with mental health and addiction. From that pain, he created Talks with Jay, a soul-led video series offering hope, identity, and healing in under a minute. “Storytelling saved my life,” said Jay Michael Martin Jr. “Through transparency, we give others permission to heal. My hope with Active Minds is to remind youth and young adults that their stories matter, that they are not alone, and that healing is possible.” Through the support of Ti-Shea Meadows, Vice President, Operations, Channel Planning, and Culture, with Paramount, Martin was given the opportunity at The Storytellers to showcase Cooking with Jay — a live activation blending food, conversation, and mental wellness storytelling — featuring college students and advocates from Active Minds. This is where the relationship with Active Minds began. As an Ambassador, Martin will collaborate with Active Minds to elevate mental health storytelling through various initiatives that equip youth and young adults to prioritize self-care and community support. Martin dedicates his next chapter in his career to his mother Charmaine Lynn Martin.

December 1, 2025 — Students came together for a Feelings Fair promoting creativity, connection, and emotional wellbeing, part of Urban Outfitters’ holiday campaign.

October 10, 2025 — The virtual panel discussion event explored how youth and young adults are using storytelling to create connection, fight stigma, and build authentic support networks.

September 15, 2025 — These appropriations victories acknowledge the growing role of peer-led programs and the urgent need to connect more people to life-saving crisis services.

August 12, 2025 — Senate endorses youth-driven mental health policies, advancing access to crisis resources and peer-led support across schools and campuses nationwide.

August 11, 2025 — The conference served as a national call to mobilize the mental health movement — and the response was electric.

July 21, 2025 — Dr. Judith will moderate a panel discussing the emotional toll of high-functioning mental health conditions and the pathways toward healing.

July 8, 2025 — The series brought together Black male mental health professionals, educators, and students for honest conversations about identity, historical trauma, masculinity, and mental wellness.

June 27, 2025 — Alexander will deliver a keynote address focused on the role of vulnerability and creativity in healing and advocacy.