We are reshaping youth mental wellbeing in America
Historic levels of anxiety, depression, and disconnection are affecting young people across the country — and we are all paying for it.
50%
of young adults with depression remain untreated
$3 trillion
projected loss in future productivity for this generation
At the very moment when creativity could be the antidote, cuts to the arts and education have stripped away proven outlets for resilience, joy, and wonder.
900+
studies, reviewed & examined by WHO, show that engaging in artistic activities reduces stress, enhances social cohesion, and improves mental health outcomes.
Adolescents who participate in regular arts activities are 38% less likely to develop symptoms of depression and anxiety by young adulthood.
Investment in arts programming for youth mental health creates an estimated 4.3x return through reduced healthcare utilization, improved school attendance, and increased future productivity.
WE KNOW THERE’S A BETTER PATH FORWARD
Introducing the Wonder Fund
We’re building a living system that connects grassroots leaders, national partners, and funders to establish everyday infrastructures of care across the country.
A letter from our CEO, Dr. Wizdom Powell
When I was a young girl in Norfolk, Virginia, my mentor Margie Day Walker, a jazz vocalist who founded Centerstage Children's Theater, gave me a gift that changed the course of my life. She invited me into a space where creativity wasn't an afterthought—it was a lifeline.
At Center Stage, I discovered imagination could help me process trauma, see possibility, and chart a path beyond my neighborhood's circumstances. Creativity became my lens, window, and door. This experience taught me that creativity, play, and connection aren't luxuries—they're foundations of thriving.
This is why Unified Youth exists.
Too often, young people are framed as problems to be fixed. At Unified Youth, we start from a different place: Youth aren't broken; they're possibilities waiting to unfold. The science is clear—creativity is essential to rebuilding mental health infrastructure for young people. We're stepping up where systems won't, because young people can't wait.
But we can't do this alone. When we unite our resources, talents, and vision, we don't just reimagine—we reconstitute the very fabric of how society nurtures its young people. Together, we create ecosystems where creativity ignites resilience, where expression heals wounds, and where every young person discovers the power of their own voice.
Join us in this sacred work of reconstituting a world where young people's creative potential isn't just recognized—it's revered as our most precious collective resource.
With fierce hope and unwavering determination,
Dr. Wizdom Powell
Join us in restoring wonder to youth wellbeing.
Support the Wonder Fund and help build the everyday infrastructure of youth wellbeing and future readiness. Every dollar fuels Wonder Ecosystems across the country.
INVEST
This is more than a fund—it’s a movement. We believe we can shift the youth mental and behavioral health crisis in our lifetime, but we can’t do it alone. Join us by signing up to stay connected.
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