ABOUT HEADSTREAM

Vision

We envision a near-term future where mental health care is as prioritized as physical health care. That access to timely and culturally competent care will unburden young people, across all backgrounds, from the mental well-being constraints that prevent them from thriving and harnessing their full power.

By 2026 we strive to support the mental well-being of 20 million young people, integrate digital mental health products into over 150 school districts, and support 100+ entrepreneurs to generate over $100 million in funding and revenue.

THE IMPACT OF OUR WORK

Our commitment to utilizing innovation to foster mental well-being has changed the lives of millions of young people. Learn more about our impact and access our program reports below:

+36

edtech, digital health, well-being and social tech startups supported

+10 million

Youth and caring adults have been reached and impacted

+80

Entrepreneurs are using Impact Navigator to measure their impact on youth
well-being

+20 million

To scale these innovations has been raised

+90

Youth professionals trained as leaders of co-creation have collaborated with Headstream

5 billion

Users influenced youth policies at gaming and social media companies

OUR MILESTONES

2023

Headstream Announces Expansion

2023

Headstream Launches Initiative Focused on Supporting Schools and Student Mental Well-being

2022

Headstream Accelerator Entrepreneurs Cross 10 Million People Supported with Cohort 3

2022

Youth Consulting Program supports State Equity Plans and the Largest Digital Behavioral Health Conference

2022

Headstream Creates the 5k+ Stakeholder Database of Youth Mental Health Innovators and Funders

2021

Collab Lab co-creation between tech companies reaching over 5 billion people and Headstream youth

2021

Headstream builds its first product, Impact Navigator, to support entrepreneurs in measuring their impact

2020

Digital Delta, built with +400 young people, identifies the catalytic priorities to support youth mental well-being

2020

The first Headstream Accelerator takes off right before COVID changes the world

2019

Headstream's Youth Collective created to ensure we are building solutions for young people with young people

2018

Headstream launches to transform youth mental health

2019

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2019

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OUR COMMITMENTS

1

Empowering vulnerable communities

We commit to supporting technologies and creating digital places that foster the well-being needs of BIPOC, Latino, and LGTBQIA+ youth.
2

Upholding Anti-Oppression Values

We commit to supporting organizations, causes, and events that speak to our values.
3

Bridging the Digital Divide

Early and growing stage innovators dedicated to building age-appropriate and competent technologies
4

Fostering an Anti-Racist Environment

We commit to providing equitable access to tech equipment for future Headstream participants by funding or partnering opportunities
5

Integrating Diverse Leadership

We commit to contracting BIPOC, Latino, and LGTBQIA+ owned companies and organizations to lead our work.

Meet our Team

David Ball
Senior Director of Headstream
David Ball
Senior Director of Headstream
David Ball
Senior Director of Headstream

David leads SecondMuse’s Headstream, an innovation program focused on sourcing and scaling innovations that address the complex intersection of technology and well-being for adolescents. Over the last decade, David has advised more than 100 social entrepreneurs to solve global environmental and social challenges. Currently based in Oakland, California, he continues leading that work at SecondMuse, collaborating with industry leaders, governments, and funders to scale these impactful innovations. Previously, David spent time leading an education initiative with Major League Baseball in the Dominican Republic, an eco-tourism startup with a co-op of former turtle poachers in Nicaragua, to a commercialization strategy for the National Park Service’s Business Management Group

McKenna Dempsey
Operations Manager
McKenna Dempsey
Operations Manager
McKenna Dempsey
Operations Manager

McKenna is the Headstream Events and Operations Manager at SecondMuse based in Portland, Oregon. As an Events and Operations Manager, McKenna leads process implementation across the Headstream program. She helps to track progress, define goals and milestones, and ensure communication between teams and projects. She is also coordinating in-person and digital events within the Headstream program and working closely with the team to align goals, expectations, and workflows. McKenna believes that our youth are our leaders. And elevating their voices, providing them with wellness tools, and bringing them into the action that impacts them is the best way to make social change. Prior to SecondMuse, McKenna had her own start-up building a mental health platform for adolescents and brings in her knowledge of mental health technology and love of spreadsheets to the Headstream team. When McKenna isn't at work, she loves hanging out with friends, going on hikes, rock climbing, and camping. She has two cats, Kevin and Sophie, who frequently join the Zoom calls, and she loves a good cozy day on the couch reading a book with them.

Sabrina Abdala
Program Manager, Youth Collective
Sabrina Abdala
Program Manager, Youth Collective
Sabrina Abdala
Program Manager, Youth Collective

Sabrina Abdalla is a visionary educator, community builder, multidisciplinary creative, and founder who is passionate about guiding communities towards an innovative and equitable future. With her platform, Cirri, and as a Senior Program Associate at Headstream, Sabrina has demonstrated her expertise in creating programs, workshops, and spaces that resonate with the cultural fabric of society. She is weaving her magic to build a more equitable digital world for the next generation to thrive in, utilizing her unique skill set to empower and uplift those around her. As an artist, Sabrina uses poetry to express her intersectional identities and is committed to combating the historical erasure of Black womanhood. Her passion for storytelling and community-building has allowed her to inspire change in a variety of settings and has made her a powerful force in shaping the world we live in. Sabrina Abdalla's unique background informs her work and passion for creating a more equitable future. Born in Kenya to Somali parents, she grew up in Salt Lake City, where she witnessed firsthand the struggles faced by systemically excluded communities. Her experiences have given her a deep understanding of the importance of community building, the power of education, and cultural storytelling to empower individuals and create lasting change.

Santi Dewa Ayu
Senior Program Manager
Santi Dewa Ayu
Senior Program Manager
Santi Dewa Ayu
Senior Program Manager

Santi brings over a decade of experience leading teams in high-growth environments across startup, edtech, nonprofit, and positive youth development. At SecondMuse, she focuses on strategy, scalability, and delivery in support of the suite of innovative programming at Headstream. Prior to Headstream, Santi utilized her cofounder knowledge to consult for startup leadership teams in the areas of product strategy, operations, and impact. As the founding employee and member of the leadership team at a VC-backed startup, she guided growth to 50+ employees and led operations and program delivery to scale from pre-seed through multiple funding rounds. Scaling teams and tools that are reflective of the populations they serve while increasing access to growth opportunities is core to her mission. At Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester, Santi led education programming for 4,000+ members and built partnerships with organizations such as the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, MIT Media Lab, PBS NOVA, and Google Code Corps. Santi's credentials include an Ed.M. in Policy and Management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education where she focused on edtech and startup leadership.

Sidrah Durrani
Senior Program Associate
Sidrah Durrani
Senior Program Associate
Sidrah Durrani
Senior Program Associate

Sidrah Durrani is a Senior Program Associate at SecondMuse, where her expertise in research shines. She plays a pivotal role in supporting the Accelerator and Youth programs at Headstream, where diverse entrepreneurs and youth professionals come together to develop innovative solutions to support adolescent mental well-being. Sidrah received her masters in developmental psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University, and uses her interdisciplinary experience to drive positive impact for systemically excluded communities. She has also published research highlighting the impact of social technologies on adolescent wellbeing and development with the Youth, Media & Wellbeing Research Lab at Wellesley College. Sidrah hopes to shape the future of social impact technologies for youth, alongside youth. When Sidrah isn’t advocating for tech & well-being, she is off reading, cooking, going out on walks, or playing the New York Times word games. She considers herself a budding globe trotter, being currently based in New York City while being born and raised in Saudi Arabia and India.

Viviana Blumberg
Marketing and Communications Manager
Viviana Blumberg
Marketing and Communications Manager
Viviana Blumberg
Marketing and Communications Manager

Viviana is a passionate Marketing and Communications Manager at SecondMuse, located in sunny San Diego, California. In her role, she supports the Headstream team by crafting and executing innovative marketing and communication strategies that help to meet program goals and increase Headstream's visibility. Viviana is passionate about using her skills, creativity, and expertise in marketing and communications to make a positive impact on vulnerable communities and promote SecondMuse's contributions to society. With over seven years of experience in the marketing and communications industry, including roles at well-respected companies such as L'Oréal Mexico and New Ventures Mexico, Viviana brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the SecondMuse team. Her passion for mission-driven projects and commitment to creating a better world are a true asset to any organization. When she's not working, Viviana loves to explore the great outdoors and enjoy the stunning sunsets in San Diego. On rainy days, she can be found indulging in her other hobbies, including reading, dancing, and practicing her watercolor painting skills.